ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. HAGEDORN TOPIC OF HUNTERDON MENTAL HEALTH BOARD MEETING
2. SOLDIER’S MOTHER LAUDS EFFORTS TO BOLSTER SUICIDE PREVENTION
3. NEW OREGON STATE HOSPITAL CHIEF GETS FACE TIME WITH STAFF
4. BLOCKED BY CHRISTIE, LAW WOULD SAVE LIVES
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HAGEDORN TOPIC OF HUNTERDON MENTAL HEALTH BOARD MEETING
Earlier this year, a Chris Christie transition team scrutinizing mental health spending recommended that the 310-bed Hunterdon hospital be closed. After patient families, hospital staff and local politicians objected, that plan was put on hold. But Gail Masson, chairwoman of the Hagedorn board of trustees, said last month that the hospital had already seen reductions in state referrals and resources. She feared that the hospital was being set up for failure in the task force review.
Go to the full report:
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/08/hagedorn_plan_is_topic_of_thur.html
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SOLDIER’S MOTHER LAUDS EFFORTS TO BOLSTER SUICIDE PREVENTION
Speaking yesterday at University Behavioral HealthCare in Piscataway Linda Bean lauded U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ, and U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, D-12th, for sponsoring legislation that would specifically fill a void in the military's suicide-prevention program, which currently does not cover all categories of soldiers and veterans through the VA. The "NJ Vet2Vet" program is a peer-operated helpline available to all military personnel and their immediate families.
See the full article:
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100831/NEWS/8310356/East-Brunswick-soldier-Coleman-Bean-s-mother-lauds-efforts-to-bolster-suicide-prevention
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NEW OREGON STATE HOSPITAL CHIEF GETS FACE TIME WITH STAFF
The incoming leader of the Oregon State Hospital met Wednesday with patients, staff members and the hospital's advisory board, laying out his upbeat expectations for turning around the troubled psychiatric facility in Salem.
"There is no problem that can't be solved," Greg Roberts told members of the hospital advisory board.
Read more:
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20100826/NEWS/8260337/1001/news
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BLOCKED BY CHRISTIE, LAW WOULD SAVE LIVES
For nearly seven years the New Jersey Legislature worked to create a law to deal with people so sick that they can't get help for themselves. The result was a law authorizing what's known as "assisted outpatient treatment" or "involuntary outpatient commitment." In New Jersey, it's known as "Gregory's Law." It passed the Legislature unanimously and was supposed to take effect last month. But Gov. Christie decided New Jersey can't afford to obey its own law.
See the Inquirer opinion piece:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20100901_Blocked_by_Christie__law_would_save_lives.html
