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Carol Forsloff -- NAMI has asked BP pay equitably for mental health problems caused by the BP oil
spill, declaring BP has failed its responsibility for these issues and declaring Feinberg"s remarks showing victims not treated equitably.
spill, declaring BP has failed its responsibility for these issues and declaring Feinberg"s remarks showing victims not treated equitably.
In remarks directed to Kenneth Feinberg, the independent claims administrator for the $20 billion relief fund created by BP Oil Company, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has underlined that those who have suffered mental health issues should be compensated from the $20 bilion relief fund created by BP.
The organization is responding to Feinberg's comments before the House Judiciary Committee on July 21,
when he said that the fund is not likely to pay damages for mental
illness and distress caused by the spill unless a "physical injury" is
also present.
when he said that the fund is not likely to pay damages for mental
illness and distress caused by the spill unless a "physical injury" is
also present.
Underlying the unfairness of this attitude, NAMI Executive Director Michael J. Fitzpatrick said the statement is "incompatible with modern scientific knowledge of mental illness and the impact of traumatic events."
"Denial
of a class of individuals with medical disorders affecting the brain
from compensation that is available to those with medical disorders
affecting other organs of the body would be neither fair nor
equitable."
of a class of individuals with medical disorders affecting the brain
from compensation that is available to those with medical disorders
affecting other organs of the body would be neither fair nor
equitable."
In a July 15 letter to BP,
NAMI also reproached the Big Oil company for ignoring appeals made by
the State of Louisiana for $10 million to help fund mental health care.
There have been documentations from mental health experts of the
growing problems caused by stress and anxiety related to the oil spill.
NAMI states these requests and the documentation supporting them have
been ignored.
NAMI also reproached the Big Oil company for ignoring appeals made by
the State of Louisiana for $10 million to help fund mental health care.
There have been documentations from mental health experts of the
growing problems caused by stress and anxiety related to the oil spill.
NAMI states these requests and the documentation supporting them have
been ignored.
Similar requests made by Alabama, Florida and Mississippi have also been ignored.
On July 9, Louisiana
advised the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services that it was
encountering "increases in anxiety, depression, stress, grief, excessive
and earlier drinking and suicide ideation." These reports, however,
from mental health experts have been going on for some time.
advised the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services that it was
encountering "increases in anxiety, depression, stress, grief, excessive
and earlier drinking and suicide ideation." These reports, however,
from mental health experts have been going on for some time.
The Institute of Medicine in New Orleans has underlined mental health
issues to be serious health concerns related to the BP oil spill.
issues to be serious health concerns related to the BP oil spill.
State budgets are already strained, and having to take from funds set aside for people with schizophrenia,
bipolar disorder and other serious mental illnesses," is unfair. NAMI
underlined the fact states are "ill-prepared to divert already scarce
mental health dollars from existing services for people" with these more
serious conditions.
bipolar disorder and other serious mental illnesses," is unfair. NAMI
underlined the fact states are "ill-prepared to divert already scarce
mental health dollars from existing services for people" with these more
serious conditions.
Fitzpatrick wrote on behalf of NAMI and those who are experiencing mental health
problems related to the BP oil spill, that "denying compensation to
individual victim experiencing serious psychiatric symptoms would be an
injustice."
problems related to the BP oil spill, that "denying compensation to
individual victim experiencing serious psychiatric symptoms would be an
injustice."
"Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person's
thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily
functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental
illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished
capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life," NAMI tells us.
The organization also underlines mental illness can be treatable, and
many people are able to live with or recover from it.
NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization
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