| Earlier this month, thanks to Kevin Fitts, MindFreedom Oregon was alerted about two important pieces of mental health legislation. Two bills are under consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee chaired by Senator Floyd Prozanski. One of them, if passed, will make it easier for individuals to be subjected to harmful ‘treatment’ against their will. Another bill prioritizes out-patient involuntary treatment in the community over meeting basic needs such as housing. If you already took action, thank you! For those who did not, time is running out and your help is urgently needed! Below is a summary of both bills provided by the Subcommittee for Voice/Inclusion as well as directions for contacting your Senator (or signing up to testify virtually at the hearing on Monday). Both Senate Bills can be viewed HERE. The full draft copy of the bill can be viewed HERE 2021 Concerns by Subcommittee for Voice/Inclusion of Oregonians with Lived Experience in the Mental Health System Two Flawed State Senate Bills Being Considered by State Sen. Prozanski’s Work Group on Mental Health Senate Bill (SB) 187 which Defines “danger to self or others. ” We are concerned about the attempt to define “danger” in this bill. SB187 is an unnecessary and ill-informed attempt to legislate support for individuals experiencing mental health challenges, whether the support is helpful or not. The concepts central to SB187 are “dangerousness” and requiring individuals to accept existing services. SB187 uses unscientific definitions of dangerousness and harm;SB187 ignores the ineffectiveness of forcing individuals to accept services;SB187 does not account for what existing services are actually available;SB187 makes it easier for citizens to lose their civil rights and liberties;Typical pharmaceutical treatments can have significant, even fatal, risks. A reputable landmark study by the McArthur Foundation found that there is virtually no factual basis for most metrics designed to assess this type of “danger”: https://macarthur.virginia.edu/risk.html Senate Bill (SB) 189, Trial visit expansion. We are concerned about the increase in coercion of mental health consumers in outpatient situations in Oregon. This bill mandates more outpatient care, though leaves the terms of this care undefined. We are concerned about requiring certain types of mental health care without providing basic needs for consumers. SB189 attempts to prioritize certain services within an under-resourced system. This bill ignores the lack of community services necessary at a time of crisis, and the lack of accessible services in general. Requiring that trial visits must include outpatient care means treating every patient the same with a “cookie cutter approach.” It does not make sense to require outpatient care if, for example, housing assistance is not available. While finding housing may be listed as a “goal” for the consumer in the bill, the bill does not provide those services as such. Also, please help us track another important bill to establish several peer respites in Oregon HERE More information on Subcommittee & to get on our email news list: revolution@aciu.info If you would like to learn more about peer-led legislative initiatives in Oregon, visit Oregon Peer Legislative Action Team HERE. If you are interested in getting involved with MindFreedom Oregon, see HERE or contact David Oaks at revolution@aciu.info |
ACTIONS TO TAKE Using the Bullet Points Provided Above…. 1) Contact Senator Prozanski Senator Floyd Prozanski Party: Democratic Party District: 04 Phone: 503-986-1704 Address: 900 Court St NE, S-413, Salem, OR, 97301 Sen.FloydProzanski@oregonlegislature.gov http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/prozanski 2) Sign up to Testify at Senate Hearing on Monday, March 15, 2021 Senate Bill 187 Hearing Date: March 15, 2021 Senate Judiciary Committee Directions to Sign up to Testify Remotely or Submit Testimony in Advance HERE Senate Bill 189 Hearing Date: March 15, 2021 Senate Judiciary Committee Directions to Sign up to Testify Remotely or Submit Testimony in Advance HERE 3) Find Your Senator Find your Senator HERE(Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee listed HERE 4) Alert the Media Write a letter to the Oregonian HERE Register-Guard Email 200 words or fewer to rgletters@registerguard.com. Include your full name, mailing address and phone number for purposes of verification. If accepted, only your name and city will be published. |
