Public Education & Policy :: Archive

CNMHC News Alert, February 2003

COMING EVENTS
Hearing on Seclusion and Restraints
Tuesday, February 25, 2 - 5:30 PM
Room 4203, the Capitol

Senator Wesley Chesbro, as Chair of the Senate Select Committee Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health, is holding a hearing into California's use of seclusion and restraints and best practices developed in other states for reducing seclusion and restraints.

Since July 1999 there have been 22 deaths attributed to restraints in California's psychiatric facilities. Prone restraints are a factor in a significant number of these deaths.

Charles Curie, Administrator of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will be present to offer testimony. Mr. Curie was Deputy Secretary of Pennsylvania's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and pioneered a comprehensive change of culture in Pennsylvania regarding the use of seclusion and restraint. Pennsylvania reduced overall incidents of seclusion and restraint by 74% and reduced the hours that patients spent in seclusion and restraint by 96% over a three-year period. Mr. Curie has said, "Most of our patients are already the victims of trauma. There is no need to reinforce that trauma, or to re-traumatize." (from Seclusion and Restraints: A Failure, Not a Treatment, CA. Senate Office of Research, March, 2002.)

Four CNMHC members from Los Angeles County will lead off the Hearing with stories of their experiences of seclusion and restraints. These four clients are part of a training team developed by the South Region of the CNMHC that has held on going dialogues with in-patient staff about seclusion and restraints.

Annual CNMHC Rally at the Capitol
Thursday, April 10, 2003
Gather at 10 AM on the "L" Street grounds of the State Capitol
Join us at a morning Rally, followed by legislative visits in the afternoon.
Join us to speak out for a system based on consent and concern, not force and fear.

Freedom Conference and Rally
Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and May 18, in San Francisco
With Support Coalition International and Mental Health Consumer Concerns, the CNMHC is co-sponsoring a Rally on Sunday May 18 against the American Psychiatric Association during its annual convention at Moscone Center in San Francisco. We are also offering a Freedom Conference and Fair on May 17, the day before the Rally.

Venues and times for both events are being finalized.
Freedom, Choice and Unity are the battle cries.

For More Information about any of these Coming Events Call:
1-800-626-7447 or
916-443-3232