I'm Florette Willis, the new Acting Coordinator for M-Power.
I'm interesting in hearing from you about issues pertaining to you such as ER Rights, Peer Respites, 5 Fundamental Rights, DMH new Non-Smoking Intitiative at facilities and institutions, etc.
M-Power Board of Directors have taken the following position on the DMH Non-Smoking Initiative:
M-POWER is very concerned that The EOHHS Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative and/or DMH Tobacco-Free Policy violates free will by forcing people to quit smoking in inpatient and residential mental health facilities. It is our contention, all Americans have the right to choose and freedom to do anything within the limits of the law in their own homes. This includes the right to voluntarily decide to quit smoking. Yet the new smoking ban policy enacted at DMH, takes away those very rights by mandating smoke free campuses. These places are people‘s homes and by right they should be able to participate in any legal activity as adults and citizens of this country. We strongly feel that a good example of this public health policy can be supported by allowing people to practice healthy behaviors voluntarily. Furthermore, people in these facilities deserve the right, like everyone else, to decide when quitting is appropriate. In our opinion, anything else is simply coercion, bad mental health practice, not trauma informed and should be illegal.
Forced smoking cessation can also cause irreparable psychological harm to people. Research has found that the vast majority of people using public mental health services are trauma survivors. Regaining a sense of control over our lives in is a key component for healing, hence any “treatment” or policy that is forced compromises potential for healing. Moreover, it is common to adopt habits like smoking or overeating as a coping strategy for extreme distress. Positive coping mechanism can be found to replace them but only when the person is ready and offered in ways that feel emotionally safe; healing and change is incremental and does not happen overnight. Forced smoking cessation and forced dietary changes (see DMH’s “Healthy Changes” initiative) are ways of perpetuating ill health and feelings of helplessness for people with significant trauma histories.
Since the DMH Tobacco-Free Campus Policy allows temporary waivers for most facilities and implementation of modified Designated Area/Buffer Zones Policies, we propose these policies be extended indefinitely to all campuses to best protect the voluntary rights of all individuals.
i do not agree with making someone's rights being mis-handled but psych patients are not the only ones being told to stop smoking while in the hospital. yes, they are more restricted in what they can do about it but this can be said for any patient in hospitals. where are the rights of non-smokers when the smokers, and only smokers get to go outside to smoke and the nonsmokers cannot not get some air because they do not smoke. plus, if the nonsmokers are allowed to go out with the smokers where is the fresh air we seek? certainly not with the smokers. no smoking needs to be upheld for all patients.
Comments
Hi People
How are you doing?
Posted by: Iterparne | October 11, 2009 08:29 AM
Hello Peers,
I'm Florette Willis, the new Acting Coordinator for M-Power.
I'm interesting in hearing from you about issues pertaining to you such as ER Rights, Peer Respites, 5 Fundamental Rights, DMH new Non-Smoking Intitiative at facilities and institutions, etc.
M-Power Board of Directors have taken the following position on the DMH Non-Smoking Initiative:
M-POWER is very concerned that The EOHHS Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative and/or DMH Tobacco-Free Policy violates free will by forcing people to quit smoking in inpatient and residential mental health facilities. It is our contention, all Americans have the right to choose and freedom to do anything within the limits of the law in their own homes. This includes the right to voluntarily decide to quit smoking. Yet the new smoking ban policy enacted at DMH, takes away those very rights by mandating smoke free campuses. These places are people‘s homes and by right they should be able to participate in any legal activity as adults and citizens of this country. We strongly feel that a good example of this public health policy can be supported by allowing people to practice healthy behaviors voluntarily. Furthermore, people in these facilities deserve the right, like everyone else, to decide when quitting is appropriate. In our opinion, anything else is simply coercion, bad mental health practice, not trauma informed and should be illegal.
Forced smoking cessation can also cause irreparable psychological harm to people. Research has found that the vast majority of people using public mental health services are trauma survivors. Regaining a sense of control over our lives in is a key component for healing, hence any “treatment” or policy that is forced compromises potential for healing. Moreover, it is common to adopt habits like smoking or overeating as a coping strategy for extreme distress. Positive coping mechanism can be found to replace them but only when the person is ready and offered in ways that feel emotionally safe; healing and change is incremental and does not happen overnight. Forced smoking cessation and forced dietary changes (see DMH’s “Healthy Changes” initiative) are ways of perpetuating ill health and feelings of helplessness for people with significant trauma histories.
Since the DMH Tobacco-Free Campus Policy allows temporary waivers for most facilities and implementation of modified Designated Area/Buffer Zones Policies, we propose these policies be extended indefinitely to all campuses to best protect the voluntary rights of all individuals.
PLEASE GIVE US YOUR OPINION
THANK YOU.
Posted by: Florette Willis | January 10, 2010 12:04 PM
Great Post. I hope you don't mind me posting here. I love your site, I'll be back for your next article
Posted by: Interminds Events | January 20, 2010 12:54 PM
i do not agree with making someone's rights being mis-handled but psych patients are not the only ones being told to stop smoking while in the hospital. yes, they are more restricted in what they can do about it but this can be said for any patient in hospitals. where are the rights of non-smokers when the smokers, and only smokers get to go outside to smoke and the nonsmokers cannot not get some air because they do not smoke. plus, if the nonsmokers are allowed to go out with the smokers where is the fresh air we seek? certainly not with the smokers. no smoking needs to be upheld for all patients.
Posted by: caroline miller | February 26, 2010 04:17 PM