Advocacy E-news November 4, 2019
November 4, 2019
HIGHER TAXES OR DEPRESSED KIDS? SHOULD N.J. VOTERS REALLY HAVE TO CHOOSE?
Would you rather raise your own taxes or live in a community full of children who aren’t getting mental health services they need? On Nov. 5, Metuchen and Collingswood school districts are asking voters to approve tax hikes for expanded mental health services in schools, including more counseling and early interventions for the youngest students.
THE AMERICAN WAY OF PAYING FOR DRUGS ISN’T WORKING
A bill now making its way through the House could finally provide relief from the sky-high drug prices that have become a hallmark of the American health care industry. But to get there, Americans will need to accept a trade-off that other advanced nations have long since come around to: Slightly fewer new drugs will come to market, in exchange for better prices on the medications that already exist.
COUNTY APPOINTS STATE’S 1ST RESILIENCY OFFICER WHO WILL FOCUS ON COPS’ MENTAL HEALTH
Mercer became the first county in the state to appoint a Law Enforcement Resiliency Program officer — a move every county will eventually make to comply with a new statewide initiative meant to focus on police department mental health. Attorney General Gurbir Grewal implemented the New Jersey Resiliency Program this August.
SUICIDE HAS BEEN DEADLIER THAN COMBAT FOR THE MILITARY
More than 45,000 veterans and active-duty service members have killed themselves in the past six years. in other words, more suicides each year than the total American military deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq. Studies show that the Department of Veterans Affairs provides high-quality care, and its Veterans Crisis Line “surpasses most crisis lines” operating today. But Veterans Affairs often can’t accommodate all those needing help, resulting in patients being sent to community-based mental health professionals who lack the training to deal with service members.
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