On January 16th, 2013, Governor Patrick proposed an increase in DMH funding, largely to fund programs with impact on public safety. 

The House and Senate have released their versions of the 2014 Massachusetts budget and included generous funding for Mental Health services, but the budget has yet to specifically dedicate funds to Mental Health Screening and Early Intervention.

Thanks to YOUR signatures and immediate action on this critical public health issue, our cause has gotten the attention of the Senate! Senator Brownsberger of the Second Suffolk and Middlesex District has filed an amendment that provides a line item to support early intervention:

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EHS Amendment 624: Programming for early detection, assessment and response to risk for psychotic illness

Mr. Brownsberger of Belmont moves to amend Senate bill 3, in section 2, in item 5046-0000, by inserting after the words “clubhouses in fiscal year 2014;” the following: “provided further, that the department shall expend an increase of $100,000 of the amount of 2013 expenditures for programming for early detection, assessment and response to risk for psychotic illness”.

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We made it halfway there with YOUR posts on Facebook and Twitter, YOUR emails to coworkers, and YOUR touching testimonials for the effectiveness of early intervention.  We now need your support to get this amendment approved in the Senate!

Please send our updated petition to everyone you can! Can you help us get 500 more supporters of mental health screening and early intervention to champion our cause before the budget is final?

The Senate begins to debate the budget on Wednesday, 5/22/13, so let’s make sure they hear our voice!

Tips for spreading the word:

- Don’t just post on Facebook: Link to the petition (http://chn.ge/13i1V53) on Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, LinkedIn, etc. Wherever you can post a picture of a cat, you can just as easily link to this petition too!

- Remember email: For those you can’t reach on social media, don’t underestimate the power of a good old-fashioned email! Sending emails to coworkers and relatives can make a huge impact.

- Call your legislators: Find your senator (http://masenate.gov/People/Search) and give them a call. When staff members hear directly from concerned constituents, they can realize how important the issue is to us.

- If you’ve already signed the petition: Please feel free to send your own personal email to your senator urging them to vote for this amendment. (http://masenate.gov/People/Search)

Governor Patrick's original $5 million proposal:

• $2M for Emergency Services Program supporting Secure Mobile Capacity and Technology: Mobile Crisis teams travel to locations with individuals in crisis and provide specialized mental health services from trained responders. The increase to the personnel and technology budget will improve and expand the Commonwealth’s Mobile Crisis outreach capacity, while enhancing staff safety and response times.

• $1M for Mental Health Training and Consultation to School Systems: Middle and high school personnel will receive training and ongoing technical assistance to recognize symptoms of mental illness in students and to learn how to effectively address and support students with mental illness effectively.

• $900,000 for Crisis Intervention Training (CIT): This increase more than doubles the Department’s current crisis intervention training budget for law enforcement and other community-based first responders. Responders trained in CIT can better recognize, de-escalate and intervene with individuals who are in emotional distress or suffering from a mental illness and divert them to treatment they need.

• $500,000 for the Massachusetts Child Psychiatric Access Program (MCPAP): Most mental illnesses begin in childhood and early diagnosis and treatment can help keep children healthy and prevent psychiatric disability in adulthood. MCPAP provides access to psychiatric consultation to pediatricians for medication, treatment and referral for children who exhibit signs of behavioral or mental health concerns during pediatric visits.

• In addition to enhancing these critical services, the Governor’s budget will seek to increase funding by $100,000 for to the Center for Early Detection and Response to Risk (CEDAR) program and provide $500,000 for a public education campaign to increase knowledge that treatment is effective and available, while reducing the stigma associated with accessing mental health services.