Welcomed Opportunity For Mental Health Care Expansion In Rural Upstate New York
Legislative Column from Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River)
I am pleased to announce a deal that will help save St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center’s inpatient services, while expanding and establishing critical day service for those with mental health issues and their families. This deal will save the facility $3 million, which will be reinvested in a Children’s Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, among other services.
The St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center not only provides jobs in our region, but also offers necessary services to our community. While the facility will be retaining 68 beds, which includes a number of beds for children and adolescents, it will be creating more outpatient and day services. I am glad to see that people in need of mental health care will be given the opportunity to stay here in their community.
The $3 million savings will help expand mental health care services in this community for children and adults. The newly-created Children’s Behavioral Health Center of Excellence will work with parents and schools to respond to the mental health needs of upstate children. The deal will also give adults increased support and clinical care, and a new program that helps our criminal justice system manage those with serious mental illnesses will be added. A newly-created tele-psychiatry service is also an important part of the plan.
This deal is a win for our community. This plan will ensure that our St. Lawrence facility remains open and fully operational. It will help retain jobs in our area and ensure that upstate New Yorkers have access to quality mental health care.
It brings public and media attention to important mental health issues. Broad access to mental health care is everyone’s right. We must ensure that services and treatment are available to those who need it most. I look forward to seeing how these new outreach services will help make a positive difference in our region.
If you have questions or comments on this or any other state or local issue, please share them with me by calling 493-3909 or by emailing me at blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us.