The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health states that too many Americans are unaware that mental illnesses can be treated and recovery is possible. In fact, a wide array of effective mental health services and treatments are available to allow children and adults to be vital contributors to their communities. Yet too many people remain un-served, and the consequences can be shattering. In a speech announcing the Commission, President Bush said, "Our country must make a commitment: Americans with mental illness deserve our understanding, and they deserve excellent care. They deserve a health system that treats their illness with the same urgency as a physical illness."
Mental illness is the leading cause of disability in the United States and Canada, and a World Health Organization study identified mental illness as a leading cause of disability worldwide. The prevalence of mental illness - coupled with stigma and lack of access to treatment - is a now a global concern reaching crisis proportions. This groundbreaking study found that mental illnesses (including depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia) account for nearly 25% of all disability across major industrialized countries. Unfortunately, several obstacles to achieving the goals set here in the United States by the President and the Commission remain, with stigma leading the pack. Sadly, only 1 out of 2 people with a serious form of mental illness seeks treatment for the disorder.
The time has come for there to be parity for mental health care. It was clearly a breakthrough when the first-ever Surgeon General's report on mental illness was released in 1999. However, it speaks volumes about the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness when one realizes that the vital role of mental health in all our lives was not officially acknowledged until the eve of the 21st century.
The issue of health care and insurance in our nation is at a tipping point and in dire need of reevaluation. It will likely take years before quality health care coverage for all Americans becomes a reality. In the interim, mental health care must take its rightful place in the healthcare continuum. Statistics showing the remarkable prevalence of mental illness indicate that the mental health of our citizens can no longer be ignored or misrepresented. The consequences of ignoring this issue will result in financial and human cost infinitely greater than any cost associated with adoption of parity.
Additional Resources
NJ's State Mental Health Agency
Kevin Martone, Assistant Commissioner
Division of Mental Health Services
50 East State Street
P.O. Box 700
Trenton, NJ 08625-0727
Phone: 609-292-3717
Toll-Free: 800-382-6717
24 Hour Referral Hotline: 877-294-HELP (4357)
Fax: 609-777-0662
Internet: www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmhs
State Advocacy and Protection Program
New Jersey Protection and Advocacy, Inc.
210 South Broad Street, Third Floor
Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone: 609-292-9742
Toll-free: 800-922-7233 (Statewide)
TDD: 609-633-7106
Fax: 609-777-0187
E-mail: advocate@njpanda.org
Internet: www.njpanda.org
Sally Williams, Administrator
Atlantic County Mental Health Board
101 South Shore Road
Northfield, NJ 08225
(609) 645-7700, x4307
e-mail: williams_sally@aclink.org
Local NAMI office: Heritage Square
927 N Main St - Suite B5
Pleasantville City, NJ 08232
(609) 646-9940 Joanne Elco
Bergen County
www.bergenhealth.org/mental/bcmhsystem.html
Family Support Organization of Bergen County/Support Groups
(201) 796-6209
Fax number: (201) 796-1151
E-Mail address: info@fsobergen.org
Internet Site: www.fsobergen.org
Division of Family Guidance
Lucien Duquette, Ph.D., Director
One Bergen County Plaza, 2nd Floor
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: 201-336-7350
Fax: 201-336-7370
fgintake@co.bergen.nj.us
Bergen County Mental Health Board
Susan K. Boggia, Administrator
327 East Ridgewood Avenue
Paramus, NJ 07652-4895
(201) 634-2753
e-mail: sboggia@co.bergen.nj.us
Burlington County
www.hamptonhospital.com/indexnew.html
www.catholiccharitiestrenton.org/
jfedsnj.org/jfcs-frameset.html
Intensive Family Support Services
114 Delaware Avenue
Burlington City, NJ 08016
Main Phone: (609) 386-8653
Fax number: (609) 386-3153
Gary Miller, Administrator
Elda Goss, Planner
BurlingtonCountyMental Health Board
795 Woodlane Road - PO Box 6000
Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
(609) 265-5545
e-mail: gmiller@co.burlington.nj.us
e-mail: egoss@co.burlington.nj.us Camden County
co.camden.nj.us/government/offices/seniors/emergency.html
Local NAMI office: 19 E Ormond Ave
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
(856) 854-2165
Mental Health Assoc. in Southwestern NJ - Community Education
505 Cooper St
Camden, NJ 08102
(856) 966-6767
Fax number: (856) 541-3986
E-Mail address: mhaswnj@mhaswnj.org
Charles Steinmetz, Administrator
Camden County Mental Health Board
6981 North Park Drive East, Suite 309-310
Pennsauken, NJ 08109-4212
(856) 663-3998
e-mail: chuck.steinmetz@usarmy.mil
Cape May County
www.capemaycountygov.net/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=5&TPID=440
Patricia Devaney, Administrator
Cape May County Mental Health Board
Cape May Courthouse
#4 Moore Road - DN 907
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
(609) 465-1055
e-mail: devaneyp@co.cape-may.nj.us
Cumberland County
www.co.cumberland.nj.us/govtserv/departments/mental_health/
Information is available in both English and Spanish in PDF format
Ethan Aronoff, Administrator
Cumberland County Mental Health Board
Co. Administration Bldg.
509 Shiloh Pike
Bridgeton, NJ 08302
(856) 453-7804
e-mail: ethanar@co.cumberland.nj.us
Essex County
Joseph Scarpelli, D.C., Administrator
Essex County Mental Health Board
125 Fairview Avenue
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
(973) 228-8172
e-mail: JPSDC@aol.com
Gloucester County
www.state.nj.us/health/aids/gloucestr.pdf
A list of all health related services in the county
Kathy Spinosi, Administrator
Gloucester County Mental Health Board
Budd Boulevard Complex
Route 45 & Budd Boulevard - PO Box 337
Woodbury, NJ 08096
(856) 384-6870
Hudson County
There is not complete list but here are several larger facilities in the county
www.christhospital.org/behavioral_health.html
Jim Gallagher, Administrator
Hudson County Mental Health Board
c/o Meadowview Hospital
595 County Avenue
Secaucus, NJ 07094
(201) 271-4344
e-mail: jjgall_hcdhhs@yahoo.com
Hunterdon County
www.hunterdonhealthcare.org/services/mental_health/behavioral_health.asp
Pamela Pontrelli, Administrator
Hunterdon County Mental Health Board
Dept. of Human Services
8 Gauntt Place - PO Box 2900
Flemington, NJ 08822-2900
(908) 788-1253
e-mail: humansvs@co.hunterdon.nj.us
Mercer County
nj.gov/counties/mercer/departments/pdfs/hs_services_guide.pdf
Information is in PDF format
Mark Celentana, Ph.D., Administrator
Mercer County Mental Health Board
640 South Broad Street - PO Box 8068
Trenton, NJ 08650
(609) 989-6574/6475
e-mail: mcelentana@mercercounty.org
Middlesex County
www.co.middlesex.nj.us/humanservices/Mental-Health-directory.doc
Lori Dillon, Administrator
Middlesex County Mental Health Board
Dept. of Human Services
JFK Square - 5th floor
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 745-4518
e-mail: Lori.Dillon@co.middlesex.nj.us
Monmouth County
www.monmouthhumanservices.org/Acrobat/Mental_Health_Guide_Monmouth_County.pdf
PDF Format
Charles D. Brown, Administrator
Monmouth County Mental Health Board
DHS Building
Kozloski Road - PO Box 3000
Freehold, NJ 07728-1255
(732) 431-7200
e-mail: cbrown@co.monmouth.nj.us
Morris County
www.morrisoem.org/mhservices.html
Laurie Becker, Administrator
Morris County Mental Health Board
Dept. of Human Services
30 Schuyler Place - CN 900
Morristown, NJ 07960-0900
(973) 285-6852
e-mail: lbecker@co.morris.nj.us
Ocean County
www.ochd.org/ResourceDirectory2006.pdf
Tracy Maksel, Mental Health Administrator
Ocean County Mental Health Board
Dept. of Human Services
1027 Hooper Avenue, Bldg. 2
PO Box 2191
Toms River, NJ 08754-2191
(732) 506-5319
e-mail: jperez@co.ocean.nj.us
e-mail: tmaksel@co.ocean.nj.us
Passaic County
Francine Vince, Administrator
Passaic County Mental Health Board
401 Grand Street - 5th Floor
Paterson, NJ 07503
(973) 881-4278
e-mail: francinev@passaiccountynj.org
Salem County
Isaac A. Young, Administrator
Salem County Mental Health Board
98 Market Street
Salem, NJ 08079
(856) 339-8618
e-mail: isaac.young@salemcountynj.gov
Somerset County
www.somersetonline.org/scuw/geninfo/agency.htm
Provides some limited information on affiliated agencies
www.somersetmedicalcenter.com/body.cfm?id=274
www.carrier.org/clinic_services.asp
alcoholism.about.com/od/tx_nj/qt/nj031.htm
www.somerseteldercare.com/healthandwellness/richard_hall_community_mental_he1.htm
Pam Mastro, Administrator
Somerset County Mental Health Board
Dept. of Human Services
PO Box 3000
Somerville, NJ 08876-1262
(908) 704-6310
e-mail: mastro@co.somerset.nj.us
Sussex County
www.sussex.nj.us/documents/human%20services/resourceguide.pdf
PDF Format Pg. 32
Cindy Armstrong, Administrator
Sussex County Mental Health Board
Sussex County Administrative Complex
1 Spring Street
Newton, NJ 07860
(973) 948-6000
e-mail: carmstrong@sussex.nj.us
Union County
www.unioncountynj.org/humansvcs/planning/mental.html
Call the phone number provided to receive a full list of services for the county
Thomas Graham, Administrator
Union County Mental Health Board
Union County Administration Bldg.
Elizabethtown Plaza
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
(908) 527-4846
e-mail: tgraham@ucnj.org
WarrenCounty
Shannon Brennan, Administrator
Warren County Mental Health Board
Dept. of Human Services
Cummins Bldg.
202 Mansfield Street
Belvidere, NJ 07823
(908) 475-6092
e-mail: sbrennan@co.warren.nj.us
If You Need Immediate Psychiatric Care
www.aafp.org/fpm/20001100/15unde.html
www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp
National - Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
Phone: 410-786-3000
Toll-free: 877-267-2323
TDD: 866-226-1819
E-mail: question@cms.gov
Internet: www.CMS.gov
Local - Region 2: New York Regional Office
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
26 Federal Plaza, 38th Floor
New York, NY 10278-0063
Phone: 212-616-2205
Fax: 212-264-6189
Internet: www.CMS.gov/RegionalOffices/03_RO2.asp
Horizon Blue Cross Coverage Info: www.magellanprovider.com/MHS/MGL/providing_care/clinical_guidelines/mnc2007.pdf
Psychiatrist and Therapists - Go to site and click on Provider Directory www.horizon-bcbsnj.com/
Oxford - Specific to your plan
www.oxhp.com/secure/policy/outpatient_mental_health_407.html
www.oxhp.com/secure/policy/inpatient_psychiatric_oma.html
www.oxhp.com/secure/policy/outpatient_mental_health_oma.html
Oxford Behavioral Hotline: 1-800-201-6991 Mon-Fri between 8 AM and 6 PM
United Healthcare - Members Only
Aetna Healthcare
www.aetna.com/members/individuals/health/plan_details/NewJersey/
Cigna Healthcare - 800-433-5768
www.cigna.com/customer_care/healthcare_professional/coverage_positions/index.html
www.state.nj.us/publicadvocate/news/2007/070226.html
Advanced Directives
Mental Health Advanced Directives are a relatively new phenomenon in the mental health field. They are very similar to general medical advanced directives in the sense that they give the patient power in deciding treatment options. People in a psychiatric emergency might not be able to clearly communicate their treatment options and preferences. By completing an official advanced directive (information on how to do this is below), patients can provide information such as medication preferences, restraint options, doctor and hospital preferences, and general information deemed important to that person and their treatment. To learn more about Advanced Directives, please click on the following links. Please note the legal and state issues associated with Advanced Directive when contemplating completing such a document. It is suggested that if you are currently in treatment for mental health you should ask for assistance with your mental health providers.
www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Legal/Advance_Directives.htm
Sample form and info on legality in New Jersey
www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmhs/advance%20directives_all_forms.pdf [pdf 56k]
Copy of Advanced Directive Legislation
www.njleg.state.nj.us/2004/Bills/S2500/2369_R2.PDF [pdf 88k]
