Mental
Health Association in New York State, Inc. |
Friday Fax from Albany
State of the State: On Wednesday, Governor Pataki gave his 11th State of the State address—the annual kickoff for the legislative session in Albany. The Governor did not mention any specific mental health issues (included in our material is Tom O’Clair’s response to the Governor not mentioning Timothy’s Law). However, he did talk about the importance of reducing the Medicaid burden on the counties. County officials have been putting a great deal of pressure on the Governor and the Legislature on this issue. It was clearly an issue that the Governor will be spending a lot of time on this legislative session. He did not provide specifics. However, we do know that the administration is planning to re-introduce a Preferred Drug List (PDL). We will be able to provide greater clarification on the PDL and other Medicaid cost containment strategies when the budget is introduced in two weeks. In the speech, the Governor did not talk specifically about the $6 billion deficit facing the state. We are very concerned that mental health initiatives will be targeted for cuts this year. We continue to make state officials aware of the impact of the cut in last year’s budget and that the individuals we serve will be greatly impacted through increased hospitalizations, homelessness and more interactions with the criminal justice system. One of the favorite sports in Albany is the speculation game. Everyone has an opinion on what the Governor said or did not say at the State of the State. Talk to some pundits and they think the speech indicates that he is clearly going to step down after this term in office. Talk to others, and they think that the speech clearly indicates that he will run for re-election. If history is any indication, chances are that the Governor has not made any official decision but speculation sells newspapers and keeps ‘insiders’ buzzing. We will wait and see.
Tom O’Clair’s Statement In Response to Governor Pataki’s State of the State Address: “I was pained to hear that Timothy’s Law missed being on the Governor’s radar screen during his State of the State address. Speaker Silver and Majority Leader Bruno both acknowledged Timothy’s Law as one of the outstanding issues from the 2004 session. An acknowledgement from the Governor of the need for better access to mental health and addiction treatment would give the push needed to make Timothy’s Law a reality and end current discriminatory insurance practices,” commented Tom O’Clair in response to the Governor’s State of the State Address. Mr. O’Clair continued, “Governor Pataki, please don’t allow another family to senselessly bury their loved one for lack of adequate access to needed care.”
Ophelia’s Place to hold 1st New York State Conference on Eating Disorders: On February 24-25, Ophelia’s Place, the Central New York organization dedicated to supporting and encouraging individuals, family and friends faced with eating disorders, will hold the 1st New York State Conference on Eating Disorders. Scheduled to take place at the OnCenter Complex in Syracuse, this conference is designed “to bring together medical, behavioral, and allied health providers, treatment team members, school personnel, and all those affected by and interested in eating disorders to learn more about the identification, treatment, and prevention of eating disorders from a variety of nationally-recognized experts.” Those experts will conduct 23 separate presentations from which conference participants can choose to attend. The Conference program and registration materials are available at www.opheliasplace.org, or you may contact Ophelia’s Place directly at (315) 451-5544. Registration deadline is February 4, 2005. An article on Mary Ellen Clausen, Ophelia’ House founder and Executive Director, published in the Syracuse Post-Standard earlier this week, follows.
OMH Releases Interim Report on 2004 Statewide Plan: OMH has recently released it's Interim Report on the 2004-2008 Statewide Comprehensive Plan for Mental Health Services (5.07 Plan), originally released in January, 2004. MHANYS finds the report released in January and this Interim Report to be very informative documents on OMH's provision of services, and we applaud their efforts in this regard. MHANYS and others have expressed the desire to see future 5.07 plans focus more on OMH's future plans for the provision of mental health services and the release of the Plan in accordance with the timeframe laid out in the law. The Interim Report is available at http://www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/Statewideplan/interim/index.htm.
PROJECT: TIMMY 'A SUCCESS': On December 11th and 12th, music event promoter & Mental Health Advocate for Directions In Independent Living, Inc., from Olean, NY, along side St. Bonaventure student Elizabeth Campbell and a supporting cast of advocates and consumers, held PROJECT: TIMMY PT. 1-2. PROJECT: TIMMY is a music benefit initiated in the Southern Tier of Western New York to help raise awareness for the enactment of Timothy's Law. Timothy's Law would help to end insurance discrimination towards those who suffer from addiction and/or mental health needs. Presently, coverage for these consumers is very limited, compared to someone who might suffer from diabetes or cancer. Timothy O'Clair was nearing his 13th birthday when he hanged himself. Prior to this day, Timothy suffered from ADD, ODD, and DEPRESSION, and his family's insurance and funds ran out. The family was put in a position that many other families are facing today. The family had to release Timothy over to state custody for 9 months so that he would qualify for services. The objective of PROJECT: TIMMY is to begin opening more eyes and raising awareness outside of the mental health and addiction hospitals and clinics. We're using music to bring together a crowd, and then giving them buttons with Timothy's picture on it, and passing on his story, for them to pass on to others. It's really a simple, yet powerful way to get more people involved. We're then sending the money raised at the door to FAMILIES TOGETHER IN NYS, and other affiliates of Timothy's Law in the future. Part 1 was held at Foster's in Allegany, NY and featured hip hop music on 4 turntables with DJ RUKKUS, DJ DELTA N9NE, & DJ 360. Part 2 was held at The Flood Zone in Limestone, NY and featured DJ SAUL and live bands; Revelation 13, Screamin' Lou and The Bloodblisters, and Up From Here. We're hoping that these events catch on in other parts of the state and would love to see it blue-printed by others. Part 3 is in the beginning stages of planning and hope to be set for the end of February. DJ DELTA N9NE & DJ RUKKUS are also working on a track featuring news clip samples, and sound bites about Timothy's Law, and hope to release it on the internet and on radio throughout NY. Any inquires regarding PROJECT: TIMMY, send to rdeppa_mhadvocate@yahoo.com.
SAMHSA Announces New Suicide Hotline The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announced the launch of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK. The national hotline is part of the National Suicide Prevention Initiative (NSPI)-a collaborative effort led by SAMHSA that incorporates the best practices and research findings in suicide prevention and intervention with the goal of reducing the incidence of suicide nationwide. In addition to the national hotline, a new website is being launched www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. In the United States, suicide currently is the 11th leading cause of death among all age groups, accounting for approximately 30,000 deaths annually. More than 100 crisis centers in 39 states currently participate in the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. SAMHSA is committed to working with state and local organizations, such as the Mental Health Association of New York City, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, and community crisis centers, to expand the availability of suicide prevention and intervention services. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is funded by a 3-year $6.6 million grant from SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services, which has been awarded to the Mental Health Association of New York City and its partners-the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, Columbia University and Rutgers University. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a network of local crisis centers located in communities across the country that are committed to suicide prevention. Callers to the hotline will receive suicide prevention counseling from trained staff at the closest certified crisis center in the network. A nation-wide public education campaign to raise awareness about suicide and the national hotline is under development.
In the News: Mother
lobbies Albany for mental health care. By Saba Ali Mary Ellen Clausen knows what it feels like to be on the verge of losing a child and not knowing where to turn for help. That's what gives her an edge in talking with the mothers and daughters who walk through the purple door of Ophelia's Place, the support center she founded in Liverpool for women with eating disorders. And it's what gives her the passion to lobby state leaders in Albany in her fight for affordable care for mental illness. Both Clausen's daughters suffered through eating disorders. Her older daughter tried to commit suicide. Clausen responded by founding Ophelia's Place and pushing relentlessly for state legislation to help others with mental illnesses. "She is the perfect example of a citizen with a good cause and the dedication to make it happen," said state Sen. John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse. DeFrancisco helped get state funds for Ophelia's Place and, most recently, in passing a law that will put aside $1 million for three comprehensive care centers for mental illness in New York. Clausen started her crusade in 2002 after receiving a grant of $1,000 from then-Assemblyman Bill Sanford, R-Salina. Without any certification in counseling or any understanding of how government works, Clausen grew Ophelia's Place from the inside of a donated church office to a house on Second Street. "I am certified in being a mother," she said. She said her determination comes from having witnessed the struggles of both her daughters, Nicole O'Rourke and Holli Clausen, and from her Christian faith. Her own search for help for her daughters is her most effective tool in counseling others. "I thought I could go to the Yellow Pages and look up eating disorders," she said. "As parents, we feel so inadequate." Once they finally found treatment centers, Clausen and her husband, Danny, had to figure out how to pay for it. They ended up cashing in their 401(k) plans and maxing out their credit cards. They were fortunate. Some families don't have even those options when it comes to paying for treatment, she said. Clausen started working with parents from Schenectady who lost their son to suicide. She pushed for a law that would make insurance companies provide coverage for mental illnesses. The legislation - dubbed Timothy's Law - was created after Tom and Donna O'Clair's mentally ill 12-year-old son, Timothy, hanged himself in his closet. Care was available, just not affordable for the Schenectady family. Tom O'Clair, a mechanic for the New York State Thruway Authority, said Clausen's relentless support has helped the cause and his family. After the 2004 legislative session ended without Timothy's Law being passed, Clausen was there to offer comfort and optimism, he said. "She has helped me go through some tough times, times when I was losing hope," O'Clair said. Clausen said she will keep lobbying for the law. "It is frustrating, because I know so little about how government works," she said. "But I have some awesome people in my path to help me out." Clausen also is organizing the New York State Eating Disorders Initiative Conference in February at the Oncenter, with the help of Clear Channel Radio and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield of Central New York. But her main focus and energy remains in Ophelia's Place. In 2003 she quit her job as vice president at Custom Logo Inc. to work full time at Ophelia's Place after Holli, 20, relapsed. Holli attended a treatment center in Arizona. She said both her daughters are now on the road to recovery. What challenges Clausen now is getting families and clients to understand just how quickly an eating disorder can go from bad to fatal. "If your daughter has cancer the size of a pea, do you wait until it's the size of a grapefruit before going after a cure?" she said.
Until
next time, we remain, |