Making Timothy's Law permanent
by Ken Jubie, Capital News 9, May 6,2009

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Thomas O'Clair lost his son Timothy in 2001 when the then 12-year-old boy lost his battle with depression and took his own life. Timothy would have been 21 on Tuesday.

O'Clair said, "Normally a father would want to take his son out and buy him his first legal drink and so forth. I don't get to do that."

But O'Clair said it's still a day to celebrate because Governor Paterson has proposed a bill that would make the legislation named for his son permanent. Timothy's Law forces insurance providers to include mental health treatment along with any physical care coverage they offer.

Making Timothy's Law permanent
Governor David Paterson wants to make sure New Yorkers get the help they need. A bill to extend Timothy's Law is on the table. Ken Jubie has the details.

O'Clair said, "It deserves the same amount of research, the same amount of treatment, and the same amount of compassion as any physical health need."

Timothy's Law is set to expire at the end of the year, but if Paterson's bill is passed by the state Legislature, it will forever mandate that New Yorkers receive at least 30 inpatient and 20 outpatient visits to treat mental health problems.

O'Clair said, "It's Timothy giving a gift on his birthday to New Yorkers through the governor, through the Legislature, through all the advocates and the grassroots support that fought for Timothy's Law."

In a statement, the governor said, "Timothy's Law has provided countless New Yorkers with the mental health coverage they need to remain healthy and be productive residents of our State."

But even if the law is passed for good, O'Clair said there's still plenty of work to be done starting with erasing the stigma associated with mental health issues.

He said, "People aren't afraid to say, I have a broken leg. Most people aren't afraid to say, I have diabetes or a heart condition. Very few people are comfortable saying, I have a mental health condition."

But when mental health problems are perceived the same way as physical problems, even if it's not on his son's birthday, O'Clair said it's worth raising a glass to Timothy for all the effort and change he inspired.