Community voices concerns about MV Psychiatric Center closing
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: April 23, 2012
Plans to close the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center have many people in the community talking.
And it's enough talking to even get a petition to go around to send to Gov. Cuomo to keep the center from closing.
Back in February it was announced that two adult wards would be closing in the Mohawk Valley Psych center and another one would be moving to a location in Syracuse.
And on top of the closings, over 100 jobs are set to be cut.
On Monday night the community gathered and had many concerns.
One being the fear of patients being discharged too early because of the cuts.
"The government isn't going to see that people like me, we do go on, we live a life," said former patient, Susan Koslosky.
It was 1989 Susan Koslosky was admitted to the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center.
"I laid in a Geri Chair for six months, I didn't know my own name, I had a total nervous breakdown," she said.
But Susan says it was the nurses, doctors, and care at the center that brought her to where she is today.
When she found out the plans to close the center, it was a concern that hit close to home.
"This center is all that we have in this area. Why would you want to stick them in a place that they're not familiar with. They're going to get lost in a system that is so broke now," said Koslosky.
Cynthia Lazzaro is one of the employees at the center who cared for patients like Susan.
But now, her job is on the chopping block.
And while she fears losing her job, her main concern is patients being released too early.
"They're going to upset the community. They might break the law, you don't know what they're going to do," said Lazzaro.
Kelly Rowe, who has a family member that is a patient at the center, says if the cuts happen as planned, the outcome doesn't look good.
"When they are put back into society before they're ready, there could be a tragic ending," said Rowe.
A rally is set to help keep the center open this Friday at noon at the Utica State Office Building.
Sen. Joseph Griffo and Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi plan to attend.
And it's enough talking to even get a petition to go around to send to Gov. Cuomo to keep the center from closing.
Back in February it was announced that two adult wards would be closing in the Mohawk Valley Psych center and another one would be moving to a location in Syracuse.
And on top of the closings, over 100 jobs are set to be cut.
On Monday night the community gathered and had many concerns.
One being the fear of patients being discharged too early because of the cuts.
"The government isn't going to see that people like me, we do go on, we live a life," said former patient, Susan Koslosky.
It was 1989 Susan Koslosky was admitted to the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center.
"I laid in a Geri Chair for six months, I didn't know my own name, I had a total nervous breakdown," she said.
But Susan says it was the nurses, doctors, and care at the center that brought her to where she is today.
When she found out the plans to close the center, it was a concern that hit close to home.
"This center is all that we have in this area. Why would you want to stick them in a place that they're not familiar with. They're going to get lost in a system that is so broke now," said Koslosky.
Cynthia Lazzaro is one of the employees at the center who cared for patients like Susan.
But now, her job is on the chopping block.
And while she fears losing her job, her main concern is patients being released too early.
"They're going to upset the community. They might break the law, you don't know what they're going to do," said Lazzaro.
Kelly Rowe, who has a family member that is a patient at the center, says if the cuts happen as planned, the outcome doesn't look good.
"When they are put back into society before they're ready, there could be a tragic ending," said Rowe.
A rally is set to help keep the center open this Friday at noon at the Utica State Office Building.
Sen. Joseph Griffo and Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi plan to attend.
