Advocacy E-News May 3, 2018
May 3, 2018
MORE FUNDING NEEDED FOR MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTIONS
The Institution for Mental Diseases (IMD) exclusion has led in New Jersey, as in many states, to a shortage of psychiatric treatment beds that has reached crisis proportions. Contributing to this situation was the unfortunate decision in 2012 to close down Hagedorn Gero-Psychiatric Hospital, which itself was financially motivated to a large degree by the IMD exclusion.
Currently, there is a significant effort being undertaken by leading legislators and politicians from both parties to begin repairing our broken system by removing the IMD exclusion from federal regulations. This would allow appropriate federal funding and reimbursement to all psychiatric treatment facilities.
HELP THOSE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS BY JOINING NAMI’S WALK
Two energetic and passionate young people joined me today from the National Alliance on Mental Illness of New Jersey. Amanda Peraino and Mikaela Grande were in studio to discuss the upcoming walk in Seaside Park. The walk will take place on Saturday May 19th.
JAIL DIVERSION BILL FOR MENTALLY ILL TO BE INTRODUCED
Senator Turner will introduce legislation next week that would allow offenders suffering from mental illness to be diverted away from the mainstream criminal justice system and into a rehabilitation process. The comprehensive bill would establish uniformed officer training curriculums, guidelines for court proceedings and defendant case reviews.
NEW JERSEY WORKERS TO GET PAID SICK LEAVE
New Jersey became the 10th state Wednesday to require employers to provide paid sick leave for workers. Workers may take off to care for their own mental or physical illness or to care for family members. Most workers in New Jersey will be eligible for paid sick leave. The law, which takes effect in six months — on Oct. 29 — requires employers to give workers one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, with an annual cap of 40 hours.
EDITORIAL: A NEW LOOK AT SUICIDE RISKS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
A new study by the Ruderman Family Foundation, a nonprofit that works for the rights of people with disabilities, reports that suicides left more officers and firefighters dead last year than all line-of-duty deaths combined – a statistic that shines light on a seemingly growing and overlooked problem. It points out that PTSD and depression affect these public servants at a level five times that of civilians.
FIND YOUR LOCAL NAMI
