NJAMHAA-70th-anniversary-publication

47 For years, the numbers of children, youth and adults contending with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, substance misuse and overdoses have been increasing. These already tragic statistics have skyrocketed during the pandemic, due to social isolation, job loss and economic hardship. Further complicating matters is the trauma created by social and racial injustices. As a result, a staggering 40% of our population is struggling. Our heroic behavioral health workers enable New Jersey residents to work through these difficulties. They have always demonstrated unwavering dedication and amazing effectiveness in saving lives and improving the quality of life. Now, their impact is even more profound in light of risks they are exposed to during the pandemic. New Jersey’s behavioral health workforce and individuals who depend on them need support. Before the pandemic, more than 500,000 children and adults were served every year. To meet the exponentially rising demand, funding must be sustained and substantially increased. This is literally a matter of life and death for so many. The FY2021 State Budget provided much-needed investments in mental health and substance use treatment and the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA) is infinitely grateful to Governor Murphy, his Administration, Senator Sweeney, Speaker Coughlin and all New Jersey Legislators for making this happen. NJAMHAA implores all our leaders to continue and increase this funding in the FY2022 State Budget. To create hope, health and wellness and build a bridge to a better future, New Jersey must invest in its workforce so these dedicated workers will be there to help all of us. For details on NJAMHAA’s budget priorities, please visit njamhaa.org. With endless appreciation, Debra L. Wentz, PhD President and CEO PLEASE HELP BUILD A BRIDGE TO A BETTER FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS be no stigma associated with mental illness.” One of the highest profile television interviews NJAMHAA has secured occurred soon after the horrific events of 9/11 in 2001. Katie Couric, host of The Today Show, had the show’s producers con- tact Dr. Wentz after learning of her interview with the Star-Ledger’s pharmaceutical industry reporter about the increased use of anti-anxiety and anti-de- pressant medications in the days following the fall of the towers. To stay in the front of reporters’ minds, NJAMHAA frequently sends press releases and opinion-edi- torial pieces and is always available to speak with reporters. “We became a resource that the media can count on,” Dr. Wentz said. While many press releases are written to reinforce advocacy and anti-stigma messages, often tied to behavioral related observances such as Mental Health Month and Recovery Month, NJAMHAA cap- italized on a different opportunity in 2016. Recog- nizing the need to promote behavioral healthcare providers as businesses and significant contributors to the state, NJAMHAA unveiled a report that demon- strated providers’ economic impact. NJAMHAA com- missioned a study from Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, which illustrated community mental healthcare and substance use treatment providers’ direct contribu- tions to the state’s economy through nearly 61,000 direct and indirect jobs, gross domestic product purchases, and state and local government taxes and fees. NJAMHAA sent a press release and invited media representatives to a press conference to gain media coverage on this aspect of the behavioral healthcare system’s value. Another testament to NJAMHAA’s visibility and positive reputation was the unexpected opportunity to place a full-page ad at no cost in a special section on behavioral healthcare and substance use services in the Star-Ledger, Times of Trenton and South Jersey Times on January 24, 2021. Capitalizing on NJAMHAA’s priority budget requests, the ad appeared in another special section about opioid use disorder and treatment options in all three newspapers. NJAMHAA also uses its annual advocacy campaigns to inform government staff and the general public of its budgetary and legislative recommendations and gain support for them, and to prepare members to advocate to their local legislators. Additionally, these documents are shared with the media and serve as the basis for many opinion-editorial pieces and press releases, which have gained significant attention by newspapers, trade publications, and TV and radio stations. “Using in-house marketing and public relations, we made attractive and thematic publications. We stand out with creative, eye-catching designs, along with compelling information in a world with much com- petition for attention,” Dr. Wentz stated. The NJAMHAA staff’s tracking of media coverage shows that from 2010 through 2020, NJAMHAA has averaged 55 media placements per year. Most nota- bly, these include 288 interviews for news articles in print publications, 94 opinion-editorial pieces and 43 letters to editors, many of which are also published online. In addition, NJAMHAA was contacted for reports in online-only publications 70 times and was interviewed 92 times by TV and radio reporters. The trend is clearly continuing in 2021 with 11 instances of coverage as of April 26 th .