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There is no doubt we are facing tough economic times in New York and across the country. Besides the financial cost of tough times, there is also a significant emotional cost. According to several studies, the number of individuals who seek mental health services increases dramatically during difficult times. Rates of suicide also increase as well.

Unfortunately, New York is facing some incredibly difficult financial decisions. Recently, there were cuts imposed to mental health services that we have detailed on our web site.

We are very upset that cuts were imposed on local community mental health services. It is always difficult to face cuts when you know that people desperately seek services but it is amplified ten fold in difficult economic times. It is as if there was a perfect storm brewing in mental health starting with bad economic times and ending with mental health delivery cuts.

We have to be very mindful of this coming budget and the impact it could well have for mental health. It is important for us to be vigilant and to work hard over the next several months to make sure that there are no new cuts imposed on mental health.

We must be willing to work as a mental health community as we never have in the past to insure that there are no budget cuts. When we work as a coalition, we are incredibly powerful---witness our success in reinvestment, Timothy’s Law and many other issues. When we work alone, we might have short term success but the long term goals are weakened.

Only working together will the mental health community succeed.

Glenn