Coalition Opposing Separate Psychiatric Facility Grows

A large multidisciplinary coalition that includes most segments of the mental health community has come together to oppose Fletcher Allen Health Care’s plan to segregate psychiatric services from the rest of the medical-surgical services at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. At press time, the growing list of those joining the Vermont Psychiatric Association in opposition to the plan included the following:

• Vermont Psychiatric Survivors*

• Vermont Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

• Vermont Psychological Association

• Vermont Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors Association

• Vermont Mental Health Counselors Association

• Vermont chapter of the National Association of Social Workers

• Vermont Association for Mental Health

• Vermont chapter of NAMI*

• Council of Community Mental Health Centers*

• Faculty members of the department of psychiatry at FAHC/UVM (represented by VPA)*

*At press time, these organizations intended to seek “interested party” status with state regulatory agencies.