Petition regarding exclusion of consumers and family members from groups working to solve North Carolina's Mental Health Care Crisis.
Background: Of the 32 members appointed by HHS Secretary Benton to working groups looking at construction of the new Central Hospital, efficient operation of the other state mental hospitals, and crisis services, not one is an individual with a self-acknowledged mental illness or a family member of such individual, although one member is from a substance-abuse background. The following addresses what North Carolina Mental Hope and other organizations find to be an unthinkable and demeaning exclusion.
I believe that with their report to the LOC, these groups are no longer meeting. Regardless of whether or not they are, the slightly modified petition below is meant to be a standard for future administrators and organizations to be judged by,
If you agree click here and send name, county of residence, and telephone (for verification only). If you are endorsing the petition for an organization, please note.
To: Health & Human Services Secretary Dempsey Benton, governors, legislators, and other officials who now or ever do deal with mental health issues.
The following organizations and individuals believe:
That in any discussion of mental health services in North Carolina, the interests of all citizens of North Carolina are best served by including those affected by mental illness as individuals with a diagnosed mental illness as well as family members of such individuals. These are people who have experienced the state's system firsthand and can provide a unique perspective from the very population such discussions are attempting to help. There are many qualified individuals to fill such a role, many of whom also well know the intricacies of the mental health system, Medicaid, and other factors affecting mental health services.
That the number of such individuals serving such groups comprise not less than 25 percent of its membership, with those chosen divided between adult “consumers” and family members of minor children or of adults with an illness. To assure inclusion, we would ask that these members be approximately equal between consumers and family members, with a slight majority being adult consumers. Given that one in four citizens are affected by mental illness in any year, not to mention the impact on family members, loved ones and others, this request seems reasonable and just.
That you and the Department of Health and Human Services and all other governmental departments and officials foster an attitude of inclusion and openness with respect to dealings with mental health issues and the mental health community. For far too long, citizens with a mental illness have been treated as separate and unequal. For the lead agency in the state to exclude "consumers" and family members from discussions on how best to serve them is unconscionable.
To exclude the very group most affected by the policies that may evolve from these groups is to treat them as second-class citizens with second-class illnesses.
David Cornwell
Executive Director
North Carolina Mental Hope
Endorsing Groups And Individuals:
• North Carolina Mental Hope
• North Carolina NAMI
• Wake County Consumer & Family Advisory Council
• Wake County NAMI
• Mental Health Association of
Wilson County
• WNC Families Can
• NAMI - Alamance/Caswell/Rockingham
• NAMI Haywood County
• NAMI Western Carolina
• Community Suuport Professionals, LLC
• F.I.R.S.T
• Alliance of Disability Advocates
Center for Independent Living
• Nicholas E. Stratas, Wake County
• Tom Heffner, Buncombe County
• Robert Allen, Wake County
• Robert Anderson, Henderson County
• Diane Bauknight, Henderson County
• Bob Carey, Yancey County
• Sheila Alexander, Rutherford County
• David Bullins, Cabarrus County
• Beth Garriss Hardy, Rockingham County
• Pat McGinnis, McDowell County
• Elaine Purpel, Guilford County
• Ann Akland, Wake County
• Carolina Ambrose, Wake County
• George Blue, Wake County
• Martha Brock, Wake County
• Bart Kean, Rowan County
• Bonnie Schell, Cabarrus County
• Carol Coonley, Wake County
• Ann Cunninghham, Wake County
• Dr. Kent Earnhardt, Wake County
• John Ely, Wake County
• Eric Fox, Wake County
• Melissa Jemison, Wake County
• Kathleen Osta, Buncombe County
• Elizabeth Owens, Wake County
• Suzanne and James Rider, Onslow County
• Chris Rakes, Wake County
• John Ely, Wake County
• Eric Fox, Wake County
• Allen R. Stallings, Wilson County
• Barbara Barshay, Wilson County
• Beverly Best, Wilson County
• Carlos Burks, Wilson County
• Catherine Piner, Wilson County
• Don Winslow, Wilson County
• Earline Evans, Wilson County
• Eston Smith, Wilson County
• Gail Moore, Wilson County
• Jack Clifford, Wilson County
• Jean Collier, Wilson County
• Laynette Cooley, Wilson County
• Libby Daniell, Wilson County
• Louise Hackney, Wilson County
• Mary Margaret Radford, Wilson County
• Mary Taylor, Wilson County
• Michael Peckerar, Wilson County
• Nancy Sallenger, Wilson County
• Natalie Faulkner, Wilson County
• Patricia Townsend, Wilson County
• Shartra Sylivant, Wilson County
• Jennifer Hancock, Wilson County
• Melissa Jemison, Wake County
• Elizabeth Owens, Wake County
• Rebecca Mitchell, Henderson County
• Chris Rakes, Wake County
• Jeff Smith, Wake County
• Gerri Smith, Wake County
• David Smith, Durham County
• Betty Stanberry, Wake County
• Carla Steiner, Guildford County
• Cynthia Vester, Wake County
• Emmogene D. Edge
• Emma Thorne, Forsyth County
• Brian Bunter, Wake County
• Kathleen Nilsson, Wake County
• Fabiola Sherman, Wake County
• Kurt Markel, Henderson County
• Janet Price-Ferrell, Buncombe County
• Cynthia Sutherland, Buncombe County
• David Smith, Durham County
• David Rains, Mecklenberg
• Montie Barbour
• Mike Weaver, Guilford County
• Mary Reca Todd, Wake County
• Harry & Patricia Meyer, Haywood County
• Suzanne Gernandt, Haywood County
• Kathleen Osta, Buncombe County
• Mary Ann Widenhouse, Macon County
• Marsha Hammond, Buncombe County
• Sandy Goble,Transylvania County
• Louise B. Whealton, Forsyth County
• W.Kent Goddard, Wake County
• Karl Shellenberger, Buncombe County
• Kari Mathisen, Wake County
• Judy D. Sipes - Haywood County
• John Morrison, Buncombe
• Susan M. Daugherty, Henderson County
• Jim Pitts, Buncombe County
• Gerale Condron, Wayne County
• Florence Rowe, Buncombe County
• Ed & Patty Cooper, Buncombe County
• Gloria and Norman Melton
• Christine Smith, Buncombe County
• James Duffy, Buncombe County
• Melanie Lovelace, Buncombe
Avis Hall, Harnett County
• Carol Scholar, Buncombe County
• Bessie Poole, Wilson County
• Rebecca Mitchell, Henderson County
• Heather Drum, Rutherford County NC
• David Cornwell, Buncombe County
• Lane Reid, Buncombe County
• Marlisa Mills, Buncombe county
• Diane Weaver, Henderson County
• Donna Reiley, Henderson County
• Eric Walker, Buncombe County
• Tracey Turner, Buncombe County
• Carla Steiner, Guilford County
• Hayward Silver
• Michelle Lynch
• Tyler Lynch
List of work groups, members, contact information and more here.
Email david@ncmentalhope.org for further information
Learn more about
this issue here.
We urge all individuals and organizations concerned with the fundamental rights and respect due those affected by mental illness to become signatories to this petition.
Please pass this link or the petition on to others:
ncmentalhope.org/petition.html