When the mentally ill reach out...
We need to be there.

Stop the proposed budget cuts to the state Office of Mental Health.

The governor’s proposal to cut $6.4 million from the state Office of Mental Health (OMH) budget would reduce services to our most vulnerable citizens just when the need will likely increase because of the economic downturn.

The Executive Budget would eliminate 450 adult inpatient beds by closing or restructuring 18 wards. It would deny access to needed mental health treatment for people with severe mental illness.

The proposed budget would reduce access to clinical care for some long-term patients, and could prematurely force them into community programs.
The level of care for dangerous sex offenders would be reduced because lower staffing levels put everyone at risk.

And 120 employees would lose their jobs, requiring an additional $24.4 million to be spent on overtime.

Tell the governor and legislative leaders, OMH has a responsibility to the mentally ill — reducing the number of beds and lowering the standard of care is not the answer.

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This ad was created by the PEF PR department and appeared as a spot color ad on the week of February 23, 2009 of The Albany Legislative Gazette © Copyright 2009.