[NYAPRS Enews] Nassau MH Conference Seeks Innovative Solutions to Unemployment Rate

[Harvey Rosenthal]

NYAPRS Note: Along with Nassau County officials and the MHA in Nassau
County, tThe NYAPRS Training Collective is a proud co-sponsor of
tomorrow's conference in Uniondale.

 

80% - 85% Unemployment Rate for Persons With Psychiatric Disabilities
Deemed Unacceptable

Nassau Conference Seeks Innovative Solutions

 

Hempstead, NY (November 30, 2007)  On Friday November 30, 2007 national
mental health advocates, Nassau County mental health providers, and
elected officials will conduct a mental health conference at the
Marriott in Uniondale entitled: "Beyond Hope: Building a Recovery Based
System in Nassau County". The conference will focus on finding solutions
to the nationwide problem of high rates of unemployment for persons with
psychiatric disabilities. The event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

In 2003, the President's "New Freedom Commission on Mental Health"
Subcommittee on Employment and Income Support stated that, "Among people
with the most serious mental disorders, only about 20% work".  Recently
New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Michael Hogan, who
had served as the chair of the New Freedom Commission, put the
unemployment rate in New York at 85%. Commissioner Hogan, who will
appear at the conference, has stated that, "it is embarrassing that
persons with psychiatric disabilities live in poverty because we haven't
been able to help them find jobs".

 

The conference will feature a keynote address by a nationwide expert in
mental health employment, Joe Marrone from the Institute for Community
Inclusion. He stated, "Few things are more harmful to a person's
physical and mental health than long-term unemployment. Numerous studies
within the past two decades show significant correlations between long
term unemployment and negative personal results, such as increased
hospitalizations, increased substance abuse, incidence of depression,
lower self-esteem, and increased anxiety". "Unemployment is bad for
you", he added.

 

In addition to the employment issue, the conference will feature other
nationally acclaimed mental health experts who will cover topics such
as: Suicide Prevention, Family Support, Cultural Competence, and
Rehabilitation. 

 

The conference will be co-sponsored by Nassau County Executive Tom
Suozzi, the Nassau County Department of Mental Health, Chemical
Dependency and Developmental Disabilities Services, the Mental Health
Association of Nassau County and the New York Association of Psychiatric
Rehabilitation Services.

 

At noon, New York State Assembly Mental Health Chairman Peter Rivera
(D-Bronx) will be honored for his work on behalf of New Yorkers with
psychiatric disabilities. During his tenure as Assembly Mental Health
chair, Mr. Rivera has been able to secure additional funding for many
new mental health initiatives including: geriatric mental health, health
insurance parity, cultural competence, and suicide prevention. 

 

The Mental Health Association of Nassau County is a non-profit
membership organization that works to promote mental health in the
community through advocacy, education, program development and the
delivery of direct services.

                                                                   # # #

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://kilakwa.net/pipermail/nyaprs_kilakwa.net/attachments/20071129/a58564d3/attachment.html>