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Q&A
Council Member Cabán questions DOHMH on mental health peers and involuntary hospitalizations
1:11:01
·
3 min
Council Member Tiffany Cabán engages in a Q&A session with Acting Commissioner Michelle Morse, focusing on the use of mental health peers in DOHMH programs and the approach to involuntary hospitalizations. Cabán argues for the expansion of support programs and housing as alternatives to involuntary hospitalization.
- Morse highlights the importance and effectiveness of peers in mental health programs
- Discussion on involuntary hospitalization as a last resort and the need for a strong continuum of care
- Cabán criticizes the mayor and governor's approach to expanding involuntary hospitalization as "lazy" and "inhumane"
Tiffany Cabán
1:11:01
In your testimony mentioned the use of mental health peers in several of your programs.
1:11:08
I have a lot of time, so really briefly, why are they used and why is it important?
Michelle Morse
1:11:12
Thank you for the question.
1:11:15
Number one, there's tremendous evidence that peers are an essential part of the mental health workforce that have phenomenal outcomes in the work that they do.
1:11:25
So peers are used in a number of different programs and spaces across the health department.
1:11:30
Some of the peers are specifically focused on substance use.
1:11:34
Others are focused on severe mental And peers are also involved in many of our models like the clubhouse model.
1:11:39
So we rely very heavily on peers.
1:11:42
As I mentioned, over 600 peers work across our programs in the health department either directly employed by us or employed by our contractors.
Tiffany Cabán
1:11:50
Thank you.
1:11:51
I just I know that you can't and won't speculate on why BEHERD doesn't use PEERS, but I think you laid out an incredible argument for the use of PEERS in all of these interventions and that it should, in my view, and certainly a lot of my colleagues, peers should absolutely be used in the be heard response as well.
1:12:10
I I just wanna also follow-up on what, Chair Lee was talking.
1:12:14
The the subject of involuntary hospitalizations and points of improvement.
1:12:19
Would you, and these are just very quick questions, would you agree that involuntary hospitalization should be a last resort?
Michelle Morse
1:12:26
As I mentioned in my comments, we believe in investing in housing, access to care, making sure that people with severe mental illness have all of the programs and supports they need, and that as a last resort there is sometimes the need use the Totally.
Tiffany Cabán
1:12:43
Yeah, total agreement there.
1:12:44
Would you agree that then based on the things that you just mentioned that you can reduce the need for involuntary hospitalizations by strengthening the continuum of mental health care and housing support?
1:12:55
I mean that's essentially what you just said, yes?
Michelle Morse
1:12:57
We really do believe that stable housing, access to healthcare, access to very high quality behavioral healthcare, that those are really the pillars and evidence based care for people with severe mental illness.
1:13:11
Thank you.
1:13:11
But there are occasions where involuntary hospitalization is appropriate.
Tiffany Cabán
1:13:16
Thank you.
1:13:16
And just to to end by putting that all into context, it sounds like, yes, involuntary hospitalizations are not the right intervention always.
1:13:23
It should be a a last resort, and that there is a lot of data research evidence to show that strengthening housing and the continuum of mental health care can reduce the number of acute incidences that lead to involuntary hospitalization.
1:13:38
And I think what we have heard in the previous testimony and answers that you have given is that we have these really great programs and they're not scaled to the size that we need in terms of seeing the wait list or not having enough beds, whether it's JISH or other models of supported housing.
1:13:54
And so I just want to lay out the argument that, and this is not a condemnation of you all, but to say that the governor and the mayor's approach and strategy to expanding involuntary hospitalization is lazy, it's inhumane, and it's an easy way to disappear a problem while increasing trauma when the solutions are right in front of us.
1:14:22
Being able to build out the money and the support needed for the programs, the housing, and maybe, I don't know, not the $400 plus million to make the retail on Fifth Avenue look nicer is what I read this morning.
1:14:35
So just thank you.
1:14:37
And thank you, chairs.