Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dr. Victoria Phillips, CEO and Founder of Visionary V Ministries
5:44:00
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68 sec
Dr. Victoria Phillips, CEO of Visionary V Ministries, addresses the council on mental health crisis response and the impact of mental health issues on incarceration, particularly for women at Rikers Island. She criticizes the current mental health crisis response system and advocates for better funding and care.
- Questions why BeHeard, NYC's mental health crisis response, is not available 24/7
- Highlights that over 80% of women in Rikers have mental health concerns
- Emphasizes the cascading effects of incarceration on families, including child custody and housing loss
Victoria Phillips
5:44:00
Peace and blessings chairs and council members.
5:44:02
I'm chaplain doctor Victoria Phillips, CEO and founder of Visionary View Ministries, co founder of Gels Action Coalition, and lead organizer in the Beyond Rosies Campaign.
5:44:10
Few points, if be heard in New York City is the urgent response to mental health crisis, why is it still not twenty four seven?
5:44:18
Name one New York City ER that closes overnight.
5:44:22
As a chaplain and brain surgery survivor and army brat, I want to say all on domestic soil are worthy of adequate access to care.
5:44:31
As a mental health professional and from my nursing days on Rikers and state prisons, I know firsthand many in mental health crisis like veterans left to self medicate, traffic women, DV survivors often end up in Rikers.
5:44:45
Over eighty percent of the women's right now in Rikers have a mental health concern.
5:44:48
Over seventy five percent go into detainment being primary caregivers.
5:44:52
Their children often end up in ACS custody.
5:44:55
Housing is often lost.
5:44:56
Lives change forever.
5:44:58
I could go on and on for days but I know I don't have the time.
5:45:01
So I beg this council to actually start funding heartbeats and not political agendas.
5:45:07
Peace and blessings.