OGDENSBURG -- With more than 5,000 distributed so far, State Sen. Patty Ritchie is calling on supporters of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center to keep sending post cards opposing the facility's closure to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

In an email sent to supporters Ritchie wrote, "You signed the petition. You stood up at the listening session. Now let's keep the heat on Albany to save the St. Lawrence Psych Center."

The campaign to save the facility came in the wake of an announcement from the Office of Mental Health that it would be restructuring the state's mental health program, with a shift toward outpatient and community-based care.

The state's plan has not been released publicly and a recent release from the Office of Mental Health stated that it would delay its announcement until July 8.

Sen. Ritchie is asking her supporters to make use of that extended time by reiterating the importance of the SLPC to OMH Commissioner Kristen Woodlock and Gov. Cuomo.

The facility offers services to multiple counties and provides jobs to more than 500 people.

"OMH has delayed its announcement on the future of St. Lawrence Psych Center and the other mental health facilities across the state until July 8. That gives us more time to showcase our community’s strong support for SLPC. Please download and send the postcards today, or come to my office for your own supply to share with friends, family, neighbors and coworkers," she said in her release. "Download postcards to mail to Governor Cuomo and Acting Mental Health Commissioner Commissioner Woodlock to remind them once again how important St. Lawrence Psych Center is to health care and employment in our community."

Ritchie also invited the public to visit her 330 Ford Street office to pick up postcards to share with friends and family members.

"Your support for St. Lawrence Psych Center is already making a difference, but we need to keep the momentum going to save the center, protect health care in our community and preserve over 500 local jobs," she said.