PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
  1. Signatures
    109 out of 200
    Petitioning
    1. Nebraska Board of Mental Health Practice (+ 1 other)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Nebraska Board of Mental Health Practice
      • Chief Medical Officer, State of Nebraska (Dr. Joann Schaefer)
  2. Created By
    Tyler Richard
    Lincoln, NE
About this Petition Petition Letter

In September 2009, Nebraska's Board of Mental Health listened to the voices of many Nebraskans who called for no one to be turned away from mental health care because of who they are. Mental health policy should be based on professional expertise and supporting a patient's well-being - not a personal ideology (read more about allegations of politics at play).

The policy supported by the Board of Mental Health prohibited providers from discriminating against clients on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.  It also required providers to refer when they were not able to provide a service.

The policies pushed by the Nebraska Catholic Conference and Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer for the State of Nebraska, go against the ethical guidelines of national mental health organizations. The Board of Mental Health should be thanked for putting patients first and encouraged to stand by their original policy. Dr. Schaefer should rely on the expertise provided by the experts on the Board of Mental Health.

Recent Signatures

Put patients first

Greetings,

The nondiscrimination policy the Board of Mental Health supported in September put those seeking and receiving mental health care first. Their decision was based on professional standards and expertise, not political ideology.

I hope you will demonstrate the same commitment to patients and move this sound policy forward.

[Your name]

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