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Home >> Publications >>Mental Health Update July 29, 2008MHANYS Urges Governor Paterson not to cut Mental Health Funding Listed below is a press release and letter we sent to Governor Paterson urging his administration to not cut funding for mental health services. Later today, the Governor is making an announcement related to the impact of the poor economy to the New York State budget. We expect to hear some difficult news and there will likely be a great deal of fallout from his statement. In bad economic times, people are coping with very difficult financial burdens leading to stress which in turn leads to depression and other mental illnesses. As a result, more and more individuals are seeking mental health services. It is a perfect storm to cut mental health services at the time when many more people are most desperately in need of services. This is the message that we sent to Governor Paterson and we will continue to reiterate this important message throughout this upcoming difficult budget year. Press Release Date: July 29, 2008 Contact: Glenn Liebman (518) 434—0439, ext. 220 Mental Health Association in New York State Urges Governor Paterson not to cut Mental Health Funding in Bad Economic Times Letter addresses need for New Yorkers to have mental health services available in difficult times Today, the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS) sent a letter to Governor Paterson urging him to not cut mental health services. MHANYS CEO Glenn Liebman said, “We applaud Governor Paterson for his candor and willingness to make difficult decisions. However in bad economic times when people are coping with difficult financial burdens, they are much more likely to be stressed leading to depression and other mental illnesses. As a result, people are seeking increased mental health services. It would be a perfect storm in New York State if the administration were to cut funding to mental health services at a time when those services would be most desperately needed. We urge Governor Paterson to not cut funding for mental health services.” Listed below is the letter that we sent out today
July 29, 2008 The
Honorable David Paterson Dear Governor Paterson: We are very appreciative that you are being so responsive to the economic crisis in New York State. You have shown a real willingness to make tough decisions with both candor and transparency. As you know in bad economic times, there is a dramatic increase in the need for mental health services as people seek ways to deal with the stress of job loss, home foreclosures and rising prices for essential needs. Our members across the state who represent 54 of New York’s 62 counties have noted increases in the number of individuals who are seeking community based mental health services because of depression and other mental illnesses related to the stress of bad economic times. Unfortunately, we would have a perfect storm in New York State if your administration were to cut funding to mental health services. As more and more people would seek services because of the economy, there would be fewer services that would be available. The result could be catastrophic to hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. As you make the difficult economic choices, we urge you not to cut funding for mental health services at a time when they are must desperately needed. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Glenn
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