( – promoted by odum)

(cross-posted from Beyond VSH blog, here)

From an advocate’s e-mail concerning a press conference, followed by a protest, planned for Friday, November 6, 2009 at the Vermont State House beginning at 12:15 PM:

On Friday, Nov. 6 at 12:15, a coalition of organizations opposed to the closing of the Vermont State Hospital canteen will hold a press conference at the Statehouse in the Cedar Creek room, after which there will be a demonstration outside the Statehouse. Advocates, former patients and VSH workers will speak out about the impact of losing the canteen and why it should be saved.

The co-sponsors of this event have endorsed the following:

Joint Statement by Vermont Psychiatric Survivors; Disability Rights Vermont (formerly Vt. P & A); Vermont Center For Independent Living;

Vermont Association for Mental Health; Vermont State Hospital Workers;

Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights; Another Way, Inc.; National Alliance on Mental Illness-VT; National Association of Social Workers-VT

The Vermont State Hospital canteen has been serving patients, visitors and staff for over four decades. Last month the Department of Mental Health announced that as part of planned budget cuts, the canteen would close on December 5. We oppose the planned closing of the canteen and ask that this decision be revisited.

The canteen is integral to the quality of life for patients and significant to the quality of care they receive. It is also vital in reducing the pressures on the hospital wards by providing a positive incentive and a humanizing and integrated setting where patients can get away from the crowded, volatile ward environment. It is a place where patients can meet with visitors off the ward, and for some patients, the canteen has also provided vocational training.

In the past seven years, the hospital has become an increasingly restrictive setting as patients have lost access to the gym, the library, the Hideaway (an off ward social space) and Father Logue’s camp in Duxbury. Now the State is taking away the only place patients have left outside the confines of the secure area.

Cutting costs is the stated reason for closing the canteen. But at one time it was reportedly breaking even, and it might do so again. Just how much would be saved is open to question; what would be lost is clearer. Regardless of whether the canteen is considered directly connected with patient care, its loss would have a serious negative impact on that care, and on the living and work environment at the State Hospital . We urge the administration to reconsider the planned closing and to maintain this unique and invaluable service.

[…]

*Update*: After blogging this post up I was sent the following information as a follow-up by the same advocate who had sent the above item:

the latest list of endorsers, below. […]

Vermont Psychiatric Survivors; Disability Rights Vermont (formerly Vt. P&A); Vermont Center For Independent Living; Vermont Association for Mental Health; Vermont State Hospital Workers; Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights; Another Way, Inc.; National Alliance on Mental Illness-VT; National Association of Social Workers-VT; Mental Health Law Project of Vermont Legal Aid; Vermont Psychological Association; Rep. Warren Kitzmiller; Rep. Anne Donahue

Back to original post content:

From Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights (VCDR) on the subject:

To: VCDR Alert List

From: Deborah Lisi-Baker, President VCDR

Coalition to Save the VSH Canteen Holds Press Conference Friday

A coalition of individuals and organizations are working to save the VSH canteen, a key resource for patients and visitors at the state hospital and for state employees. A press conference has been scheduled for  Friday at 12:15 in the Cedar Creek room at the Statehouse. Afterwards people will gathering on the street outside for a demonstration. Coalition members include Vermont Psychiatric Survivors, Disability Rights Vermont, Vermont Center for Independent Living, Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights, VSH Workers, Vermont Association for Mental Health, Another Way.

Background Information:

The Vermont State Hospital canteen has been serving patients, visitors and staff for over four decades. Last month the Department of Mental Health announced that as part of planned budget cuts, the canteen would close on December 5. We oppose the planned closing of the canteen and ask that this decision be revisited.

The canteen is integral to the quality of life for patients and significant to the quality of care they receive. It is also vital in reducing the pressures on the hospital wards by providing a positive incentive and a humanizing and integrated setting where patients can get away from the crowded, volatile ward environment. It is a place where patients can meet with visitors off the ward, and for some patients, the canteen has also provided vocational training.

In the past seven years, the hospital has become an increasingly restrictive setting as patients have lost access to the gym, the library, the Hideaway (an off ward social space) and Father Logue’s camp in Duxbury. Now the State is taking away the only place patients have left outside the confines of the secure area.

This blogger will be on scene for the event as well.

If you are concerned by the pending closure of the VSH canteen, please consider attending as a public show of support. Keep in mind that protest signs or banners are not allowed within the state house, so please save them for use outside during the protest after the press conference. Buttons are permitted however.