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October 19, 2007Today
is the Last Day to Register for MHANYS Conference and Today is the final day to register for our conference and awards dinner. You do not want to miss our October 25th awards dinner celebrating the accomplishments of our members and colleagues across New York State. Our keynote speaker is David Shern, the President and CEO of Mental Health America, and one of the nation’s leading voices of mental health system reform. Also, you don’t want to miss our conference on October 26th on youth between the ages of 16—24, in transition to adult hood. We have a lineup of many of New York’s leading experts in the field. It is time to put our collective heads together and respond to the needs of this population. To register, go on line at www.mhanys.org We hope to see you there.
Congress Fails to Override President’s Veto of SCHIP Reauthorization We have included the Governor’s Press Release regarding Congress’s failure to override the President’s veto of the SCHIP funding. Only two member’s of New York’s delegation—Representatives Kuhl and Reynolds voted against the override. We applaud Governor Spitzer for taking a strong stance on this issue as well as most of New York’s congressional delegation that supported the override. It is shameful that because of this misguided federal policy, thousand of New York’s underserved children will not get the necessary mental health benefits that would be provided by SCHIP.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Christine Anderson 518.474.8418 STATEMENT BY GOVERNOR ELIOT SPITZER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DAVID PATERSON Today, our members of Congress were asked to stand up for the children of our country by overriding the President’s veto of the reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Sadly, spurred by President Bush's continued mischaracterization of the legislation, that effort fell short and we are particularly disappointed that two of New York’s representatives, Congressmen Kuhl and Reynolds, chose to vote against the measure that would have provided affordable health insurance for families that are unable to afford it. While each and every member of congress is given the opportunity to purchase health insurance for their families, those who voted against the override have chosen to deny that same privilege to millions of children across the nation and thousands of children in New York State. We commend Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Chairman Charles Rangel and the New York Congressional Delegation for their efforts to bring this important issue to a vote. At this time, we are committed and remain steadfast in our position and support of SCHIP. We fully intend to proceed with our multi-state lawsuit against the federal government and will pursue a solution that gives states the flexibility to put our children on the road to a long and healthy life. Assembly
Committee on Mental Health to Hold Public Hearing on October 30th
on Issues of Food Additives and ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING SUBJECT: Food additives and behavioral disorders. PURPOSE: To examine the potential relationship between food additives and hyperactivity and attention span disorders in children. Tuesday, October 30, 2007 11:00 AM Assembly
Hearing Room There has for decades been suspicion within the scientific community that food additives, specifically food colorings and preservatives, can cause behavioral disorders, particularly hyperactivity, in children. In general, hyperactivity in children manifests in behaviors such as distractibility, poor tolerance to frustration, temper tantrums, excitability, aggression and disabilities with both cognitive and learning functions. Hyperactivity often results in poor school performance, failing grades, increased dropout and expulsion rates, drug and alcohol abuse and involvement in the criminal justice system. As early as 1964 research conducted by Dr. Benjamin Feingold at Keiser Permanente Hospital in San Francisco California indicated that compounds like artificial food dyes produce behavioral disorders in susceptible individuals. Most recently, a study released in September 2007 and published in the Lancet, the British Medical Journal, conclusively determined that some artificial additives increase hyperactivity and reduce attention span in a wide range of children. The research which was sponsored by the British Food Standards Agency raises a number of policy questions regarding the responsibility of Government to regulate what some believe is the excessive use of food additives. According to federal food labeling regulations, a food additive is any substance not commonly regarded or used as food, which is added to, or used in or on, food at any stage to effect its keeping quality, texture, consistency, taste, color, alkalinity or acidity, or to serve any other technological function in relation to food, and included processing aids insofar as they are added to or used in or on food. Currently there are approximately 3,794 different additives used in or on food, 3,640 of those are used purely for cosmetic purposes, 63 are used as preservatives and 91 as processing aids. It has been estimated that some 200,000 tons of food additives are used annually, that 75% of the western diet consists of processed food and, that each person consumes an average of 8 to 10 pounds of food additives per year. This hearing is intended to: initiate a discussion in New York State regarding the impact of food additives on children; ascertain the sufficiency of research into the issue; understand the food industry’s motivation and responsibility with respect to excessive use of food additives; discuss possible responses to the increasing use of food additives in America’s food and; discuss what Government’s role in response to these questions ought to be; including the possible use of black box warnings to better inform parents on the potential dangers. Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation. Oral testimony will be limited to10 minutes in duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committees will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are postmarked. Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements. In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committees’ interest in hearing testimony from all sources. In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities. Peter M. Rivera, Member of Assembly Chairman,Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY: 1. Are Federal and State Governments of the United States giving sufficient attention to the issue of the excessive use of food additives and the health impacts of such use? 2. Has the available research clearly established a causal relationship between food additives and hyperactivity in children? 3. Is there sufficient understanding and definition of essential versus non-essential food additives? 4. Does there exist sufficient education and labeling procedures to ensure that the public is informed as to its level of food additive intake? 5. What actions should be taken to protect the public from the impact of excessive food additive usage? PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on the rising rate of autism in New York State are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to: Bill
Eggler I plan to attend the public hearing on the rising rate of autism in New York State to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities on Thursday, March 8, 2007. I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to 10 of minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement. Mental Health America Releases Results of Survey on Latino Parents Views on Bullying, Sexual Orientation and Prejudice Earlier this week, Mental Health America, the national organization of MHANYS, reported the results of an extensive survey done of Latino parents (503 across the country) in regard to issues of bullying, sexual orientation and prejudice. It is significant that these issues are being identified and will hopefully begin to be addressed through greater resources and more public information. The press release is listed below. October 17, 2007 95% feel information on sexual orientation should come from parents, but most haven’t started such conversations Contact: Heather Cobb, (703) 797-2588 or hcobb@mentalhealthamerica.net
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (October 17, 2007)—Mental Health America today released results from a national study of Latino parents to better understand parent-child communication about bullying, sexual orientation and prejudice. Despite the fact that nearly all Latino parents surveyed believe information on sexual orientation should come from parents, two-thirds have not started such conversations with their children. The findings coincide with the release of a new Spanish-language brochure, “Qué Significa Ser Gay?,” part of Mental Health ’s ongoing efforts to reduce bullying, particularly regarding sexual orientation. For details, visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/surveys. "Bullying and the use of gay slurs in schoolyards and communities are far too common in ," said David Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health . "It has serious effects on children’s self-esteem, schoolwork and overall development. Talking with children about sexual orientation may not be easy, but it will help them learn to better handle situations of bullying and to respect and value others." In 2005, nearly one-third of students reported being bullied at school during a 6-month period, according to the Department of Education. The Sex Information and Education Council of the found that perceived or actual sexual orientation and gender identification are two of the top three reasons youth in are bullied. Young people who are bullied are at an increased risk of mental health problems such as anxiety disorders, depression and suicide. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth are at even greater risk. Studies on youth suicide rates and sexual orientation consistently show that LGBT youth are at least two times more likely than their same-sex peers to attempt suicide. More prejudice about LGBT issues abounds in communities of color, and LGBT youth within these communities represent a “minority within a minority,” putting them at even greater risk of being bullied. In fact, LGBT students of color feel less safe at school than white LGBT students because of their race or ethnicity (16.6% versus 3.8%), according to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. Almost a quarter of these students experience physical harassment due to their sexual orientation alone, and 13.2% due to both their sexual orientation and race or ethnicity. “Young people of color who are bullied for sexual orientation or gender identification are not only at risk of bullying, assault and isolation, but they are at risk for problems such as depression, school failure and suicide,” said Dr. Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, M.D., Ph.D., board chair of Mental Health America. “All of these problems are preventable in part through improved parent-child communication.” Key findings from the “What Does Gay Mean?: A Survey of Latino Parents’ Perspectives on Bullying, Sexual Orientation and Prejudice” include the following: Key Findings: Parent-Child Communication
Key Findings: Impact of Bullying
About the Survey “What Does Gay Mean?: A Survey of Latino Parents’ Perspectives on Bullying, Sexual Orientation and Prejudice” was conducted by International Communications Research, an independent research company. Interviews were conducted in English and/or Spanish between July 10 to July 23, 2007 among a representative sample of 503 Latino respondents age 18 and older with children 0-17-years-old. The margin of error for total respondents is +/- 4.37 at the 95% confidence level.
About the What Does Gay Mean? Initiative Mental Health ’s What Does Gay Mean? initiative works to foster an environment of understanding and respect for all people. The initiative helps parents communicate with their children early and responsibly to reduce anti-gay prejudice and bullying and promote the mental wellness of LGBT youth. Mental Health is working with its affiliates in New York City, North Carolina and Montgomery County, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. , to conduct programs with Latino parents in their communities as part of this initiative. This program is made possible by funding from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. Visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/surveys for the executive summary. Mental Health is the country's leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives. With our more than 320 affiliates nationwide, we represent a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation—everyday and in times of crisis. For more information, visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net.
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