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Standing room only as state mental health committee visits Ogdensburg for public hearing on St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center

Posted 9/17/13

Only standing room was available as state mental health committee members held a public hearing at Ogdensburg’s City Hall today. OGDENSBURG -- More than 100 people packed Ogdensburg’s city …

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Standing room only as state mental health committee visits Ogdensburg for public hearing on St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center

Posted

Only standing room was available as state mental health committee members held a public hearing at Ogdensburg’s City Hall today.

OGDENSBURG -- More than 100 people packed Ogdensburg’s city council chambers earlier today to oppose Albany’s plan to eliminate inpatient care for children and adults at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center.

The meeting was a joint public hearing by the State Senate’s Mental Health and Health Committees, and the Assembly Mental Health Committee.

During the hearing, people who would be impacted by the proposed changes offered testimonials to the committee members.

Sen. Ritchie, was critical of the Office of Mental Health when she spoke at the meeting.

"It is clear to us that moving care downstate will do nothing to improve health care, but it will put many of our most vulnerable citizens in danger," she said in a released statement. "The sad truth is OMH’s plan really isn’t a plan at all. There’s nothing in this proposal that improves care or provides centers of excellence. It just puts our most vulnerable citizens and children in danger and at risk in places far from their families."

Ritchie said the Ogdensburg-based mental health facility is critical to the economy as well as to the families it serves.

"Yes, the Psych Center fight is about jobs. More importantly, it’s about securing for families, children and the next generation, the kind of quality mental health care we need.”

St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center Task Force Chairman Chuck Kelly was only available for a brief comment at 1:30 p.m. as the meeting was still ongoing.

He said he expected it to last well into the afternoon.