The Coalition, a statewide group of 40 organizations and their members advocating in partnership to meet the needs of North Carolinians living with mental illness, developmental disabilities, or the disease of addiction, will be hosting a Town Hall meeting in Winston-Salem from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Thursday, April 7 in Forsyth Tech Community College’s Ardmore Hall Auditorium. The purpose of the Town Hall meeting, which will be open to the public, is to call attention to the devastating effect potential budget cuts would have on individuals and families receiving or seeking services from organizations that provide services to people with developmental disabilities, substance abuse, or mental illness, and North Carolinians who are employed by those who provide these services.

Tim B., an individual who has accessed mental health supports in the past and who now helps to provide such supports in Winston-Salem, had this to say about the importance of the Town Hall meeting and the issues that will be discussed there: “As a person who knows all too well the struggles that accompany mental illness when left untreated, I can vouch for the importance of the issues that will be addressed at The Coalition Town Hall meeting. Untreated mental illness can cost people marriages, personal relationships, and the ability to maintain long-term employment. But with the appropriate supports and therapies, mental illness can be managed successfully. It is just those supports and therapies that would be negatively impacted by the potential budget cuts that will be discussed at the meeting, and I hope those who access or need such services now will come out and have a say on an issues that could be life-changing for them.”

Meeting attendees will hear a briefing on the current budget cuts and the future budget outlook, have an opportunity to share their opinions in person and learn how to make a difference on these issues. The Coalition encourages anyone affected by the budget cuts or concerned about future cuts to MHDDSA services to attend these Town Halls. For more information on The Coalition and the Town Hall meetings, visit www.thecoalitionnc.org.