If state employees agree to a budget deal hammered out last week, state funding for community mental health support services should remain level.
If unions rejects the deal, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DHMAS) funding could face cuts. That could affect community groups such as Ansonia’s Valley Social Club and Birmingham Group Health Services.
That’s according to Patricia Rehmer, Commissioner of the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), who spoke Tuesday about the state of mental health services in Connecticut at a luncheon hosted by Birmingham Group.
The event was held at the Ansonia National Guard Armory as part of Birmingham’s celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month. Click here to view more events scheduled by Birmingham this month.
Rehmer addressed a crowd of clients and supporters of the Valley’s mental health agencies. Her statements seemed to allay some fears about the budget situation.
“The governor’s budget that came out was actually probably one of the best that I’ve seen in my time, as it related to DHMAS,” she said.
Birmingham Group is a private non-profit that gets some money from the state, in addition to private funds.
Rehmer’s speech was followed by a question and answer session.
Participants, including clients of Birmingham Group, stressed how important local mental health support programs are to them.
“There’s a stigma associated with us,” said John Lewis, 47 of Ansonia, a member of the Valley Social Club for 26 years. “They say that we’re crazy.”
But, Lewis said, the services are used by lots of people, including people who don’t have mental illnesses.
The Valley Social Club on Main Street provides peer support services for people with mental illnesses at all stages of recovery, by teaching them how to live in the community in order to avoid long-term or frequent hospitalization.
Members of the Valley Social Club have an active say in the planning of social events and trips.
“I’m really glad to hear that you guys are sort of a step ahead of the game, and you’re involving individuals and incorporating them in that decision making process, especially about how money is spent,” Rehmer said. “That’s really important.”
Phyllis Kaplan, the 26-year veteran supervisor of the Social Club said she was impressed by the commissioner’s approach to community based support structures.
“She’s right on with where things are going right now. Its a terrible state that we’re into. Programs like this should never be looked at as not important,” Kaplan said.
“We really need to look at the value of teaching people social skills … Social clubs serve that purpose of teaching people that they’re not alone, they’re in a safe environment, and that they can definitely make a difference,” Kaplan said.
