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by
Moira Artigues -- President, CGPS
I wanted to briefly report back to you on the meeting at the UNC School
of Social Work that was held last Friday, November 3rd. The meeting was
co-sponsored by CGPS (and other mental health advocacy groups) and was
part of the clinical lecture series at the school. The meeting was the
first part of a two-part series entitled, "Advocating for Mental
Health"--this, the first part, dealing with Mental Health Reform. This
was an opportunity to discuss the recent mental health reforms that have
taken place in North Carolina as a community. I would estimate there
were about 100 people there! The format was a panel discussion. The
panelists included clinicians both involved in reform (and one who was
not directly involved), as well as Verla Insko, NC House Co-Chair,
Legislative Oversight Committee on MH/DD/SA. The discussion was
passionate, heart-felt, and, at times, angry and frustrated--but very
civilized and (I thought) productive. If anyone would like to hear more
about it, let me know. CGPS was represented by Jeanine Driscoll, Ph.D.,
Member At Large, and Jane Finch, our listserv master. I was very proud
to have co-sponsored such an interesting and civic-minded event. The
second part of the series (which I also hope to co-sponsor) will be on
Friday, February 3, 2007, 1:30-5:30 p.m. at the School of Social Work,
and will focus on mental health parity. Did you know there has been a
parity bill every year for the past four to five years in the General
Assembly and it has never passed? We are the grassroots. This meeting
was a helpful reminder of that.
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