ALBANY, NY (WENY)--SOME ADVOCATES TRAVEL TO THE NEW YORK STATE CAPITOL TO RALLY FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR THE MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE.  

ADVOCATES SAID LAST YEAR’S STATE BUDGET WAS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TOWARDS SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH, BUT THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE SHORTAGES.  

“This is the real thing we face every day and until we are able to hire the staff and do the work that is necessary to help people recover and move forward in their lives, then we are in a crisis,” said Glenn Liebman, director of the Mental Health Association of New York State. 

ADVOCATES ARE ASKING FOR A 3.2 PERCENT INCREASE TO THE COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT AND $500 MILLION IN THE NEXT STATE BUDGET FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE use DISORDER SERVICES.  

LIEBMAN SAid THIS INCREASE TO THE COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT WOULD HELP COMBAT WORKFORCE SHORTAGE ISSUES IN THE FIELD.  

SOME MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKERS SAid THEY SIMPLY NEED MORE HELP FROM STATE GOVERNMENT.  

“It is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain my drive. I am literally burning myself out working sixty plus hour work weeks. It is becoming increasingly difficult to make ends meet,” said David Jusino, a mental health worker.