ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. MENTALLY ILL AWAITING HELP
2. GOVERNOR CORZINE DIRECTS CABINET TO CUT $400 MILLION
3. POLICY HELPS COPS DEAL WITH MENTALLY ILL
4. SOLUTIONS SOUGHT FOR HOMELESS VETS
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MENTALLY ILL AWAITING HELP
New Jersey's mental health system has long been broken,
from top to bottom. The Legislature says it's ready to help,
but a task force convened by the state Division of Mental
Health Services in February 2008 is withholding recommendations
that would assist lawmakers in writing laws to help fix
it. It's time to break the bureaucratic logjam.
The latest troubles confronting the system are the shortage
of short-term beds for psychiatric patients needing hospitalization
and the lack of information about available alternatives
to emergency room care. It has contributed to a near-crisis
situation in emergency rooms throughout the state.
Read the Asbury Park Press Editorial:
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009910310308
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GOVERNOR CORZINE DIRECTS CABINET TO CUT $400 MILLION
Governor Jon S. Corzine today outlined several measures
needed to maintain balance in the FY 2010 budget and fulfill
his commitment to maintain a balanced budget through his
remaining two months in office. In recognition that October
revenue collections are coming in below targets and may
continue to erode in the months ahead the Governor directed
his cabinet to maintain a hiring freeze and to limit spending
to only those transactions that are absolutely necessary.
In addition, the Governor directed the State Treasurer to
look at spending in areas that cuts across departments for
added savings.
Read the full press release:
http://www.politickernj.com/governors-press-office/34849/governor-corzine-directs-cabinet-cut-additional-400-million-maintain-ba
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POLICY HELPS COPS DEAL WITH MENTALLY ILL
The Vineland Police Department wants to ensure that when
its officers respond to a call involving someone with mental
health issues, the officers know they're dealing with more
than just an acronym. Earlier this year, the 158-member
force adopted a policy aimed at improving the way its officers
interact with people who have psychological problems. As
part of the new policy, mental health professionals provided
training, including de-escalation techniques, to the police
department's officers to teach them how to deal with people
who are emotionally disturbed.
Read more in the Daily Journal:
http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20091110/NEWS01/911100309/1002#pluckcomments
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SOLUTIONS SOUGHT FOR HOMELESS VETS
The number of homeless veterans around the country declined
by 33 percent in the past six years - but that means 131,000
people still live on the streets, according to the Department
of Veterans Affairs. If they get in trouble with the law,
either for drug offenses or because they become belligerent,
they end up further behind. Advocates said coordination
of programs was critical, and shelters and short-term housing
may get people off the street but do not solve homelessness.
That's especially true if unemployment fuels depression
or more serious mental illness and veterans turn to drugs
or alcohol to self-medicate.
Read more from the Bergen Record:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/international/69734982.html
