NJAMHA

Governor Christie Sworn In, Promises Change

Repeating “Today, change has arrived,” Christopher Christie today took the oath of office to become the 55th governor of the state of New Jersey. Speaking for approximately a half hour, the first Republican elected in a statewide race in more than a decade committed to working with the Democratic-controlled Legislature to “build a better life for all of our citizens.”

Governor Christie committed to a more accountable and transparent government, improving school choice, cutting red tape to help small businesses create and keep jobs, working to attract residents to cities, and creating a state with lower taxes and higher growth.

While the governor made no specific mention of supporting individuals with mental illness and addictions disorders or other vulnerable citizens, he highlighted several citizens working for non-profits as “New Jersey heroes”. Among them, he cited a Camden County woman who helps individuals transitioning from welfare or prisons to the workplace. “No life is disposable. Everyone deserves a second chance,” said Christie, who noted that some of the organizations depend solely upon donations and do not utilize government funding.

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Parity Regulations Must Fully Align with Intent of Legislation

The New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies, Inc. (NJAMHA) welcomed the long awaited release of regulations that implement the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA), which was designed to ensure equal insurance coverage for mental health and addictions treatment as for medical and surgical care. NJAMHA urges the federal government to expeditiously review and adopt the regulations to ensure that insurance companies are in compliance with the law. The proposed regulations establish a July 1, 2010 deadline.

“However, before the regulations are adopted, two major issues must be addressed to truly ensure access to necessary treatment for mental illnesses and addictions,” said Debra L. Wentz, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, NJAMHA. “These treatments have been proven effective for enabling individuals to not only manage their illnesses, but also achieve so much more in their lives. A very substantial benefit is that individual states and the nation would save billions of dollars by avoiding costly emergency room visits, hospitalizations, incarceration and homelessness – all which commonly occur when substance abuse and mental health disorders are not treated.”

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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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