ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. SENATE APPROVES CODEY BILLS TO IMPROVE EMERGENCY MENTAL
HEALTH CARE
2. REMOVAL OF SUICIDAL STUDENTS MAY LEAD TO LEGAL ACTION
3. HOSPITAL WORKERS TO BE DRUG TESTED UNDER SENATE BILL
4. MENTAL HEALTH CASES TAX POLICE, EMERGENCY WORKERS
5. GROUP WANTS TO PRESERVE OLD GREYSTONE BUILDING
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SENATE APPROVES BILLS TO IMPROVE EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH
CARE
The full Senate today voted with overwhelming support
to approve a trio of bills sponsored by Senate President
Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) that would provide substantial
relief for patients seeking critical emergency mental health
services.
"To then make patients go days without any significant
relief, is agonizing and counter to all that we have done
over the last several years to try and improve access to
mental health services in New Jersey'" said Senator
Codey. "What these bills will do more than anything
is standardize and streamline care so that patients get
the crucial help they need, when they need it, not days
later."
Read the press release:
http://www.politickernj.com/sciortino/35433/senate-approves-codey-package-improve-critical-emergency-mental-health-care
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REMOVAL OF SUICIDAL STUDENTS MAY LEAD TO LEGAL ACTION
When college students appear suicidal, school administrators
face a difficult judgment call. Do they steer them toward
mental health treatment, or remove the students from campus,
hoping to pre-empt harm to themselves and others? Institutions
increasingly tend to play it safe, according to a report
released today by New Jersey Public Advocate Ronald Chen,
by utilizing "blanket removal" policies that fail
to look at each case of attempted suicide individually.
Some students -- especially those who voluntarily seek treatment
before anything goes wrong -- complain this violates their
rights.
View the Star Ledger report:
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1259894707182640.xml&coll=1
Read the Public Advocates report:
http://www.state.nj.us/publicadvocate/mental/pdf/College%20Suicide%20Report%20FINAL-8-10-09.pdf
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N.J. PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL WORKERS WOULD UNDERGO DRUG TESTING
UNDER SENATE BILL
Potential workers and existing staff at state institutions
would undergo drug testing under legislation a Senate health
committee approved. Alarmed by unsafe conditions at Ancora
Psychiatric Hospital, Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex)
sponsored the bill setting a higher bar for workers at all
state institutions, including veterans' homes and developmental
centers. The drug tests would be required as a condition
of getting a job, and random tests would be given to employees
hired prior to the law taking effect.
View the article:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/nj_psychiatric_hospital_worker.html
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MENTAL HEALTH CASES TAX POLICE, EMERGENCY WORKERS
After the move nationally to deinstitutionalize the mentally
ill 50 years ago, resources were not adequately invested
in community services, officials said. Many communities
don't have enough beds in inpatient hospitals or community
mental health programs to respond to people in crisis. The
problem is likely to worsen as states slash budgets. By
the end of 2011, state mental health budgets are expected
to be slashed by 21.8 percent, on top of what has already
been trimmed, according to the National Association of State
Mental Health Program Directors.
Read more:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5htXjwZUcalSIGYg9u_V3LDPWpasAD9C433M80
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GROUP WANTS TO PRESERVE OLD GREYSTONE BUILDING
A new group interested in preserving the main building
at the former Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital said that
state funds from the $400 million open space referendum
passed in November should be used to save the historic structure.
Preserve Greystone, based in Morris Plains, is dedicated
to protecting the open space and historic buildings on the
former Greystone property, which are owned by the state
government. The group is particularly interested in the
preservation of the main building, the 670,000-square-foot
Kirkbride Building, and the surrounding unused land.
See the Daily Record story:
http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200912060600/COMMUNITIES/91203089
