Creates a public education initiative designed to eliminate stigma and misinformation about mental illness and chemical dependence among military service members.

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S4760A-2011 Actions

• Apr 30, 2012: REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
• Mar 30, 2012: PRINT NUMBER 4760A
• Mar 30, 2012: AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
• Apr 20, 2011: REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

S4760A-2011 Meetings

Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities: Apr 30, 2012

S4760A-2011 Votes

S4760A-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S4760A

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to creating a public
education initiative designed to eliminate stigma and misinformation
about mental illness and chemical dependence among military service
members; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon
expiration thereof

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Creates a public education initiative designed to eliminate stigma and
misinformation about mental illness and chemical dependence among
military service members.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one amends section 7.09 of the Mental Hygiene law by requiring
the commissioner of the office of mental health the commissioner of
the office of mental health, in conjunction with the commissioner of
the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services and director of
the division of veterans' affairs to create a public education
initiative designed to eliminate stigma and misinformation about
mental illness and chemical dependence among service members,
veterans, and their families, improve their understanding of mental
and substance use disorders and the existence of effective treatment,
and provide information regarding available resources and how to
access them.

Section two provides the effective date and expiration date of June
30, 2014.

JUSTIFICATION:
Through their service, many military personnel in New York were
exposed to or have experienced trauma, placing many of them in high
risk categories of triggering underlying conditions, such as Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse problems or other
mental health issues.
According to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, at least
one in three Iraq veterans and one in nine Afghanistan veterans will
face a mental health issue like depression, anxiety, or PTSD.

According to the United States substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration, "the impact of military reality on
individual mental health is complicated further by the pronounced
stigma associated with mental illness within military communities.
Service members frequently cite fear of personal embarrassment, fear
of disappointing comrades fear of losing the opportunity for career
advancement, and fear of dishonorable discharge as motivations to
hide the symptoms of
mental illness from colleagues, friends and family. This silence and
the attitudes and perceptions perpetuating it pose a significant

challenge to those charged with making sure that the United States
fighting force is improving itself and taking care of its own members."

Left untreated, combat-related mental health issues can and does
destroy the lives of veterans and their families. Untreated combat
related mental health issues can manifest itself through substance
abuse, the criminal justice system, and suicide. These brave
Americans have laid their lives on the line in service to their
country. Until stigma is addressed and the reality of the mental
health needs of military veterans is fully recognized, our returning
troops and veterans from wars past will continue to suffer.

FISCAL IMPLICATION:
Not yet determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately:

S4760A-2011 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                   4760--A

                         2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                               April 20, 2011
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by Sen. McDONALD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
    printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Develop-
    mental Disabilities -- recommitted to the Committee on  Mental  Health
    and  Developmental Disabilities in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec.
    8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as  amended
    and recommitted to said committee

  AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to creating a public
    education  initiative  designed to eliminate stigma and misinformation
    about mental illness and chemical dependence  among  military  service
    members;  and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expira-
    tion thereof

    THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
  BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


    Section 1. Section 7.09 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding
  a new subdivision (k) to read as follows:

    (K)  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  GENERAL OR SPECIAL LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE
  COMMISSIONER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  ALCOHOLISM  AND
  SUBSTANCE  ABUSE  SERVICES AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF VETERANS'
  AFFAIRS SHALL DEVELOP A PUBLIC EDUCATION INITIATIVE DESIGNED  TO  ELIMI-
  NATE STIGMA AND MISINFORMATION ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AND CHEMICAL DEPEND-
  ENCE  AMONG SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES, IMPROVE THEIR
  UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND THE EXISTENCE OF
  EFFECTIVE  TREATMENT,  AND  PROVIDE  INFORMATION   REGARDING   AVAILABLE
  RESOURCES AND HOW TO ACCESS THEM. THESE PUBLIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES MAY
  INCLUDE  THE USE OF THE INTERNET, INCLUDING THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING
  SITES.
    S 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire  on  June
  30,  2014 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed
  repealed.

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD03966-02-2