(27 Aug) - Gov. Katie Hobbs signs bill giving Arizona 911 dispatchers unlimited mental health services https://ktar.com/story/5532408/gov-katie-hobbs-signs-bill-giving-arizona-911-dispatchers-unlimited-mental-health-services/ #Arizona911Dispatchers #MentalHealthServices #GovKatieHobbs #BillSigning #UnlimitedAccess #FirstResponders #Politics #News https://mastodon.sdf.org/@uspolitics/110963847623070794

Gov. Katie Hobbs signs bill giving Arizona 911 dispatchers unlimited mental health services

https://ktar.com/story/5532408/gov-katie-hobbs-signs-bill-giving-arizona-911-dispatchers-unlimited-mental-health-services/

#Arizona911Dispatchers #MentalHealthServices #GovKatieHobbs #BillSigning #UnlimitedAccess #FirstResponders #Politics #News

Care or punishment? Black service users’ experiences of inpatient mental health care under detention https://www.nationalelfservice.net/?p=171303

Ian Cummins summarises findings from a recent qualitative study by Solanki et al. (2023), which explores the experiences of individuals from Black Ethnic backgrounds detained under the Mental Health Act (1983). 

#Racism #Inequalities #Discrimination #InpatientCare #Detention #Sectioning #Restraint #MentalHealthAct #Qualitative #MentalHealthServices #BlackMentalHealth

Why suicides among young women are rising at the fastest rate ever | The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/suicide-women-rates-young-women-b2266064.html

#Suicide
#YoungWomen
#Women
#CampaignAgainstLivingMiserably
#CALM
#MentalHealth
#MH
#MentalHealthServices
#SocialMedia
#Relationships
#Misogyny
#BodyImage
#EatingDisorders
#AttentionSeeking
#Mind
#Abuse
#Samaritans

Why mental health services are struggling to meet demand | The Independent
#MentalHealth
#MentalHealthServices
#WaitingTimes
#Austerity
#CAMHS
#NHS
#Autism
#Funding
https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/long-reads/mental-health-nhs-waiting-times-b2307440.html

Opened on March 13 - $39-million #MentalHealth facility offers #Calgary & area #youth & #families improved access to #PubliclyFunded #MentalHealthServices while developing, testing & refining new #ClinicalInterventions in #partnership W/ #AlbertaHealthServices & #UCalgary .
#TheSummit incorporates #accessible mental #healthcare w/leading-edge #research so we can mobilize #AcademicInsights into the #BestPossible #ClinicalCare for #ChildrenAndYouth " says UCalgary President
https://www.ucalgary.ca/news/peak-care-youth-mental-health-ucalgary-supported-summit

Global News BC: City, Vancouver police and B.C. gov to make mental health services, public safety announcement https://globalnews.ca/news/9462470/vancouver-announcement-mental-health-services-public-safety/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #MentalHealthServices #Vancouverannoucement #addictiontreatment #CityofVancouver #BCpublicsafety #BCannoucement #BCgovernment #Vancouver #Politics #DavidEby #Canada #Health #KenSim #Crime #Eby #BC

Momentum in the movement?

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has conducted, or launched investigations into several states’ unjust practices regarding persons with disabilities and violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The Landmark US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) case, “Olmstead v. L.C.”, concluded that “people with disabilities have a qualified right to receive state funded supports and services in the community rather than institutions…” Many state’s still choose to ignore this decision and many aspects of the ADA.

A DOJ investgation focused on Maine, found that “Maine unnecessarily segregates children with mental health and/or developmental disabilities, in psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment facilities, and a state-operated juvenile detention facility”.

This directly vIolates the “Olmstead" decision which says that people with disabilities have a right  to live in the community and receive services conducive to “community intergration".  Community intergration is also outlined in the ADA.  The services most accommodating and appropriate according to their needs, are a “right” under these federal guidelines.  Where would you prefer to receive medical services… in your community while living at home, or at a hospital, institution or other detainment facility?

Some of the other states that have, or are under investigation, are noted below and accompanied by links to the DOJ website.

The DOJ investigation of Oklahoma for ADA violations asks the question:  Did Oklahoma fail to provide community based mental health services, thus creating unnecessary institutionalization and contact with police?

In 2022 it is reported that over 1100 people were killed by US police personnel.  This figure most likely does not account for many unreported incidents involving those with invisible disabilities,  or reports attempting to justify deaths with the commonly uttered statement: “the individual had a history of mental illness".  Would these humans still be alive if they were provided proper treatment and services?

Missouri is under similar DOJ scrutiny and also seems to practice “legal" exploitation of persons with disabilities regarding employment and fair wages.  How does $1 an hour sound to you?  That will be the topic of my next piece.

Similar injustices with regard to providing community based services in Kentucky prompted an investigation launched last May.

Is that more listening hear? Will it really bring significant change?
Are you, the citizens and party members listening and advocating for these nessesary changes?

This may be great for the disability community, disability justice and mental health but, it takes support from all disabled and abled persons alike, to insure changes are implemented and adhered to. This support is also imperative for similar advancements in other states and at the federal level.

Unfortunately,  it seems many are too distracted fighting about partisanship, and wooden hammers.  Many others claiming support for all marginalized people, often fail to include or mention the disability community in the fight for equality.

 “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people. Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability…”

― Martin Luther King Jr.

“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”

― Martin Luther King Jr.

The image is courtesy of @abughythm
The accompanying caption by the artist Abu is in Arabic and reads:

يوماً ما سأكسر القضبان وأعانق الحرية..
Translation:

One day I'll break the bars and embrace freedom.

OK investigation:
Justice Department Launches Investigation of Oklahoma’s Mental Health Service System,Oklahoma City’s and Oklahoma Police Department’s:
https://t.co/p17SEMV0v0

MO investigation: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-launches-disability-rights-investigation-missouri-s-use-skilled-nursing

KY investigation: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-launches-civil-rights-investigation-kentucky-s-mental-health-service-0

Maine investigation findings:
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-finds-maine-violation-ada-over-institutionalization-children-disabilities

#disability #InvisibleDisability #DisabilityJustice #MentalHealth #MentalHealthServices #SocialJustice #change #partisanship #Ableds #injustice #fairness ##support #inclusion #freedom #WhatWillYouDo

Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for Parity of Funding for Mental Health Funding.
This is why ▶️
More people face being shut out of NHS mental health services, experts warn
Calls for more funding as potential surge in demand for services in England threatens to put unsustainable pressure on system ▶️

#CAHMS
#LibDems
#MentalHealthServices

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/dec/27/more-people-shut-out-nhs-england-mental-health-service-mind-charity?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

This is a must read article if you, your friends or family use mental health services.
But, moreover providers, commissioners and policy makers -it is time for a root and branch change of culture.
Long term Under Funding must have it’s part to play, I was a service user in the late 80’s thank goodness it was then and not now.

#MentalHealthServices
#Culture
#Funding
#Provision

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/10/england-mental-health-services-compassion-scandals-patients