New York's Senate has followed the Assembly and voted for a new tax check-off intended to help end the stigma around mental illness, which advocates say is common, treatable and too often unaddressed.
Like provisions on state tax returns where taxpayers can support Alzheimer's research, breast cancer awareness and various other efforts, the new legislation would establish a gift check-off to a special fund that would be used by the state Office of Mental Health to provide grants to organizations dedicated to eliminating the stigma.
Glenn Liebman, president of the Mental Health Association of New York State, says one in four people in the U.S. has a diagnosed mental illness and many more don't get treatment because of that stigma.
The measure now goes to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for approval or veto.
© 2015 AP
