ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. YOUTH JAILS HALT ILLEGAL HOLDING OF MENTALLY ILL
2. MOTHER SUES TO FIND OUT ABOUT DEATH OF SON AT TPH
3. GOVERNOR NAMES COUNCIL ON MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA
4. MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT LACKING FOR LATINOS
5. ACTION NEEDED ON S2760
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YOUTH JAILS HALT ILLEGAL HOLDING OF MENTALLY ILL
Action erases huge failure in juvenile justice system
New Jersey's youth jails have stopped the illegal warehousing
of dozens of mentally ill and neglected children, finally
clearing up one of the juvenile justice system's most notorious
failures, officials said yesterday. After missing a court-imposed
June deadline, the state met a self-imposed Sept. 30 deadline
by moving all but one of dozens of detainees who had been
ordered by judges into psychological treatment or a child-welfare
placement.
Read the full news report:
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-3/112866302196640.xml&coll=1
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MOTHER SUES TO FIND OUT ABOUT DEATH OF SON AT TPH
More than a year ago, Jose Miguel Perez died while in custody
at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, apparently after taking
prescription medicine. His mother, Irma Hernandez, is now
demanding to be told exactly what happened. Attorney Kevin
Main, who represents Hernandez, said there are several questions
surrounding the death, including whether Perez received
CPR and whether Perez was given the wrong dosage of his
medication by hospital employees.
Read Linda Stein’s Trenton Times story:
http://www.nj.com/news/times/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-2/11278084579170.xml&coll=5
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GOVERNOR NAMES COUNCIL ON MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA
Governor Codey today signed an Executive Order establishing
the Governor’s Council on Mental Health Stigma. The
Council will work to create an on-going education and awareness
initiative to overcome the misunderstanding of mental disorders
and the stigma associated with them.
Named to the council were NAMI NEW JERSEY’s Executive
Director Sylvia Axelrod and In Our Own Voice presenter Robin
Cunningham.
Read more:
http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/governor/njnewsline/default.pl
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MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT LACKING FOR LATINOS
Latinos are often misdiagnosed by mental health professionals,
and their language barriers or customs don't help. But Acting
Gov. Richard Codey and statewide Hispanic advocacy groups
are trying to change that. Representatives of the Hispanic
Directors Association of New Jersey and the NJ Mental Health
Institute were in Union City Tuesday to reveal the results
of a statewide study that shows deficiencies in the state's
mental health system that impact the Latino community.
Read the Hudson reporter story:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15267856&BRD=1291&PAG=461&dept_id=523588&rfi=6
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ACTION NEEDED ON S2760
The Senate Health, Human Services and Seniors Committee
heard testimony on S2760, the bill that would authorize
involuntary outpatient commitment in New Jersey. The committee
recessed without taking action following four hours of split
testimony. Acting Governor Codey and the Mental Health Task
Force continue to strongly support this legislation with
appropriate modification. Despite the need for such a law,
outpatient commitment continues to be a highly charged issue,
one where the bill’s intent can be easily confused
or distorted. Opponents hope that they can delay passage
of the bill until this legislative session ends
Advocates are urged to Contact the members of the Senate
Health, Human Services and Seniors Committee and let them
know how important this legislation is to you and what it
will mean to your family. The real life stories of NAMI
advocates are the most powerful testimonial to the need
for this law.
Read what you can do to help:
http://www.naminj.org/advocacy/advocacy_alerts.html
Read the proposed law:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2004/Bills/S3000/2760_I1.HTM
