To the Editor: The Alliance for the Mentally Ill of St. Lawrence Valley Inc., also called NAMI-SLV, opposes the closure of St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center in Ogdensburg. 1. Family members are …
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To the Editor:
The Alliance for the Mentally Ill of St. Lawrence Valley Inc., also called NAMI-SLV, opposes the closure of St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center in Ogdensburg.
1. Family members are essential to the mental health recovery of both children and adults. Therefore, families should be able to visit hospitalized loved ones often and without hardship. Traveling more than one hour is a hardship.
2. Area hospitals are not prepared to deal with the increased demand for mental health services in their emergency rooms or mental health units.
3. The catchment area for SLPC includes at least six counties. How can the new centers in Syracuse and Utica absorb such an increase in patients?
4. The aftercare situation for each patient is just as important as the hospitalization. Will adult patients be discharged to Syracuse, an unfamiliar urban environment?
5. The new state plan will increase the demand for outpatient services. OMH needs to increase the number of psychiatrists and mental health workers in every clinic throughout the state.
6. The dedicated staff at St. Lawrence PC welcomes family involvement in the treatment of patients. Hospitalization is stressful for both patient and family. SLPC staff is understanding and familiar with “revolving door” situations.
7. The location of SLPC with its spacious grounds and view of the St. Lawrence River is therapeutic for family members, patients, and even for staff. Both Trinity and the Children’s Unit are modern and adaptable buildings.
In conclusion, we just don’t understand why the state is closing almost half of its psychiatric centers across the state.
In today’s modern health era, cancer centers have been added to every local hospital and patients don’t have to drive more than 45 minutes for treatment. Yet, seriously mentally ill patients are being isolated in facilities where family members will have to drive two, three or even four hours to visit, leaving them unable to participate fully in the treatment process. Then, patients may be released to an urban area totally unfamiliar to them, thereby exacerbating their condition and jeopardizing their recovery.
We urge the Office of Mental Health to stop their plan to centralize psychiatric services. We urge them to maintain all of the existing area psychiatric centers throughout the state as the most effective and family-supported way to treat individuals with serious mental illness.
Lynne Matott, president
Gouverneur