From the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania (MHASP):

Over the next few weeks, we will be in the grips of a major state budget battle, with serious implications for people with mental health conditions and their families.  Pennsylvania is facing a $1.5 billion budget shortfall that could result in serious cuts to education and human services, including mental health line items that fund the services that facilitate recovery statewide.  The latest figure that is being floated in Harrisburg is that we are facing a potential 5% cut to mental health services.

To raise awareness about the importance of mental health in our communities, we are engaging a social media campaign called “Five Percent Matters” – until a budget is passed (in early July).  We would like for folks to use their personal and program social media pages to engage in this campaign.  Here’s how it works:

Starting TODAY and until July 1, please take our #5percentmatters social media challenge!

•Post or Tweet at least one comment per day on your legislator’s Twitter or Facebook, with the hashtag #5percentmatters, or post something on your own wall.  Comments should be concise and focused on how you, your family, or your communities would be impacted by the 5% cuts, and why 5% cuts would be devastating to our communities and families (see sample tweets and posts below).

• Also, feel free to re-post content from MHASP Advocacy Facebook and Twitter.  Have fun with it!  Feel free to be direct without being offensive or disrespectful.

Sample Tweets or Posts

• When my child needs services, she shouldn’t have to wait one month for an intake #5percentmatters
• Why would we cut the sector that provides 13% of all jobs in Southeastern PA? #5percentmatters
• Weekly therapy helps me manage my mental health and keeps me out of the hospital #5percentmatters
• My peer support specialist helped me find employment and get back into the community #5percentmatters
• Why are we ignoring common-sense revenues that would strengthen families and communities? #5percentmatters
• You’d rather make my kid wait for mental health services than tax Marcellus Shale? #5percentmatters

Thanks so much for your continued advocacy for our communities.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Jake Bowling, MSW
Director of Advocacy and Policy
Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania
1211 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
267.507.3816
jbowling@mhasp.org