Update on Legislative Study of Montana's Public Institutions

NAMI Montana friends:

I wanted to give you a quick update on the legislative study of Montana’s public institutions. The Children, Families and Health and Human Services Interim Committee met yesterday. This was the first public testimony on the study that NAMI Montana worked with Representative Jenny Eck to create.  I’m more than a little biased but it was a really promising start. There are great legislators from both parties on this Committee and they are already well-versed in mental illness policy making issues.  The heads of DPHHS and the Department of Corrections both said that the study was going to be essential in reviewing current practices and designing for the future.

We’ve got a lot way to go with this process.  (See the rough study plan here - http://leg.mt.gov/content/Committees/Interim/2013-2014/Children-Family/Committee-Topics/HJR16/hjr16-draft-study-plan-june2013.pdf).  It’s going to be a lot of work, but there is a big potential pay off in creating a more compassionate and effective treatment system for Montana’s future.  Special thanks to Representative Jenny Eck  who carried the study bill. Patty Jacques and John Wilkinson whose incredible testimony yesterday about their families helped put the issue in extremely real and tangible terms. 

Click on this link, http://leg.mt.gov/css/Lyris/email_logon.asp, to receive email updates about this Committee to see how you can stay involved.

Thanks,

matt

Matt Kuntz

Executive Director

NAMI Montana

Montana Legislature

Earlier this weekend I sent many of you the NAMI E-Advocate Newsletter. The emphasis of NAMI National this year is to maintain funding for state mental illness treatment budgets. Massive cuts to mental illness treatment budgets are occurring nationwide and we may be just beginning to feel the effects here in Montana. Interim Legislative Committees are sounding like there will be limited funding during the 2010 Legislative Session. Last week is was rumored there is currently a $250 million budget shortfall. And to rub salt in the wounds, last Monday the Health Care & Benefits Division of the Department of Administration sent out a letter informing state employees that the State of Montana has elected to exempt the Employee Group Benefit Plan from the following requirement; Parity in the application of certain benefits to mental health.

Individuals suffering from severe mental illness continue to be throw-away citizens. Even though 1 in 17, or 6%, of our population suffer from severe mental illness and the expected life span of those who suffer from severe mental illness is 25 years less than the average citizen, our society continues to greatly discriminate against this population. Until the 20% of the Montana families who have a family member who suffers from severe mental illness can convince the other 80% of families who don't have a family member who suffers from severe mental illness, our family members will continue to suffer.

Even if there is a budget shortfall we must continue to advocate to maintain these necessary services. The recent suicide at the Montana State Prison demonstrates what happens when an individual is unable to access needed mental illness treatment services. We must find ways to make improvements in the system even if there is not new funding. And, it can be done.

Dr. Gary Mihelish