HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 60

45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

INTRODUCED BY

Gail C. Beam









A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO LEAD A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP PEER-RUN SERVICES AND OTHER NONPROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO ASSIST PERSONS TO COPE WITH AND OVERCOME PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS.



WHEREAS, adults with serious mental illness lack the necessary support and services to live in their communities; and

WHEREAS, adults with serious mental illness often relate more openly to their peers than to professionals; and

WHEREAS, peer-run services act as an adjunct to, rather than a substitute for, psychiatric treatment; and

WHEREAS, several peer-run services are currently available in various parts of the state; and

WHEREAS, peer-run services have been shown to divert persons from potential crisis situations and hospitalizations that would otherwise burden the existing mental health service delivery system;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the behavioral health services division of the department of health be requested to lead a task force to develop peer-run services and other nonprofessional services to assist persons to cope with and overcome persistent mental illness; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include representation from the behavioral health services division of the department of health, a statewide alliance for the mentally ill, an existing consumer-operated drop-in center, an association for the depressed and manic-depressed, an organization that provides a "warm-line" telephone service and other appropriate participants as determined by the department of health; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the behavioral health services division of the department of health present its findings to the legislative finance committee and to the legislative health and human services committee by October 30, 2002; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the department of health, the legislative finance committee and the legislative health and human services committee.

- 3 -