Salt Lake City, UT – Friday, March 6, 2015
USARA and NAMI Utah host 7th Annual RALLY FOR ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY!
Pre-Rally Event: 11:00 a.m. WALK TO REMEMBER – Lives Lost from Addiction and Mental Illness. Walk begins on south side steps of Utah State Capitol Building, once around the Capitol grounds in silence.
Where: Utah State Capitol Rotunda
Time: 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Why: To raise public awareness for issues impacting Utahns who live with substance use disorders and/or mental illness, and to support current legislation that will increase access to medical care, treatment and recovery services.
Who: Invited speakers include: Senator Brian Shiozawa, Representative Eric Hutchings, behavioral health community leaders, people in recovery and family members. We invite all Utahns to join together in support of those who live with the challenges of addiction and mental illness and to celebrate the successes in their Recovery!
Details on Critical Issues:
In 2014 the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (dsamh.utah.gov) reported numbers of Utahns in need of treatment and the actual number of clients able to access public funding for behavioral health services are as follows:
We Support Healthy Utah SB164: Utah’s health care crisis deserves critical attention from our Utah legislators, who have the power to determine how Utahns will access health care for medical care and behavioral health treatment. Over the past several years, funding cuts for behavioral health services have seriously reduced treatment access for thousands of Utah citizens. When services aren’t available for people with a chronic and debilitating illness, the need is not deterred or diminished. Services end up being consumed in more costly, less effective settings such as emergency rooms, jails and prisons. We believe with access to a comprehensive health care plan, previously uninsured, hardworking Utahns would have a greater chance to recover and live full and productive lives. People with substance use disorders and mental health conditions that engage in services to assist them in maintaining recovery are able to return to work and/or attend school, improving the overall quality of their lives and the lives of those around them. Ensuring that children and adults get the appropriate care, in the appropriate setting and in a timely manner is good for all Utahns.
We Support Criminal Justice Reform: Two proposed bills for the 2015 legislative session promote excellent possibilities for real criminal justice reform that could actually reduce our prison population by up to 25% in the next decade.
For more information on the Rally for Addiction and Mental Health Recovery or to schedule an interview please contact:
Mary Jo McMillen, Executive Director
USARA (Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness)
385.210.0320
Email: maryjo@myusara.com
www.myusara.com
Jamie Justice, Executive Director
NAMI-Utah (National Alliance on Mental Illness-Utah)
801.869.2880
Email: jamie@namiut.org
www.namiut.org