LANSING — When someone has a cough that just will not go away, no matter what they take, they tend to visit the doctor.

If someone accidently stumbles down a flight of stairs and injures their ankle, they stop by the emergency room to get it checked out.

Unfortunately, when peoples’ own minds are causing them to suffer, they often end up in a jail or prison cell before getting the treatment they require.

Thanks to a new task force recently formed in Lansing, though, state leaders are looking to find solutions to get these patients help before they end up in a jumpsuit.

In July, the Michigan House of Representatives formed the House C.A.R.E.S. — standing for Community, Access, Resources, Education and Safety — task force, a group designed to come up with solutions to provide greater assistance to state residents dealing with mental illness. Among the lawmakers selected for the 14-member bipartisan panel was 78th District Rep. Dave Pagel.

The Republican lawmaker, of Berrien Springs, was chosen by Michigan Speaker of the House Tom Leonard, due to his experience working with the state’s Department of Corrections, as chair of the appropriations subcommittee for the department. Pagel will use his insight to help the committee come up with ideas to help keep people dealing with mental illness out of prison cells, where many currently end up after committing crimes due to their untreated condition, Pagel said.

“We need to do a better job of helping people at the front end of their problems rather than at the back end, when they are already in prison after committing a crime,” Pagel said.

The C.A.R.E.S. task force has spent the last several months visiting sites throughout the state to learn more about what the state is already doing to help the mentally ill, Pagel said. They have listened to testimony from law enforcement officials, mental health doctors and others to learn about their experiences and what possible solutions Lansing could offer to help those on the ground in the fight against mental illness.

Some possible solutions Pagel and other lawmakers are considering is offering additional training to police officers, to allow them to more easily identify suspects suffering from mental illness and get them to a proper treatment facility rather than lodging them in jail or at a regular hospital, Pagel said. They are also considering measures to get school teachers educated on the topic and allow them to identify children in their classrooms who may be dealing with mental health problems.

“It would be more effective and life changing if we could address these issues while people are in elementary school, rather than taking them on after they have entered the prison system,” Pagel said.

While there is likely no sliver bullet to eliminate the problem completely, Pagel said there are ways for the Lansing to step in and help. The task force plans to begin working on drafting legislation this fall, with hopes of getting bills ready for the House floor beginning early next year.

“I’m enjoying the challenge,” Pagel said. “It’s been eye opening. We are recognizing there are opportunities out there for us to tackle this issue, and become a national leader [on the issue] in the process.”