By keri
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Many barriers are preventing Rhode Islanders, including refugees and non-English speakers, from receiving the behavioral healthcare they need. Among them: language and cultural differences, stigma, the cost and scope of insurance.
I’ve been worried my whole life. The anxiety never goes away. It always feels as though something terrible is about to happen. This goes back to my childhood, which was profuse with chaos and uncertainty. Now imagine how COVID-19 is affecting people like me.
Pam Testoni's first encounter with Rhode Island's mental healthcare system was a day program at Butler Hospital back in 2010 to deal with depression and paranoia. "I went, it was kind of a band aid," said Testoni. That band aid was ripped off two years later.
Laurie Marie Pisciotta with the Mental Health Association of Rhode Island joined GoLocalProv News Editor Kate Nagle on LIVE, to talk about their report issued this week that shows that mental health stigma - and discrimination - are still prevalent in Rhode Island.
Today, the Mental Health Association of Rhode Island (MHARI) will present a report to members of the Governor’s Council on Behavioral Healthcare that highlights findings and recommendations from research conducted as a part of their RI Parity Initiative (RIPI).
