Advocacy E-News June 5, 2019
June 5, 2019
PRETEENS ATTEMPTING SUICIDE IN NJ AT ALARMING RATES
There’s no sugarcoating this one. Preteens attempting to commit suicide by drug overdose has nearly tripled in New Jersey over the last eight years, and it’s slated to hit an all-time high this year, according to the data from the New Jersey Poison Control as parsed by Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
LOOKING TO GET TO GRIPS WITH LONELINESS AMONG NJ’S ELDERLY, OTHERS AT RISK
Amid growing concern worldwide about the impact of loneliness on the elderly, Garden State lawmakers want to learn how social isolation affects vulnerable New Jerseyans and what can be done to keep them more active and engaged. A handful of Democratic legislators introduced a bill earlier this month to create a task force to assess the nature and frequency of social isolation among seniors, and among individuals with disabilities or mental illness, veterans, and other at-risk groups.
GRANTS FOR POLICE MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAMS
Improving police responses to people with mental health issues in the community requires collaboration with many agencies, most especially behavioral health service providers. The resources needed to develop and sustain these collaborations often require funding that may not be readily available within a police department’s budget. However, several federal, state and private grant programs will support these projects. Knowing where to look and thinking outside the box can help secure the funding needed to support this valuable work.
Here are a few options to consider.
ROCK STAR MET WITH SURVIVORS OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN ASBURY
Rock icon and political activist Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, the Nightwatchman) recently met with survivors of solitary confinement in urging New Jersey to stop its use of solitary confinement. Legislation has been introduced in the New Jersey Assembly and Senate, A314/S3261, The Isolated Confinement Restriction Act, which would prohibit the use of solitary confinement in New Jersey correctional facilities for people with a mental illness.
FEDERAL BILL INTRODUCED TO ENFORCE MENTAL HEALTH PARITY, HOLD INSURANCE COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE
U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Vice-Chair of the Bipartisan Addiction Task Force, along with U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (CT-02) and Ann Kuster (NH-02), Chair of the Bipartisan Addiction Task Force, introduced the Parity Enforcement Act, H.R. 2848, which expands the U.S. Department of Labor’s authority to hold health insurers and plan sponsors accountable for offering health plans that violate the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.
FIND YOUR LOCAL NAMI
