August 6, 2026 — When New York State Senator Monica Martinez visited Pilgrim Psychiatric Center on July 21, PEF members took the opportunity to meet with her during lunch to discuss their experiences working at the facility. Over the years, members who work at the facility have faced increasing workplace violence at the hands of the patients they serve. Although PEF has been working with the Office of Mental Health (OMH) to address issues, the meeting between members and the Senator was scheduled to provide further support.
PEF members shared stories of hazardous working conditions, violence against staff, and other issues that contribute to Pilgrim having one of the highest instances of workplace violence among Office of Mental Health (OMH) facilities. Nurses, social workers, and other PEF health professionals attended. A major concern expressed was the frequency at which members are forced to work alone with patients who are threatening them or who return to the facility after multiple violent and criminal offenses.
Ivan Giannou is a Registered Nurse at Pilgrim and the Council Leader for PEF Division 233 at the facility. He said that management needing to take workplace violence more seriously an issue.
“While the OMH statewide leadership has encouraged local health and safety committees to have regular workplace violence meetings, this facility has repeatedly stated they will only have one meeting per year,” said Giannou. “Workplace violence reports are most useful when the information can be looked at for trends to address in real-time, not to serve as historical documents and looked at by the hundreds once a year by committee members.”
For PEF and the Senator, the goal is the same: Ensure that members have the support they need to continue to do the work that needs to be done for New Yorkers without fearing for their safety.
“Those who treat patients suffering from a mental health crisis mustn’t be forced to choose between helping those in distress and their personal safety,” said Senator Martinez. “Going to work must come with an expectation that you won’t be assaulted during your shift. I stand with the PEF nurses who do difficult work, in frequently challenging and sometimes dangerous conditions, to demand that their safety be protected.”
PEF member Bahiyya Baskerville, who works at one of Pilgrim’s outpatient clinics as a social worker, left the meeting with a sense of hope.
“I appreciated the opportunity to meet with Senator Martinez,” said Baskerville. “She listened with compassion and sincerity, making everyone feel heard and respected. It was a refreshing and hopeful conversation that left me feeling encouraged and optimistic about the possibilities that come through open dialogue and collaboration.”
Council Leader Giannou agreed.
“Staff understand there are inherent risks working in mental health, but we’re here to help people, not be attacked by individuals who feel there are no consequences for their actions,” he said. “I believe there is some forward momentum from the meeting, as the Senator was very receptive to all our concerns. The challenge now is developing our various concerns and issues into actionable pieces that she can help assist with in her capacity as a state representative.”