Contact: Marilynne Herbert or Barbara E. Bellesi; College Connections
(212) 734-2190; [email protected]
For Immediate Release:
Safety Nets Are Needed to Protect the Mentally Ill:
It May Be as Simple as a Friend
Rochester, N.Y. -- In recent weeks, we have seen two highly publicized examples of violence caused by patients suffering from a severe form of mental illness. Michael Laudor, the brilliant Yale Law School graduate who murdered his fiancee, and most recently, Russell Weston, Jr., who murdered Officers Chestnut and Gibson, the two Capitol guards in Washington, D.C. Both Laudor and Weston suffered from schizophrenia.
In the case of Weston, it is reported that he had received no regular psychiatric treatment or medication over the last two decades. The Treatment Center in Arlington, VA reports that of the 2 to 2.5 million Americans with schizophrenia, 40% are not receiving treatment on any given day. It's not uncommon for similar patients to avoid follow-up care and medication after a hospital release. In fact, such patients number in the hundreds of thousands.
"What's missing is an effective safety net," says Bernice Skirboll, executive director and founder of Compeer, an international volunteer organization based in Rochester, N.Y. "When we look at patients suffering from mental illness in particular, a safety net can mean the difference between hospitalization, or the ability to adapt to mainstream society." Today's health insurance policies are designed to discourage access to mental health services, covering fewer inpatient and outpatient visits for mental disorders. Whether or not a safety net is in place is what often makes the difference. "The safety net can be as simple as a compeer or friend," Skirboll added.
Compeer helps people with mental illness live happier, more productive lives. Last year alone, the organization helped over 5,700 clients through Compeer's 120 programs located throughout the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
According to a 1997 survey conducted by Compeer, their clients had a significant reduction in their rate of re-hospitalization, and their emergency room usage declined dramatically. "At a time when managed care is looking more closely at reducing mental health benefits, we have demonstrated that friendship not only can heal - it can save dollars," says Skirboll.
"Compeer is truly one of the outstanding mental health programs of the last two decades," says Dr. John McIntyre, president of the American Psychiatric Association.
The National Mental Health Association reports that the nation's total mental health bill exceeds $150 billion annually. Psychiatric hospitalization costs can range as high as $500 per day, per person, or $200,000 annually. By comparison, the cost of a Compeer friendship averages only $375 or $1,100 per person, per year, depending upon the region.
Some examples of how these Compeer relationships have changed lives have been compiled in a new book, "The Healing Power of Friends," published by Compeer ($10.00 plus postage), to celebrate the organization's 25th anniversary. The book also includes the writings of those who have survived illness and the Holocaust.
For information on Compeer, or to order a copy of the book, call 1-800-836-0475, or [email protected].
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