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Watch the Latest Episode of Mental Health Now
on PTSD and Make Your Voice Heard to
Support Veterans' Mental Health and Housing
Click here to watch the latest episode of the NAMI-NYS produced television show
Mental Health Now. This episode focuses on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and features Diane Cameron, author of
Never Leave Your Dead: A True Story of War Trauma, Murder, and Madness . The book tells the story of Donald, a veteran of the pre-World War Two, China Marines and how PTSD tragically impacted his life for decades following his service. Donald's journey led him to a state-run mental health asylum, which was also a traumatic experience.
Along with being an award winning author and journalist, Diane also works for Unity House in the Capital Region. Along with discussing other types of trauma seen among the residences of Unity House, the episode also details the importance of housing with wrap around supports, which is the leading component of the
2017 NAMI-NYS Action Agenda,
AS THE STATE BUDGET IS BEING NEGOTIATED
NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ON
VETERANS' MENTAL HEALTH AND
HOUSING WITH WRAP-AROUND SUPPORTS.
The month of March is the most critical one of the New York State legislative session as the budget is being negotiated. It is crucial you make your voice heard to ensure the proper investments are made in the legislative one-house budget bills.
Call them today to advocate for the issues discussed on the show!
Housing-Understanding the Issue:
Expanding housing with wrap-around services is NAMI-NYS's top legislative priority. As the state decreases the use of state-operated hospitals, the need for housing which incorporates full wrap-around services geared to provide all the tools needed for recovery is more important than ever. Housing services have received flat-funding for more than two decades which have led programs to operate at 43% below where they should be, causing access to be a serious challenge. It will take an investment of $38 million annually for the next three years to return providers to proper operating levels.
The Executive Budget proposes $10 million for supported housing and single residence occupancy programs. This is a small investment that fails to address the multiple housing needs for people with serious mental illness and the support services more intensive housing programs need. We must urge the Legislature to include another $28 million in their one house bill to address this issue.
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The Executive branch and Legislature also need to agree to sign the Memo of Understanding detailed in the 2016-2017 budget that would release the $2.5 billion which was targeted for 6000 new units of new supportive housing over the next five years.
Message When Calling Legislators:
I am a constituent who is very concerned about the lack of housing with services for people living with mental illness. Housing is crucial to recovery. Housing providers have received flat-funding for more than two decades which has made access extremely difficult. While I'm glad that the Executive Budget proposal includes a $10 million investment in housing, that is simply not enough. $38 million is needed to allow providers to operate properly. So, I urge you to keep the $10 million that is proposed and add an additional $28 million to your one-house budget bill.
I also urge you to push for the signing of
the Memo of Understanding detailed in the 2016-2017 budget that would release the $2.5 billion which was targeted for 6000 new units of new supportive housing over the next five years. Thank you!
Veterans' Mental Health Initiatives-Understanding the Issue:
NAMI-NYS was disappointed to see that the Executive Budget proposal failed to make any investments in programs addressing veterans' mental health.
Message When Calling Legislators:
I am a constituent who is disappointed to learn that the Executive Budget proposal failed to address veterans' mental health issues. I want to see continued funding to expand successful programs such as the Joseph O'Dwyer veteran peer-to-peer program. I also believe the state must increase funding for mental health and medical treatment for veterans with serious mental illness, as well as ensure that monies designated for mental health and substance abuse treatment for veterans are allocated to Veterans' Medical Centers, Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and other programs serving veterans with mental illness and utilized for the treatment of these individuals. I urge you to include such initiatives in your one-house budget bill.
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