Plattsburgh’s push for mental health services

By: Kristen Suarez

PLATTSBURGH— The demand for funds in mental health has increased and the Plattsburgh community has big plans. On Sept., 5, 2015 Governor Cuomo announced the State Office of Mental Health provided programs with $20 million across New York State.

“New York State has a $59 million expansion plan, and of that $59 million, $1.05 million goes to The North Country Mobile Integration Team.” New York State, Agency Official, said. He explained that the Mobile program was put in place to help children and families take care of mental health issues before they escalate to hospital care.

“There are 15 full time employees, and 660 individuals have been helped from June 2014 to July 2015, through The North Country Mobile Integration alone,” Agency Official, said.

The North Country program is made up of Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, and Essex counties. The team goes into community member’s homes, schools and residential programs.

“SUNY Plattsburgh is not under the Office of Mental Health therefore we don’t have access to the money, but that does not mean however that appropriate refusals can’t be made out to that program,” said Christine Minck, SUNY Plattsburgh’s Assistant Coordinator of Psychiatric Service. “If there was a student at the psych center in the hospital, who couldn’t get access to counseling, this may be reason to fill out a referral," Minck said. 

“There is a never ending need for investment in programs such as ours. Sadly, the SUNY budget has serious limitations and higher education does not seem to be a priority for our Governor and legislatures,” said Dr. David Stone, the coordinator of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program, while speaking about SUNY Plattsburgh’s graduate program.

“Any infusion of monies to broaden the delivery of mental health services in the North Country is an improvement,” Dr. Stone said. “The level of poverty in the region prevents many people from seeking mental health services, in the U.S., the poor and uninsured will present at a hospital emergency room for treatment.”

Agency Official said, “These services are made to help community members stay in school, and work by providing mobile mental health care to those in need.”

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