Senator Clinton Calls on Department of Homeland Security to Extend Critical Mental Health Services for New Yorkers

Washington, DC - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton called on the Department of Homeland Security to extend counseling and mental health services for New Yorkers who are still suffering from the September 11th attacks.

In a letter to Mike Brown, the Undersecretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response at the United States Department of Homeland Security, Senator Clinton expressed deep concern over the scheduled termination of the critical counseling services provided under New York's Project Liberty but also that she looked forward to working with the Undersecretary to both extend the availability and secure any additional resources needed to allow the program to continue.

"These dollars, and the services they support through New York's Project Liberty program, have played a critical role in providing crisis counseling and mental health services to fire fighters, police officers, emergency services workers, children and other New Yorkers suffering in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks. I am writing to make sure that these critical services are extended beyond the current termination date of December 31, 2003," wrote Senator Clinton.

"Following September 11, a wave of trauma, grief, shock, and other mental health needs shook New York, and the magnitude of the mental health need was unprecedented. Project Liberty was necessary to meet the mental health epidemic our state faced. I have heard from the New York City first responders and others that the funds have enabled the operation of innovative and effective mental health programs, customized to the individualized needs of particular communities" wrote Senator Clinton.