Testimony of James Jordan,
Executive Director
NAMI Pennsylvania
January 28th, 2005
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MISSION
NAMI Pennsylvania (The National Alliance for the Mentally
Ill) is a grass roots organization that advocates for persons
with mental illness and their families. We believe, based
on scientific study, that mental illnesses are a biological
brain disorder. They are diseases and like other diseases,
treatment works. We work to educate people in our communities
so that they will understand and recognize mental illness
as a disease and separate the disease from the person. We
work to help people understand that they cannot know or interact
with the person based on their perception of the disease.
Just as we do not identify or stigmatize a person by relating
to them as “a cancer person or a diabetes person”,
we should not define a person by the label of their mental
illness.
STIGMA
We believe that public dialogue on the proposed closing is
a positive activity and that better understanding and better
decisions based on community needs can be achieved. However,
it is painful for families and consumers to hear some of the
comments that are being made regarding the proposed closing
of Harrisburg State Hospital. To that end it is important
that people understand that residents at Harrisburg State
Hospital are citizens, human beings who have diseases that
are being treated. They have done nothing “Bad”
and this is not a forensic unit. They are our neighbors, our
co-workers, people we interact with in our places of worship.
They are our children, spouses siblings and friends. They
are not being unleashed on the community. They are important
members of our communities and they have every right to a
peaceful productive place in our communities. Many will require
support and special services as do persons with other diseases
and health problems. But all should be treated with respect.
We encourage community members to contact NAMI, the state
OMHSAS and other advocacy organizations like The Mental Health
Association, The Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society and the
Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers Association, to learn
about mental illness.
HISTORY
In the past, many people with a mental illness lived without
hope. We have benefited from advancements in treatment and
in the use and development of new medications. Consequently,
many people with a mental illness are able to lead productive
lives, to work and raise families. We support any activity
that will help to continue improvement in the quality of the
lives of those who have a mental illness. We view the proposed
closing as an opportunity to significantly improve our system
of care in this part of the state.
Statement of Commitment
It is natural, whether you have a mental illness or are “normal”,
when your care is dependent on others, to have fear because
of uncertainty of how the quality of your life will be affected
by proposed changes. The state has promised that no person
will be moved to an inadequate placement and that they will
work directly with families and consumers to ensure that placement
have the support and access to services and that placements
will be in safe environments. NAMI Pennsylvania commits itself
to working to ensure that these promises are honored.
WE SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY PLACEMENT. NAMI Pennsylvania
WILL SUPPORT THE PROPOSED CLOSING OF HARRISBURG STATE HOSPITAL.
BUT WE MUST BE ASSURED THAT THE SYSTEM THAT WILL REPLACE THE
HOSPITAL WILL BE BETTER THAN THAT CURRENTLY PROVIDED.
Our issues have to do with process, time frames and funding.
We applaud the State for it’s commitment to improve
the quality of life for our family members and we make a commitment
to work with the State to help insure that planning and implementation
meet the needs of consumers and family members. We would also
like to express our appreciation to the clinical, direct care
and administrative staff at Harrisburg State Hospital. Thank
you for the care you continue to provide to our family members.
It is our sincere hope that opportunities to capture your
experience and expertise in community settings will be possible.
The following discussion outlines our concerns and makes
recommendations to address these concerns. It is important
for us, as advocates, to ask these questions to insure that
our members concerns are given adequate consideration.
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