Contact: Sunny Mindel/Brenda Pérez (212) 788-2958
Sandra Mullin, Departments of Health and Mental Health (212) 788-5290
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today was joined by long-time advocate for people with mental illness, U.S. Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico to announce the Treatment is Working campaign, a public education initiative that will address the stigma associated with mental illness and encourage employment of people with mental illness. The advertising campaign and employment initiative will send the message that, with treatment, people with mental illness can work and be productive members of their communities.
Joining the Mayor and the Senator for the announcement were: Health and Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Neal L. Cohen; Special Health Policy Advisor to the Mayor Dr. Rosa Gil; and President of Ingram & Associates D. John Ingram. Also speaking were two of the four mental health consumers featured in the advertising campaign: Executive Director of the Brooklyn Peer Advocacy Center Isaac Brown; and Nelly Valdez, a student and office worker.
"This mental health campaign dispels the common misconception that mental illness cannot be treated and that individuals with mental health problems cannot lead fulfilling, productive lives," Mayor Giuliani said. "Treatment is Working demonstrates that people with mental illness can lead lives that are fulfilling, productive and independent. I urge New Yorkers to set aside prejudices and stereotypes about people with mental illness."
Senator Pete V. Domenici -- said, "Those who suffer from mental illness do not receive the same kind of compassion as those who are physically ill. They and their families must deal with the additional hardship of stigma. The failure to see mental illness as a disease of the brain, on par with diseases of the body, poses a barrier to desperately needed treatment. This is especially unfortunate since there are effective treatments today that allow the mentally ill to lead full and productive lives."
Commissioner Neal L. Cohen, M. D., said, "This campaign underscores the fact that mental illness is treatable. The treatment success rates for even the most serious illnesses now exceed 70 percent. Unfortunately, only 8 million out of 51 million Americans who experience mental illness seek help, largely because mental illness is perceived as personal failure.
"Our campaign sends an important message that most individuals who are mentally ill are law-abiding, tax-paying and employable citizens. We want the public, particularly employers and the business community, to see that a significant number of those with a psychiatric disability want to work and -- with treatment -- can and do work successfully," the Commissioner concluded.
The Treatment is Working campaign features ads in the transit system and in local newspapers, depicting people who -- with treatment -- are managing their mental illnesses and holding jobs. The posters also provide information and a referral telephone number -- 1 (800) LIFENET-- to help New Yorkers with mental health problems gain access to mental health treatment, employment and support services.
In addition, the Department of Mental Health is launching an initiative to foster hiring partnerships between businesses and nonprofit organizations. An effort to make employment an integral part of mental health treatment through a City-wide Employment Center will also be established this summer. The Center will offer employment educational resources to organizations that provide mental health services.