Senator Ritchie Unveils Website, Online Petition to Support St. Lawrence Psych Center

Urges Public to ‘Speak Out’ and Share Views on Center that Employs 500 

State Senator Patty Ritchie is joining with community leaders to announce creation of a new website and online petition to support St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, which is facing possible state cutbacks.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WEBSITE AND SIGN THE PETITION TO SUPPORT SLPC.

Senator Ritchie is urging the public to visit the site — www.savethecenter.net  –and add comments about the center’s importance to North Country health care, as well as the region’s economy.

The comments will be shared at a May 15^th “listening session” being held at the center by state mental health officials.

“For more than 120 years, St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center has quietly played a major role in helping to improve the lives of generations of North Country families and individuals, giving them strength when they needed it most, and consistently serving as a mainstay of our region’s economy with hundreds of good, stable jobs,” Senator Ritchie said.

“Now, St. Lawrence Psych Center needs the community’s support as the state seeks to streamline its system of mental health care, to make Albany aware of the North Country’s unique challenges of health care access, the tradition of quality service provided by the center, and the important role that it plays in improving the quality of life in our region,” said Senator Ritchie.

In addition to the petition, the website also includes news and updates about the center, as well as next week’s listening session, along with a link to register to attend or participate in that event, which is to be held on Wednesday, May 15, from 10 am to noon, at the facility’s Unity Center.

“In addition to urging the public to attend next week’s session, I want to provide a chance for them to add their voices in support of St. Lawrence Psych Center. I am urging everyone who lives, works and visits this region to visit the website, www.savethecenter.net, sign the petition and learn more about the history, legacy and future of the center.”

Creation of the website and petition are just the latest example of ways in which the community is rallying to support St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center. Senator Ritchie has been meeting with community leaders to brainstorm additional ways to highlight the facility for Albany officials during next week’s visit.