NYAPRS News: This comes from the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery, an organization that NYAPRS supports. We urge you to contact your representatives to demand that budget cuts do not impact mental health recovery services that keep people engaged and working toward their well-being. Along with the Congressional deal to tighten the budget and restrict mental health spending, an act submitted by Representative Tim Murphy would favor involuntary services and reduce funding for rehabilitation services, including peers and family support. Contact your representative today, sign the petition at change.org, and get on the NCMHR action list!
SAMHSA Grants for State Networks, The Alternatives Conference and the 5 Mental Health Technical Assistance Centers Are At Risk!
YOU can help.
Educate your Senators and your Representative about these vital programs.
They need to hear from YOU now.
Here’s why:
Budget negotiators in Congress just reached a deal that squeezes dollars for all health funding including mental health. Most members of Congress don’t know about the life-saving work and value of state mental health consumer networks and national TA centers. It is up to you to educate them.
Yesterday, Representative Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania released a mental health bill that—among many other disturbing changes– would reorganize SAMHSA and end funding for state networks, the Alternatives conference and technical assistance centers.
What to do now:
Right now, send emails and make phone calls to you members of the House and Senate appropriations committees telling them why they should protect funding for state mental health networks, the Alternatives conference and the five mental health technical assistance centers and how important they have been in your life, the life of people you love and for citizens of your state. (See How to do it below and the attached document on what to say).
Next, Sign our petition on Change.org: Go to http://ncmhr.org and look for the Action Alert with a link to the petition and more background.
Stay tuned for instructions on how counter Tim Murphy’s bill that you will be receiving in a few days.
How to do it:
1. FIND your U.S. Senators at http://www.opencongress.org/people/zipcodelookup. Click the name of each Senator, scroll down to “ Contact Webform” to send them an email. Before sending, copy and save your message. Request a reply. You can also call their office and leave a message.
2. The attached document includes a list of Senators and Congressmen on Appropriations Committees. If they represent you it’s doubly important to educate them. If your Senators/Congressman is not on this list, don’t worry–It’s still vital that contact them.
3. TELL your Senators to RESTORE the 20 percent cut in funding for SAMHSA grants for statewide mental health consumer networks that the Senate Appropriations Committee agreed to. ASK them to resist any further cuts. TELL them these grants, which total just $2.5 million now, teach people with serious mental health conditions to stay well and recover. TELL them how YOUR state network (and the local peer-run centers it supports) have changed your life as a person with a serious mental health condition and how you now help others. If your state doesn’t have a mental health consumer network yet tell them you need one.
4. TELL your member of the House of Representatives to fully fund SAMHSA grants for statewide mental health consumer networks, mental health technical assistance centers, the Alternatives conference, and protection and advocacy programs. TELL them state network grants, which total just $2.5 million now, teach people with serious mental health conditions to stay well and recover. TELL them how YOUR state network (and the local peer-run centers it supports) have changed your life as a person with a serious mental health condition and how you now help others. If your state doesn’t have a mental health consumer network yet tell them you need one.
5. If your representative is listed on the attached document, it is doubly important that they hear from you.
6. Email raymond.bridge@ncmhr to get on our action list. Like us on Facebook (National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery) Find us at http:ncmhr.org –