NJAMHA

Budget Protects Vulnerable Citizens, but Leaves Behavioral Health System Underfunded

The New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc. (NJAMHAA), which represents more than 150 hospital-based and freestanding providers of mental health and addiction treatment services throughout New Jersey, today expressed appreciation that the approved FY ’11 state budget restores some resources for New Jersey’s vulnerable populations, but noted that the fiscal plan still fails to adequately address the needs of the state’s behavioral health care community.

“We understand that New Jersey’s unprecedented deficit and the lingering effects of the economic downturn created an extremely difficult task in developing the Fiscal Year 2011 budget. We are heartened to see that Governor Christie and the members of the Legislature recognize the importance of protecting New Jersey’s citizens in need of social services,” said Debra Wentz, Ph.D., NJAMHAA CEO. Highlighting the commitment to New Jersey’s vulnerable populations are the decisions to restore $22 million for general assistance to New Jersey’s low-income citizens, $10.3 million for supplemental security income for the disabled, $9 million for care for the homebound elderly, $3 million for sheltered workshops for the disabled, the elimination of $3 co-pays for adult medical day care recipients and an increase in hospital charity care funding. NJAMHAA is also pleased that the budget restores $1.4 million for the Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development, a vital aspect of New Jersey’s social services and policy development for the Hispanic community.

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Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day Promotes the Needs of Children and Youth with Mental Illness

An estimated two-thirds of all young people with mental health problems who need help are not receiving it. As a result, they may have a much higher risk of suicide, which is the third leading cause of death among youth aged 15 to 24. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, other consequences of untreated mental illness include high school dropout, which often leads to limited employment opportunities and poverty; involvement in the juvenile or criminal justice system; and higher utilization – and therefore, higher costs – of healthcare services.

A report from the Center for Mental Health Services states that, at any given time, at least one in five children and adolescents may have a mental health problem. Nationally, at least one in 19 or as many as six million young people may have a serious emotional disturbance (SED). In New Jersey, this figure translates into nearly 75,000 children and adolescents having an SED. Too often, children’s and adolescents’ mental health disorders are not recognized and appropriate help is not sought.

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Depressed Americans Are Not Seeking Treatment

NJ1015.COM
January 25, 2010
By Racquel Williams

It's a dangerous reality. A new study suggests that half of all depressed Americans are not getting treated for it.

When sadness interferes with everyday life, that's when depression sets in. Left untreated depression at worse can lead to suicide. Dr. Debra Wentz, CEO of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies, says one big reason for people not getting tretment has to do with stigma and discrimination.

"Other reasons though has to do with lack of access o healthcare, and for undocumented people, it has to do with fear of being caught." says Wentz.

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NJAMHA Member's Program Prepares and Encourages Clients to Vote

Pequannock - The voting education project that NewBridge Services, Inc. conducted for individuals in their programs, which was featured in yesterday's edition of NJAMHA Newswire, gained additional media coverage in the Star-Ledger.

In addition to describing the program, the article mentioned that New Jersey's Constitution stated, “no idiot or insane person shall enjoy the right of suffrage” until it was fortunately changed in 2007. Now, The Constitution "states that only people who have been determined by a court to be too incompetent to vote cannot take part in elections," the Star-Ledger reported.

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