GOVERNOR SIGNS LANDMARK LEGISLATION ON MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR NEW YORK’S ELDERLY 
Creates National Model to Prepare for the Elder Boom

            New York, NY (August 24, 2005) - The Geriatric Mental Health Act (A.7672/S.4742) was signed last night by Governor George E. Pataki.  It is the first bill of its kind nationwide to help meet the growing mental health challenges of the elder boom.

            Forged by a bipartisan group of visionary Assemblymembers, Senators, and Pataki Administration officials, the Act will establish a services demonstration grants program and an interagency geriatric mental health planning council.

            “Existing services, workforce, and state planning activities are inadequate to meet the special mental health needs of older adults. It’s just common sense to set a process of preparation in motion,” declared Senator Nicholas Spano (R – Yonkers), Senior Assistant Majority Leader and the primary sponsor in the Senate.

            “It has long been said that those who fail to plan are planning to fail.  The Geriatric Mental Health Act engages New York in a planning process that will help us better prepare for the growing mental health needs of our ever-growing elder population,” stated Peter Rivera, prime sponsor of the Act in the Assembly and Chairman of its Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

“This landmark legislation will prepare for the vast increase of the number of  Americans 65 and older over the next 25 years, from 35 to 70 million, and the consequent growth of older adults with mental disorders from 7 million to 14 million. Approximately 800,000 of these seniors will reside in New York State,” said Giselle Stolper, Executive Director of the Mental Health Assocation of New York City.

“Currently the mental health system does not provide adequate services for older adults.  Without the steps included in this Act, these shortfalls will rise to critical proportions in the years to come,” said Carolyn Hedlund, Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of Westchester.  “We applaud the action of the Governor and the legislature in laying the groundwork for a long-term plan that could no longer be delayed.”

            Untreated mental health conditions can have dreadful consequences such as the exacerbation of physical illnesses, unnecessary disability, and premature death.  For example, older adults are much more likely to commit suicide than any other population, including teenagers.  Currently, about 2 to 3 million American seniors suffer from major depression.  About 20% of them get the help they need, even though studies point to a 60-80% success rate for those who do get treatment.

The Act recognizes the need for innovation to meet the unique mental health needs of older adults.  The services demonstration grants will foster the development of new approaches to help older adults live in the community; to improve access to, and the quality of, mental health services; to integrate mental health, health, and aging services; to increase the capacity of the system to serve cultural minorities; to enhance caregiver supports; and to build a clinically and culturally competent workforce.

            The Act also establishes an interagency planning process which will foster the integration of mental health, health, and aging services, which is critical for effective service delivery for older adults.

The major bill sponsors also included Senators Thomas Morahan (R – Orange/Rockland Counties), Chair of the Mental Health Committee, and Martin Golden (R – Brooklyn), Chair of Aging Committee, as well as Assemblyman Steven Englebright (D – Suffolk County), Chair of the Aging Committee. 

The MHAs of NYC and of Westchester are leading mental health advocacy, education, and service organizations.  Their initiatives shape public policies and perceptions to improve treatment and increase acceptance of people who suffer with  mental illness.  Together they created the Center for Policy and Advocacy in 2003 under the direction of Michael B. Friedman, a leading mental health policy expert. The Center works to mobilize stakeholders and provide visibility and leadership so as to move mental health issues to the top of the political agenda.  The Center established the Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York in 2004. Chaired by Mr. Friedman, it has built up a network of more than 750 individual and organizational members and been a key player in the passage of the Act. 

 “Meeting the mental health needs of our growing population of senior citizens will be extremely challenging,” said Mr. Friedman. “The Geriatric Mental Health Act will stimulate innovative service design and set a planning process in motion.  These are key steps in meeting the mental health challenges of the elder boom.  We are grateful for the visionary leadership of the legislature and the Governor.”