Advocacy E-News January 11, 2018

January 11, 2018

 

MURPHY TO CHOOSE EX-OBAMA OFFICIAL FOR HEALTH DEPT.

A doctor that President Barack Obama appointed to the U.S. Veterans Administration is Gov.-elect Phil Murphy’s pick to be New Jersey’s next health commissioner. Murphy is expected this week to announce his plans to nominate Shereef Elnahal, according to two sources with knowledge of the decision. He graduated from Harvard University with a medical degree and a MBA in 2012. He is an adjunct professor in Health Policy and Management at the Georgetown University.

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CHRISTIE APPOINTS STATE HOSPITAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Governor Chris Christie this week made a number of direct appointments including 23 individuals to the Board of Trustees of New Jersey’s four State Psychiatric Hospitals.

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HORIZON BETS $1.5M ON TECHNOLOGY TO HELP FIND MENTAL HEALTH CARE

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state’s largest insurance provider, announced Thursday it has signed a $1.5 million contract with a technology company that will mine medical records for clues that show which patients mental health needs are going untreated.

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TRUMP ORDERS MENTAL HEALTH AID FOR MILITARY VETERANS TO PREVENT SUICIDE

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order directing government departments to try to prevent suicide among military veterans by treating mental health problems before they become more serious. Trump’s order directs the departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs to ensure all uniformed service members have access to mental health treatment and suicide prevention resources in the first year following military service.

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DISPEL THE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL ILLNESS 

What happens when you uncover a secret about mental illness in your own family? In the case of Mary Ann Uzzi, of Paramus, New Jersey, you start a program to dispel the stigma around mental illness and make sure others in crisis have access to help. For a heart attack, there’s CPR; choking, the Heimlich; but what about a person suffering from a mental crisis? Uzzi helped bring mental health first aid training into Bergen County….

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