June 20, 2008

Tax Check off Bill for a Mental Health Public Awareness Campaign

Need Your Help to Get It Passed
in the Last Few Days of Legislative Session

Over the last few years, MHANYS has been working with the Legislature to develop a tax check off in The New York State Income Tax Form to create a public awareness campaign for mental health in New York.

In study after study, the number one reason cited for people to not seek mental health services is the stigma associated with mental illness. This legislation would create a public awareness campaign to help end the stigma of mental illness at absolutely no cost to taxpayers.

There have been successful tax check offs for Alzheimer’s, Breast Cancer, Wild Life and several others---there is no logical reason as to why mental illness should not be added to this list.

Recently, the Assembly through the leadership of Assemblyman Peter Rivera has been moving this bill forward and it appears it will pass the Assembly on Monday. It is A. 6826-A

Senator Thomas Morahan has been leading the charge in the Senate on this issue. We need to make sure that it passes the Senate before session ends early next week.

Action:

Please call Your State Senator and tell them you support a tax check off in The New York State Income Tax Form to support a public awareness campaign-for mental health--S. 2903