NAMI in the News: Does the Buffalo region need a second comprehensive emergency psychiatric program?
Link to Interview with NAMI Executive Director, Jeffrey Pirrone, and former Executive Director and mental health advocate, Michele Brooks here.
As the governor moves forward with her $1 billion plan to improve mental health services, some are asking if it is time for decisionmakers to consider a second CPEP in the Buffalo region to serve those in mental health crisis.
A continuing series by News 4 Investigates on mental health challenges in the region.
ECMC’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) is the only safety-net hospital in this region that provides around-the-clock care to those in a mental health crisis.
Faced with an increase in complaints about the facility, ECMC took a deeper look at the first half of operations last year. They realized CPEP was in “surge” almost half the time.
A surge can mean there is an influx of patients that need psychological assessments, or there are patients in acute psychotic situations that can overwhelm nurses and aides.
But surge is not just a number anymore.
“From July, Agust, September, and Novemeber, we’ve been above 60% for surge levels,” Schoelerman said. “Then they stop for a couple of days and then we might get them again. So, as far as predicting, we are working diligently now to try to put that together.”
News 4 Investigates has taken a deep look at the mental health challenges in the region, and one of the top issues raised by advocates continues to be to improve care at CPEP.
Over the past year, News 4 Investigates has interviewed dozens of former CPEP patients, workers, and mental health advocates who had critical remarks about ECMC’s emergency psychiatric program.
Patients also complained about violence in the CPEP milieu, a lack of chairs and mattresses to sleep or rest, rude staff, and terrible food.
And workers said the unit is often understaffed, which leads to burnout.
Indeed, CPEP is one of the busiest in the state, assessing an average of 10,000 adults and adolescents a year.
Last year, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $1 billion funding plan for mental health, which would add more psychiatric beds at inpatient facilities and boost housing options for people with serious mental health challenges and criminal histories.
In December, ECMC applied for a $13.6 million grant, of which $1.6 million would have gone to modernizing the CPEP facility.
But the state denied the application without providing a reason.
Now, some are raising the question of whether this region needs a second CPEP to reduce surges at ECMC and likely improve wait times and patient care.
Hochul mentioned in her State of the State address that she wants to open more CPEPs across the state. But locations have not been selected.
“It’s possible,” Schoelerman said, when asked if the area needs a second CPEP. “Again, I think it’s assessing the entire mental health system. But certainly, we are in surge more often than not right now.”
“This is a systemic issue,” Pirrone said. “While we talk about how important it is and how far we’ve come in reducing the stigma around mental illness, the money and the action to reflect that change in stigma hasn’t trickled down quickly enough.”
Michelle Brooks, the former executive director of the Buffalo area NAMI, said there has been an increase in complaints about CPEP.
“Many families say that they have PTSD afterwards,” Brooks said. “But they are traumatized by the situation as well to see police officers restraining a loved one, and it’s really difficult for a family to see this happening.”
“But that still doesn’t eliminate the horrific experiences that some people are having there,” she said.
“And so, we don’t want you to have to go to CPEP if you don’t need to go to CPEP,” O’Brien said.
“There’s a lot of things in the works right now,” Dubois said. “A lot of people are trying to address this issue together. I think the real solution to this issue is a coordinated effort, educating our community, understanding the resources that we have, really allocating those resources across the community appropriately, and making sure that people get the help that they need.”
If you or a loved one is in a mental health crisis, there are options in the community, including:
- Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988
- EriePath is a web- and phone-based app that provides parents and caregivers guidance with navigating mental health services in the region.
- Download the Adult System of Care Map
- Download the Youth System of Care Map
- Crisis Services 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 716-834-3131
- Spectrum CARES Team helps families and children in crisis: 716-882-4357
- 24-Hour Addiction Hotline: 716-831-7007
Dan Telvock is an award-winning investigative producer and reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2018. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.
Local NAMI Affiliate Changes Name, Expands Service Area
June 2023 – The region’s affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, formerly known as NAMI Buffalo & Erie County, has been approved to expand its geographic service area to include the counties of Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua. To better reflect this expansion, NAMI-NYS and the national organization granted approval for the name change to NAMI Buffalo & Western New York.
NAMI Buffalo & Western New York will immediately begin building their capacity and developing strategic partnerships with stakeholders, providers, and residents of the five counties in the new service area. “Mental health concerns are on the rise across our region. We are excited for this opportunity to provide support and education to residents in surrounding counties to meet this increase in demand,” states Executive Director Jeffrey Pirrone, “We look forward to collaborating within these communities to specify the areas of need and what supports will most benefit the residents there.”
NAMI Buffalo & Western New York currently provides support, education, and advocacy to individuals and families challenged by mental health distress. The education programs, like Family-to-Family and Sharing Hope, ensure families get the support and information they need. NAMI also hosts Family Support Groups for loved ones of those with mental health needs so that no one feels alone in their mental health journey. Through its advocacy efforts, NAMI shapes public policy for people with mental illness and their families and provides volunteer leaders with the tools, resources, and skills necessary to ensure mental healthcare for all. NAMI’s local HelpLine allows trained volunteers with lived experience to respond personally to hundreds of requests each year, providing free information and support—a much-needed lifeline for many.
NAMI Buffalo & Western New York is an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Begun from a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979, NAMI has blossomed into the nation’s leading voice on mental illness. Today, it is an association of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations, and volunteers who work in communities to raise awareness, and provide support and education. NAMI Buffalo & Western New York has served Erie County and beyond since 1984 and continues to support, educate and advocate for families and caregivers of individuals affected by mental illness. At its core, NAMI is families compassionately helping families of loved ones challenged by mental illness.
For more information about NAMI Buffalo & Western New York, to speak to a HelpLine volunteer, or to register for a group or class, call (716) 226-6264 or visit www.namibuffalony.org. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn by using the handle @NAMIBuffalo.
NAMI Buffalo & Western New York’s Executive Director Speaks on Impact of Air Quality on Mental Health
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The air quality index hit 230 in Buffalo on Wednesday, which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers “very unhealthy.”
2 On Your Side reached out to doctors and environmental experts to answer the questions people in Western New York need to know as another day of smoke choked skies is forecast Thursday.
An air quality alert is issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). According to the DEC’s website, an alert is issued “when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution that are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) rating of 100.” How long it will last proves trickier to answer. What is known right now is that there will be an advisory in place for the rest of Wednesday through all of Thursday. According to 2 On Your Side meteorologist Patrick Hammer, heavier rain on Sunday or Monday could be key in getting the smoke to subside.
How can I check the air quality every day?
Checking the air quality index is easy. If you have a weather app, it is included in the daily forecast. You can also check the EPA’s AirNow system. It updates consistently and provides a tangible number for citizens to check.
What caused the air quality alert?
Wildfires in Quebec, Canada, caused the air quality alert. The Canadian Wildland Fire Information System (CWFIS) publishes daily reports. One of the reports, the Fire Weather Index (FWI), attempts to quantify fire intensity. Quebec and parts of Ontario have FWI numbers of over 30, the highest category. Historically, these areas have FWI readings between 5-10.
Who is most affected by an air quality alert?
According to Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein, younger children, older adults, those with chronic lung disease or cardiac conditions, and smokers are highly susceptible to poor air quality. From a health perspective, pregnant women tend to be more susceptible to polluted air.
Dr. Burstein told 2 On Your Side, “Their [pregnant women] circulation is different than non-pregnant women. Their blood vessels dilate, and their heart has to work faster. Some of the particles could affect the health of the pregnancy.”
From a psychological standpoint, young children who recall the way COVID-19 disrupted their lives may be prone to anxiety caused by the smoke-filled air.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Buffalo and Western New York executive director Jeffrey Pirrone said there is a mental health component for younger children who also lived through the pandemic.
“One thing that we are seeing is that, among young people, when you start hearing words about isolation and staying inside, it sort of induces a trauma response from COVID,” Pirrone said.
Pirrone went on to add that elementary-aged students do not have a reference point or life experience to know that this is temporary because the last time they were told that they were indoors for two years.
“Schools and families need to be prepared to provide the mental health supports that are needed to help kids navigate this anxiety,” Pirrone said.
What can I do to prevent and reduce exposure to polluted air?
Dr. Burstein says that our air quality is categorized as very unhealthy, so avoiding all physical activities is a must. If you do have to go outdoors, she advises limiting your activities to short durations of time is best.
“The best way to stay healthy in these conditions is to stay indoors,” Dr. Burstein said.
She told 2 On Your Side, “When you are indoors, you really want to make sure that you do everything you can to prevent that outdoor air from coming in.”
Dr. Burstein’s recommendations included closing the windows, shutting doors, and turning your A/C on. Wearing a tight-fitting N95 mask is best if you are outside. Using the recirculated air setting in your car with the windows up is the best method to filter the air if you have to be on the road.
As far as those who unfortunately lack shelter or are caught outside unwillingly, Dr. Burstein recommends going to a library.
You’ve probably heard a lot lately about fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). So what is it exactly? According to Dr. Burstein, PM 2.5 is a measure of “particles from ash, smoke, whatever is emitted from fires. It includes gases like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Those are dangerous and compromise our area’s air quality right now.” People in Western New York report seeing small bits of ash falling from the sky. Burstein said, “This particulate matter when it gets into the airway it causes a lot of inflammation.”
What do I do for tomorrow?
“People should think ahead,” Dr. Burstein told 2 On Your Side. “What’s on their agenda tomorrow and if it involves outdoor activities, think about rescheduling those or doing what you can indoors instead of outdoors.”
Videos
As part of WBFO’s Mental Health Initiative funded by the Patrick P. Lee Foundation, on March 25, 2021 they produced a panel discussion, “Finding Home: Mental Health and Housing”. See the recorded show here.
The WBFO Mental Health Initiative also produced videos giving an inside look at mental illness. In the videos below, you will hear a story from a NAMI mother with a loved one with mental illness, and another by a son with mental illness.
View the full video here:
“He’s My Son” Mental Illness from the caregiver’s point of view
View the full video here:
“You’ve Got to Have Faith in Something Bigger Than Yourself”
