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MHANJ Policy on The Inclusion of Mental Health
in County Crisis Plan
Date: October 24, 2002
Issue: The Inclusion of Mental Health in County Crisis Plan
Status:
In response to the concern that the current system cannot ensure
that each county designates or maintains a lead local public health
entity responsible for ensuring county-wide public health
preparedness for terrorist acts, Assemblyman Paul DiGaetano (R36),
Assemblyman Frank Blee (R2), Senator John J. Matheussen (R4) and
Senator John H. Adler (D6) introduced A1746/S1223: “The Public
Health Preparedness Act.” This legislation empowers the Commissioner
of Health and Senior services to designate a lead local health
agency in each of the 21 counties statewide, to further ensure the
protection of the public health, safety, and welfare.
Though MHANJ supports this legislation, we do not feel it goes far
enough to protect the health of our citizenry. In correspondence
with the bill’s sponsors, we proposed that the bill be amended to
include the county mental health administrator and the county mental
health crisis units in the planning and coordination regarding
public health emergencies. In response to our suggestion, Senator
Matheussen who also co-chairs the Senate Health, Human Services and
Senior Citizens Committee where the bill is posted welcomed our
input as the bill is debated during the committee process.
Why Do Mental Health Advocates Care About This Issue?
As we know from 9/11, ensuring the mental and physical health of our
community in a disaster is imperative. Stress, anxiety and trauma
are possible responses to public health emergencies. Left untended,
they can cause sever problems for people at home or work.
How Does This Issue Affect Consumers in New Jersey?
The current approach, Local Information Network and Communications
Systems (LINCS), used by New Jersey to coordinate county public
health information, planning, and disease surveillance is voluntary
and relies on grants as an incentive. Furthermore, neither LINCS nor
the proposed legislation include mental health services in
county-wide public health preparedness for terrorist acts or public
health emergencies.
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001 the nation was forever changed.
Following the single largest terrorist attack ever experienced by
this country, many New Jersey citizens are dead, know someone who
was killed or injured, witnessed the attack and its aftermath, or
heard about the attack through media sources and other mediums.
The long term effects of the Oklahoma City bombing on its citizens
give us an idea of what is in our future. Almost half of survivors
directly exposed to the blast reported developing problems with
anxiety, depression, alcohol and PTSD; over a year after the
bombing, Oklahomans reported increased rates of alcohol use,
smoking, stress and PTSD symptoms as compared to citizens of another
metropolitan city; two years after the bombing 16% of children and
adolescents who lived app 100 miles from Oklahoma City reported
significant PTSD symptoms related to the event.
The increasing prevalence of natural disasters, environmental
tragedies and violent behavior has generated excessive costs in both
human and material resources at a time when cost-efficiency and
control are continually emphasized by managed care, contracts,
business, and government agencies. As a result, increasing pressure
has been placed on healthcare providers to do more with less, while
also providing the necessary resources to respond efficiently and
effectively during an emergency. A successful comprehensive,
risk-based emergency management program of preparedness, response
and recovery will reduce the loss of life and resources.
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