Regina Sesoms

Hello, my name is Regina Sessoms and I am a mental health consumer. Although newly diagnosed in 1995, I believe symptoms were present long before then. I am here today to offer enlightenment of the plight of my fellow consumers that are presently housed in our state hospitals.

I have read the re-direction plan that has been proposed for the closing of Greystone Hospital. Some parts are good like the development of community programs for 388 state hospital patients across the system who have been deemed appropriate for less restrictive environments and the further expansion of services for people with mental illness already living in the community in order to improve treatment and avert future hospital admissions. However, some parts are ironical. In one sentence you state that you are closing the hospital but building a more modernized version. What if anything is going to be different about this hospital? The fact that it's going to be smaller, perhaps have a pretty environment with beautifully painted walls, with an up to date software for the computer system and nice furniture does not make it not what it really is - another institution. The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in New Jersey, one of the most expensive states to live in is about $809.00. You are planning to spend 5.4 million dollars on this new building. You can house over 540 people in their own home for that money, which has proven to be a better aversion to hospitalization than any institution. In another sentence you state that you are not letting go of any employees but that you will be phasing out various positions. So, in other words, as some of the staff comes up for retirement or quit, you will not be hiring new ones to replace them again causing the ratio of staff to patient greater. What if anything is going to be done for those present staff as far as training is concerned? What is going to be done to change their now hardened hearts back into the good hearts they had when they first entered into their positions, with aspirations of helping and making a difference? Staff needs training outside of the medical model and into the wellness model. Cultural diversification needs to be addressed and all staff needs to be made more sensitive to the needs and the differences in the se needs of the consumer.

I have been hospitalized several times in private hospitals. A few times at Shoreline Behavioral Health in Lakewood, a couple of times in CentraState Hospital in Freehold and once at Jersey Shore Hospital. The thing I found interesting was that all three institutions differed drastically in their treatment. But they all had one thing in common - None of them addressed the crux of the problem that got me there in the first place. All of the institutions I stayed at had planned groups and activities for the day, none of which touched on the underlining reasons why I was there. The only exception was when I was mistaken for a MICA patient at Shoreline. Then and only then was the reason why I felt I should die addressed. However as a "normal" psychiatric patient in the committed or voluntary ward all we discussed were the rules, what our goal for the day was, and at the end of the day we were asked how our day was and did we attain our goal. I spent endless hours in silence, looking at television or just sleeping. Every now and then we had arts and crafts and played pictionary. Oh and let me not forget the three minute meeting I had with the doctor each day which was a waste. I guess what I'm trying to say is that unless you develop groups that get to the crux of the problem with the person and institute groups to help them; the recidivism rate is always going to be high. Unless you really reach out and touch the person, and I don't mean physically, you will always have a reason to have a hospital.

Research shows that patients do better in treatment when they choose their own psychiatrist. Why? Because of control. Because of choice. This is a very integral part of recovery because if you don't trust your attending physician, you won't confide in him or her when things are going wrong or trust anything he may say in the treatment of your illness. So, the consumers coming out of the hospital should have freedom to choose who their doctor should be. There should be more day programs that teach relapse prevention skills, living skills and medication education. The consumer/survivor should be given not only a psychiatrist for medication management, but also a therapist to address the underlying reason for the illness. They should not all be herded to one location where they have to wait weeks for an appointment and the appointments should be time allotted in a way that the person is not waiting hours to see their provider when they get there.

The biggest concern is the need of housing and housing assistance payments for people with special needs. This requires support services to assist them with daily living needs and a listening ear when necessary. The average income of a person on Social Security Income is about $581.25 per month and the cost of a single necessary repair or the cost of their medication could result in eviction because of a missed month's rent. This worry never leaves the mind of the consumer because if they should become hospitalized for an extended period of time the loss of their residence is inevitable. This causes a greater problem because without a home the individual cannot leave the hospital. So, the time spent in the hospital in which the person is supposed to concentrate on recovery is spent worrying if they'll be able to leave. I know this feeling oh too well. I had to stay in the hospital longer than I was suppose to because I had lost my home, job and car - basically I had lost my life. Eventually I was released when a friend's mother said I could stay with her. Later, when I was able to acquire a place it was with someone else and we were two people pooling our Social Security benefits to secure a sub-standardized housing unit to be called home. It had poor lighting, a broken stove, mice and was in a bad neighborhood. In short it had all the makings of a not too far to be called a condemned building. But it was home and if I had to go back into the hospital I had someplace I could come back to, it was mine and no one could take it away. However, the conditions and the environment did affect me. I felt hopeless, I felt inferior.

I presently work for a non-profit organization that provides safe, decent affordable housing for people with mental illness named Butterfly Property Management. We presently house over 170 mental health consumers in decent neighborhoods. The overwhelming look of relief that comes over the face of the consumer when they sign the lease and they hear me say that this is permanent housing is something to be cherished. The thing that is unique about our housing is that it is in conjunction with support services, which is voluntary. Many of them join the Client Trust Account to assist them in managing their resources. Our support services helps them monitor their medication, take them shopping or to the doctors and offers companionship should they need it. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and it has become a pivotal reason why the re-admission rates into the hospital of our residents is so low.

In a survey, American people have said that they believe in equal care for mental illness and that every person needing care should have access to a psychiatrist of their choice. Don't assume that because you do not have a mental illness that you don't need to be concerned about the type of care that is offered. It is estimated that one in four adults will suffer from a mental illness or substance use disorder in any year. We can be your mother, father, sister or brother. We can be your neighbors or we can be you. Ask yourself, "are you willing to take the chance for recovery utilizing what is being offered today." I think not!!! Thank you.

Regina A. Sessoms.

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