News, Commentary and Arts by Psychiatric Survivors, Mental Health Peers and Our Families
Counterpoint Vol. XXXII No. 1
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Summer 2017
Legislature: Psychiatric Survivors ‘Not More Likely To Be Violent’
Bill Was Bright Spot Despite Other Discrimination
MONTPELIER — A first-ever official legislative finding that “(T)he overwhelming majority of people diagnosed with mental illness are not more likely to be violent than any other person” was a bright spot among actions this year by Vermont lawmakers. “I think this is pretty historic for a legislature to make an explicit finding about the absence of a link between mental illness and violence,” said Wilda White, Executive Director of Vermont PsyA FORMAL FAREWELL — Graveside services for Phil Grenon were held at the Ethan Allen chiatric Survivors. The finding was listed in a bill Cemetery in Colchester with military honors on June 7. His daughter, Niki Carpenter, is at far that overturned a state Supreme Court decision left; in the center are her six children, Grenon’s grandchildren. Some 50 relatives, friends and that imposed new obligations on mental health public officials attended. Counterpoint Photo: Anne Donahue) providers to warn others about “violent propensities” of clients. That bill — a version developed by a coalition of stakeholders that included Vermont Psychiatric Survivors — was adopted by the House after a debate in the Senate that often focused on claims of the risks presented by persons diagnosed with MONTPELIER — The daughter of a man improved funding for mental health crisis re- mental illnesses. The original Senate version had perpetuated killed by police last spring has expressed her sponse, and an assessment of police training the “false link” with violence and would have “heartfelt thank you” to those who advocated for being used in the state. Members of the coalition — which also in- “operated almost as a license” for discrimination, creation of a commission that will review intercluded State and Burlington Police, the Police White testified to a House committee. actions between police and persons with mental In discussion on other bills before the legislahealth symptoms that end in serious injury or Training Academy, NAMI-VT, and private citizens, including a retired judge and former Uniture this year, discrimination and biases were also death. Legislation to create the commission was versity of Vermont Medical Center psychiatrist reflected in comments by many lawmakers: signed into law on May 23. - A bill passed to address long delays in emer“I am grateful that something good could — met with legislators to press for the commission, which is intended to do in-depth reviews to gency rooms included a requirement to re-evalucome from my father’s tragic death, and that a light was shined on this issue and its much identify what occurred and what can be learned ate forced psychiatric services and drugging, with a requirement to “examine the interplay between needed reform and attention,” Niki Grenon Car- to prevent future deaths. Carpenter had raised the hope for change last staff and patients’ rights.” penter wrote by email from Arizona. “Although - Another bill passed by the Senate claimed I was not a hands-on part of this process, I was May at the press conference announcing that no charges would be brought against the officer who that the state had to address “the pressing facility with you in spirit.” Carpenter’s father, Ralph “Phil” Grenon, 76, shot her father, “so that situations like this are needs” for “individuals who are not willing or was killed by police after a 5-hour standoff in able to end peacefully in the future and not in the able to engage in voluntary community treatment Burlington. He was hiding in a shower in his way they did with my dad.... That's what I think but do not require hospitalization.” That directive was later removed. apartment with two knives. Grenon was reported my father's hopes would be as well." - A bill for parity in recognizing workers’ comto have dealt with mental health issues for years. A Loving Father pensation claims for mental injuries was vigorLast fall, a former friend and retired State SenCarpenter spoke with Counterpoint about her ator, Jim Leddy, convened a group of concerned relationship with her father, who as a stay-at- ously opposed by some representatives on the persons to discuss how future deaths could be home dad raised her because his diagnosed bipo- House floor, before the bill eventually passed. By the end of the legislative session in May, avoided. Vermont Psychiatric Survivors was a lar illness began to interfere with his ability to the bill to address the shortage of services for participant in the coalition, which later named it- work in 1979. Her parents decided that her self the “Grenon Response Advocacy Group.” mother, a nurse, could support the family while mental health resulted in more than $8 million to support salaries for designated agency staff and The group identified three priorities: establish- he cared for Niki, then 2. ment of a commission to review such deaths or She described a unique childhood with a father added $200,000 for the Vermont Support Line. injuries and make recommendations in response, (Continued on page 4) (See legislative roundup articles, pages 6-9.)
Daughter of Man Killed by Police Grateful for Advocacy Results