Connecticut Mental Health advocates!

We are asking for your support in establishing peer-run respite in our state!

Please urge your legislators to allocate $7.5 million in the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) budget to fund and establish five peer-run respites and one Soteria-style respite throughout the state of Connecticut. Peer-run respites in at least 14 other states have proven to be successful and cost-effective alternatives to inpatient and emergency hospitalization.

Peer-run respites are voluntary, short-term programs that provide 24-hour, community-based, non-clinical support to people experiencing mental health crises. Peer-run respites are operated in home-like environments by peer support specialists, who have lived expertise with mental health conditions. These will not only be effective in supporting people currently undergoing mental health crises, but peer-run respites will also help to proactively prevent further crises.

Person-centered care is essential for a functioning mental health system, and the time is now to introduce peer run respites to our state.

Our next step is to contact our legislators and ask them to allocate $7.5 million (and $6 million subsequently) to fund and establish one peer-run respite per each DMHAS region, as well as one centrally located Soteria style respite, which can accommodate longer stays.

For more information, please see the attached one-page fact sheet regarding peer run respites.

Thank you for your support!