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The bill (S.632A), sponsored by Carlucci, would create the "Mental Illness Anti-Stigma Fund, which would allow New Yorkers to support mental health educational programs by donating while they're doing their taxes. A tax check-off box would appear on New York State income forms; donations would be gifts, not tax deductions.
"Over $50 million has been raised by tax check-off boxes on New York State income tax forms," the Senator added. "The biggest challenge of mental health is the wall, the stigma, the fear to be found out."
In particular, veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars commit suicide at a rate of one per hour, Carlucci said. "More vets are being killed by suicide than enemy combatants.
The bill, which Rockland MHA partnered with, is awaiting the Governor's signature.
"Anything that can increase awareness, heighten sensitivity, and decrease stigmatization, is a good thing," said Stephanie Madison, MHA's CEO.
Nearly one of out of five individuals lives with a mental illness, and nearly two-thirds of those diagnosed with mental illness do not seek treatment. The reason, too often, is that people are afraid to be stigmatized, or labeled.
Madison pointed out that every time a violent crime happens in this country, there's an assumption that the perpetrator suffers from mental illness. While sometimes that's true, Madison said people who suffer mental illness are more likely to be victims rather than perpetrators.
Carlucci's online petition to urge the Governor to sign the bill is available online. https://www.change.org/p/new-york-governor-governor-andrew-cuomo-governor-cuomo-please-sign-s-632a-a-833a-into-law-to-fight-the-stigma-of-mental-illness?recruiter=337674023&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink
Supporters can use the hasttag FightMHStigma to spread the word on social media.
The petition has about 300 signatures so far. The Gov. will be deciding the fate of the bill in a week.
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