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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Mbacke Thiam, Housing and Health Community Organizer from Center for Independence of the Disabled New York
6:35:36
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129 sec
Mbacke Thiam, representing the Center for Independence of the Disabled New York, advocated for improved mental health services and support for people with disabilities. The testimony focused on the implementation of BeHeard program, concerns about involuntary hospitalization, and the need for mental health support in schools.
- Urged full funding and expansion of the BeHeard program to the Bronx and Staten Island
- Highlighted issues with involuntary removal and hospitalization of people with mental health issues
- Called for increased funding for mental health support in NYC schools and for independent living centers like CIDNY
Mbacke Thiam
6:35:36
Everyone.
6:35:36
My name is Mabaki Jom.
6:35:38
I'm the housing and health community organizer at the Center for Independence of the Disabled New York.
6:35:43
We advocate for people with disabilities in the fiber of of New York City.
6:35:50
It's a great pleasure to be here, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to testify.
6:35:55
I wanted to start from the BeHear.
6:35:59
We advocate for the implementation of the BeHear.
6:36:02
And today, we are happy to join this meeting to voice our concern regarding the crisis intervention and emergency response when individuals are in a situation that gets at risk of hurting themselves or others.
6:36:13
Having the mental health counselor along the NYPD and NYNYFT would help de escalate the situation without police brutality.
6:36:21
We encourage the city to fully fund BeHeary and expand the program to the Bronx and Staten Island.
6:36:29
Involuntary removal and hospitalization.
6:36:31
People with mental and behavioral issues are traumatically detained and hospitalized without their will or the one of their family members.
6:36:39
Sometimes they are not attracted to the community, but may not have a safe place to go.
6:36:45
Taking them to hospital possibly undermines our health care system with medical bills that the city will have to pay.
6:36:55
Also, push for the funding of mental health in NYC school.
6:37:01
City schools, city must provide mental health support in schools where students spend much of their time and assist families to facilitate access to treatment for their children with special needs.
6:37:17
Sydney also needs funding.
6:37:19
Independent living centers like Sydney need help and support to keep addressing the health care and housing issues of our 40,000 consumers, and the federal cuts will drastically impact people with mental health with mental and behavioral issues, and also clients with disabilities or chronic.
6:37:39
We thank the Killeen Council for providing us with the opportunity to catch up high.
6:37:44
Thank you.