"Many Americans may not immediately recognize the significance of what Congress has accomplished," NAMI executive director Laurie Flynn declared. "But for others, these particular sections of the bill will make a difference between life and death. People with mental illnesses who may become hospitalized or be treated in other facilities will now be protected under federal law by national standards that restrict the use of R/S to emergency safety situations."

"It is a victory for all Americans," Flynn said. "No one is immune from mental illness. What affects one person could affect any of us at any time. Passage of the legislation is a victory for individual dignity and human rights."

For two years, NAMI has led efforts to enact such legislation, beginning with NAMI-Connecticut leaders who persuaded The Hartford Courant to launch a national investigation of deaths and injuries due to the improper use of restraints. Published in October 1998, the investigation documented 142 deaths over a 10-year period and produced an estimate from the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis of between 50 and 150 deaths annually, most of which go unreported.

When Senators Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Pete Stark (D- CA) introduced legislation to address the issue in March 1999, five additional deaths had occurred. Four involved youth under age 18. One was a nine-year old boy. Subsequently, Representative Chris Shays (R-CT) introduced additional legislation. 

"We are grateful to the sponsors of the Congressional legislation, as well as to Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA), and many others. This truly has been a bipartisan effort. There is much credit to go around," Flynn said.

H.R. 4365 is a broad bill, which includes reauthorization of the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and other issues of importance to the mental health community. The new national standards apply only to psychiatric treatment facilities and group homes, and will not affect any use of R/S in schools, wilderness camps, jails or prisons.

With more than 210,000 members, NAMI is the nation's leading grassroots advocacy organization solely dedicated to improving the lives of persons with severe mental illnesses including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and severe anxiety disorders.

SOURCE: National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

WEB SITE: http://www.nami.org/

CO: National Alliance for the Mentally Ill; U.S. Congress