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HereSince1628

(36,063 posts)
Wed Apr 3, 2013, 08:16 AM Apr 2013

HB 588 "Community Engagement Teams" Passes the {NM} Senate

http://www.grantcountybeat.com/index.php/news/news-releases/9670-hb-588-community-engagement-teams-passes-the-senate

SANTA FE, NM – Legislation that offers an innovative and preventive approach to assisting individuals with mental health issues is on its way to the Governor. House Bill 588 “Community Engagement Teams” (CET), sponsored by House Majority Leader, Rick Miera (D-Bernalillo-11), and Senate President Pro Tem, Mary Kay Papen (D-Doña Ana-38) passed the Senate this afternoon with a vote of 36-1.

The CETs established in HB 588 would assist clients who are unlikely to live safely in their community and who are deemed incapable of making treatment decisions. They often cycle in and out of jail or hospitals or end up homeless. CETs (comprised of medical specialists) would be coordinated through the Behavioral Health Services Division (BHSD) of the NM Human Services Department.

“This is the result of an extensive public discourse with the inclusion of many stakeholders,” says Rep. Miera. “It provides the foundation and the framework to develop a dignified manner in how we respond to help families and their loved ones who struggle with mental illness. The outreach by qualified professionals will provide links to access the help they need. Families and their loved ones deserve to be treated with dignity and this is a major step toward closing the gap that has existed for too long. I thank all those who assisted with what was called a brilliant concept during the hearing process. I am very happy, especially for those who will benefit from our collective efforts.”

Sen. Papen says, “This will help us move forward in helping the mentally ill and their families. There have been far too many tragic stories about the mentally ill who end up in jails, hospitals, or on the streets. This type of voluntary intervention will help them get the proper care they need and give comfort to their families who struggle to cope.”
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HB 588 "Community Engagement Teams" Passes the {NM} Senate (Original Post) HereSince1628 Apr 2013 OP
Exec. Dir. of NM Citizens Commission on Human Rights says maybe NM 588 not so great HereSince1628 Apr 2013 #1

HereSince1628

(36,063 posts)
1. Exec. Dir. of NM Citizens Commission on Human Rights says maybe NM 588 not so great
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 10:01 AM
Apr 2013

Rights of so-called mentally ill may be violated

I have been following House Bill 588, “Community Engagement Teams,” and I was surprised to see that our legislators have passed this piece of legislation.

House Bill 588 proposes that we send teams of mental health counselors and social workers into our communities to “link” those who are deemed mentally ill with mental health services. The bill supposes that such citizens are mentally ill and would be unlikely to live safely in the community without further treatment, though they may not need inpatient care.

This team of “experts” would convince them to go voluntarily to a mental health service facility for evaluation and treatment.

Just because HB 588 was amended to now be “voluntary” does not relieve the fact that people will be approached by these so-called “experts” to get medical treatment and convinced to go.

<snip>

...we are all too ready to accept the word of the psychiatrist that a person’s mental disturbances are so-called disorders that require drastic treatment by mind-altering drugs and other barbaric methods which will put that person under control but certainly not helped.

And with the passage of HB588, we would slide further down that slippery slope by sending even less qualified “experts” as part of the teams to determine that your relative, your neighbor, your co-worker or you are mentally ill and would not be “safe” without treatment.

The fact of the matter is that psychiatric drugs create violence and suicide.

<snip/more>

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