ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. ACT NOW TO PUSH FOR MENTAL HEALTH PARITY!
2. GOVERNOR CORZINE SIGNS FY 08 APPROPRIATIONS ACT
3. HIGH COURT BLOCKS EXECUTION OF MENTALLY ILL KILLER
4. WHAT SENDS TEENS TO BRINK OF SUICIDE?
5. TROUBLED MAN KILLED BY MAPLEWOOD COPS
6. VETERANS COUNSELING HOTLINE
7. PSYCHIATRISTS TOP LIST IN DRUG MAKER GIFTS
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ACT NOW TO PUSH FOR MENTAL HEALTH PARITY!
U.S. Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM), Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA)
and Mike Enzi (R-WY), Senate sponsors of federal parity
legislation (S 558), are expected to quickly press for action
on a revised version of their bill to provide equivalent
health plan coverage for the treatment of mental illness.
Action Required:
Contact both of your U.S. Senators and urge them to support
immediate passage of S 558 and oppose any amendments to
weaken the legislation.
Call or Email your Senators today! A special toll-free
Parity Hotline has been set up 1-866-parity4 (1-866-727-4894).
The hotline reaches the U.S. Capitol switchboard, which
can connect you to your Senators. To contact your Senators
via email visit
http://capwiz.com/nami/issues/alert/?alertid=9939486
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GOVERNOR CORZINE SIGNS FY 08 APPROPRIATIONS ACT
Governor Jon S. Corzine signed the FY 08 Appropriations
Act (S-3000) into law on June 28. It maintains New Jersey’s
commitment to help, our most vulnerable populations and
seniors. In particular, this budget maintains or increases
funding for, PAAD and Senior Gold programs that help defray
prescription costs for the elderly, healthcare under Medicaid
and Family Care, nursing homes, and community based efforts
to help those suffering from mental illness. The budget
includes:
Nearly $40 million in new funding for a three percent cost
of living adjustment to the community provider organizations
that provide vital services to many of our most vulnerable
citizens. Without this added funding, many of these organizations
would have little choice but to reduce service or staff.
$30 million in new funding for community programs that support
individuals with developmental disabilities or mental illness.
Read the news release:
http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/approved/20070628b.html
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HIGH COURT BLOCKS EXECUTION OF MENTALLY ILL KILLER
The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked the execution of
a mentally ill Texas murderer because lower courts failed
to consider whether he had a rational understanding of why
he was to be killed. The justices ruled 5-4 in the case
of Scott Louis Panetti. He was convicted and sentenced to
death for shooting his in-laws in front of his wife and
young children in 1992. Panetti suffers from delusions,
a condition that his lawyers say keeps him from comprehending
the reason or purpose of his death sentence.
Read the AP report:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/4929193.html
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WHAT SENDS TEENS TO BRINK OF SUICIDE?
For every teenager who commits suicide in New Jersey, scores
of others come close -- and live. In the 10 years ending
in 2005, 634 New Jersey residents aged 15 to 24 killed themselves.
Far more tried -- a chilling fact considering that teens
who attempt suicide are three to 17 times more likely to
try again. Many of those who survive are torn, sometimes
daily, between hope that they'll make it and terror that
they won't.
Read
the Bergen Record Series.
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TROUBLED MAN KILLED BY MAPLEWOOD COPS
A Maplewood man who allegedly was brandishing a knife was
fatally shot yesterday by police, who say he charged at
them. But a relative identified the victim as a 31-year-old
man who suffered from schizophrenia and had just been released
from the Essex County Hospital Center in Cedar Grove last
week. She said she called an ambulance because she wanted
him returned to the hospital.
Read the Star Ledger report:
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/essex/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1183177669191800.xml&coll=1
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VETERANS COUNSELING HOTLINE
The Adjutant General of New Jersey has announced the creation
of a new, mental health helpline for veterans returning
from service in Southwest Asia. The new toll free number
will provide immediate assistance to veterans suffering
from psychological or emotional distress as well as those
having difficulty re-assimilating back into civilian life
following the conclusion of their mobilization for active
duty service.
The toll free helpline, which is accessible 24/7 by dialing
1-866 VETS-NJ4U (1-866-838-7654) will be coordinated by
UMDNJ's University Behavioral HealthCare.
To learn more:
http://www.nj.gov/military/veterans/hotline.html
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PSYCHIATRISTS TOP LIST IN DRUG MAKER GIFTS
As states begin to require that drug companies disclose
their payments to doctors for lectures and other services,
a pattern has emerged: psychiatrists earn more money from
drug makers than doctors in any other specialty. How this
money may be influencing psychiatrists and other doctors
has become one of the most contentious issues in health
care.
Read
the NY Times story (free to register).
