Sen. Breen receives award for advocacy on mental health issues
AUGUSTA — Sen. Cathy Breen, D-Falmouth, received the Legislator Award from the Consumer Council System of Maine (CCSM) on Friday, in recognition of her work to advance mental health-related legislation.
“As a member of a family who lives with mental illness, I have tried to use my time in the Senate to shine a light on mental health and spur our state government to find creative, effective ways to improve our continuum of care,” said Sen. Breen. “I’m thankful to CCSM for the vital work its members do in influencing this work. And I’m humbled to be recognized with this award. That said, the COVID19 pandemic has put an enormous strain on a system that was already very fragile, and as a result, there are too many Mainers suffering without the resources they need, and, in some cases, dying. This award inspires me to continue this work in my remaining time in the Senate and beyond.”
Sen. Breen is currently serving her fourth and final term in the Maine Senate. During her tenure, she has sponsored bills to:
- Increase reimbursement rates for Medication Management services,
- Increase reimbursement rates for Section 17 and 65 providers, who serve people with behavioral health issues,
- Create a voluntary early childhood consultation program to equip teachers and daycare providers with the tools to manage behavioral problems that could otherwise result in expulsion,
- Direct the Department of Health and Human Services to develop long-term funding for the early treatment of Mainers who show signs of psychotic disorder,
- Convene a working group on mental health within DHHS, whose report can be found here, and
- Require DHHS to develop a comprehensive plan to serve people with behavioral health needs throughout their life spans.
CCMS is an independent advocacy group that, according to its mission statement, “represents fellow consumers with an effective, organized voice in shaping public policy and mental health services.”