Mental Health is Everybody's Business

Conference March 28, 2024

 

Thank you for your constant and dedicated support of NJRC and our program participants. I am most grateful for your advocacy of our Annual Reentry Conference,

"Mental Health is Everybody's Business."

 

Our Conference revealed three basic needs, which must be addressed:

 

1) The need to establish a Health Information Exchange, which would document and track individual participation in addiction treatment and mental healthcare to ensure that physicians and providers have a complete and chronological history of a patient's behavioral health treatment;

 

2) The need for early and effective mental health diagnosis, whether in school, medical, or criminal justice systems, and the need for extended consistent, coordinated, and clinically driven treatment; and

 

3) The necessity for regional mental health "step down" units, which would provide physicians, police, and policymakers with a clinically driven alternative to jail for persons suffering from an episodic mental health challenge.

 

With the presence of Speaker Coughlin, Attorney General Platkin, Dr. Levounis, American Psychiatric Association, Dr. Nii Addy, Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Gloria Bachmann, RWJ Medical School and NJRC, and Commissioners Adelman and Mielke, NJRC intends to advocate for legislation, which drives these recommended changes.

 

Thank you once again for your steadfast commitment to those we serve.

 

Blessings,

 

Jim McGreevey

 

SOAR Forum

by Dr. James Davy of Rutgers University

Submitted by David E. Geiger, MEE, PE (ret.)

David Geiger:

With grant funding from the New Jersey Policy Lab, the New Jersey Reentry Corporation and the Rutgers University Newark Center for Applied Appreciative Inquiry are sponsoring a process to develop a policy platform for the improvement of mental health and addiction treatment services and supports for Justice-Involved individuals in New Jersey. Our plan is to engage the voices of the mental health and addiction treatment community of service providers, advocates, justice professionals, academics, and those with relevant life experiences in this important endeavor.

We invite you to participate in ONE of four ZOOM SOAR Forums (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results) facilitated by Dr. James Davy of Rutgers University, to offer your valuable public policy ideas to improve and transform the breadth of mental health and addiction treatment services for Justice-involved individuals. May 2, 3, 2024.

We consider your voice to be critically important to the transformation of the system of supports and services for Justice-Involved individuals. We ask that you please register for one of our sessions. You should expect to spend approximately 1 to 1-1/2 hours from your busy schedule for this important forum. 

Bail Reform 2024 Revised

I received a comment just the other day from a person who works with the Bergen County jail and prefers to remain anonymous. Here is what he has to say.

 

No please... no credit. But for a number of years at the Jail we were actually referring discharges to the shelter and encouraging them to visit there.

It's not quite the same today, but I can guarantee you that the Jail is aggressive in its services to inmates who need help because of a variety of psych-related conditions and has a program in place to prepare inmates for release and referral to the services they need.

Best wishes and good luck with your efforts.

 

As for the legislation, we are still working on that. Its target is psychiatric deterioration. There was a law implemented in Louisiana a year or two ago, and we are basing our model on theirs. The person who did that is working on my committee.

 

"Recovery" and "Schizophrenia" CAN Go Together.

by S&PAA

Why is it that too few people speak of “schizophrenia” and “recovery” in the same sentence?  We find this unacceptable. We believe that recovery should be made possible for the millions of people with schizophrenia. And with your support, we can help make functional recovery not only possible, but achievable.


At the same time, the research landscape has advanced to a point where a cure is scientifically credible.  Researchers are studying biomarkers that could lead to earlier diagnosis and guide new treatments. A host of promising new therapies are in the pipeline. What remains lacking is a broad public sense of urgency – and a push from government leaders to ramp up treatment research to match that of other chronic and brain diseases. That’s discrimination we won’t stand for, and an inequity we’re working to change: See the impact we are having.


With proper diagnosis and care, a person living with schizophrenia can go back to school. Have a job. Cook dinner. Enjoy time with friends. Not just live, but thrive. On a difficult day, it may be hard to envision this. But it is achievable – and people with schizophrenia deserve to achieve it.

 

With a new year comes renewed energy, fresh ideas and even stronger determination to solve the foundational problems that stand in the way of recovery and a cure for our community.

Bail Reform 2024

by David E. Geiger, MEE, PE (ret.)

A few days ago, in mid-January 2024 I was getting a ride home from my auto-service dealer when we passed what used to be an office for a bail bond dealer. He was not there anymore. Times have changed. Nowadays the inmate is in jail for a few days and then he is out on the street to raise unholy hell again.

 

A few years ago, I was distributing my book In the Matter of Edwin Potter and gave a copy to the Bergen County, NJ Director of Housing, Health, and Human Services. She took me to lunch. She had just come back from a Congressional hearing where she was to explain how she had improved the lot of the homeless in the county. She also introduced me to the county jail psychologist (now retired) who explained to me how things worked. After the arrest and placement of the individual in the jail, they were let out because that is what the law called for. Jail personnel objected and wanted to keep these guys inside long enough to teach them English and some job skills. The law did not call for that. This is what my legislation calls for. Let’s hope we can make some progress on it.

Bimonthly News Update - DDW

Drugs Don't Work in NJ will be hosting a FREE webinar February 6, 2024 at 11am - "Drugs Don’t Work in NJ 24th Annual Webinar: Legal Update ". This webinar is open to all NJ businesses, organizations, and government agencies so we strongly encourage you to share this information with your employees, friends, and business associates. If you have any questions, please contact Bill Lillis, Drug-Free Workplace Coordinator, at bill@drugfreenj.org or 862-253-6808.

 

MUST READ: N.J. moves to reinstate penalties for underage public drinking, weed consumption

Two years after decriminalizing public drinking for young people under 21, New Jersey is on the verge of reinstating penalties because too many minors have been “flouting the law.”

·         New California Law Prohibits Employers from Holding Off-the-Clock Marijuana Use Against Workers

​​​​​​​An amendment to a California law will soon protect most workers in the state who use cannabis from discrimination.

·         Substance-Abuse Stigma Impedes Treatment in Various Ways, Scientists Say

Addiction is one of society’s most misunderstood and rebuked health conditions. That stigma discourages many people from seeking treatment for substance dependence, according to a new report published in Psychological Science in the Public Interest, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

·         Unlocking Success: The Crucial Role of Early Intervention in Drug Rehabilitation

A recent study found that early intervention can increase the likelihood of achieving long-term sobriety by up to 58%. This underscores the crucial role that early rehabilitation plays in successful recovery journeys.

·         Pathways to Recovery

The NJ Department of Labor provides employment assistance to those with a personal history of opioid use or who have a friend of family member with a history of opioid use, so they can reenter the workforce.

S&PAA and ICER problem

Join us on November 14th to help fight barriers to treatment access

 

The Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance is concerned about unfair developments on the horizon that could block access to a potential new treatment for schizophrenia. We need your help to speak out and spread the word.

 

Karuna Therapeutics has developed a new medication for schizophrenia called KarXT, which works in a different way than current treatments. They recently filed a New Drug Application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which means that this medication may be a new treatment option in the future. Meanwhile, an organization called ICER (the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review) is reviewing the treatment (KarXT) to determine its “value.” ICER weighs the potential benefits of treatments against their potential cost, and its reviews are often used by insurance companies to determine how (and if) a treatment is covered by insurance.

 

We are deeply concerned that ICER’s review of KarXT is being conducted far too soon and will not include all of the information needed to make a fair decision. Without these critical data, ICER could make a recommendation against the drug that would prevent many people with schizophrenia from accessing it.

 

Here is what you can do to help:

  • Register for the free webinar on Tuesday, Nov. 14 (Noon-1 pm ET) that we are co-sponsoring with the Alliance for Patient Access to learn more about ICER, our concerns and what you can do.

  • Share the webinar link with others (family members, friends with lived experience, healthcare providers etc.) and encourage them to register.

Next month, we’ll share info about how you can send a letter to ICER to show your concern and share your personal experiences.

 

People with schizophrenia already face enormous barriers to getting the care they need and deserve. Enough is enough – please join us to learn more!

See Us, Support Us

From John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity

submitted by David Geiger

We are excited to introduce you to the See Us, Support Us (SUSU) initiative, a powerful awareness-raising campaign dedicated to providing a supportive space for children impacted by parental incarceration. Throughout this month of October, SUSU will be shedding light on the critical topic of how we can best assist these children in preparing for and navigating their parents' reentry into their lives. Astonishingly, one in 14 children in the United States has an incarcerated parent, and many of them will soon witness their parents' return to the community. While reentry is undoubtedly a time of joy and hope, it is also a complex and challenging period for these families.
 
Follow See Us, Support Us (SUSU) to gain access to invaluable insights and recommendations from individuals who have firsthand experience with parental reentry and experts in the field. We encourage you to sign up for the SUSU Network Newsletter and explore an array of resources designed to assist families and individuals supporting children both before, during, and after a parent's incarceration. You can find these resources at www.susu-osborne.org.
 
We kindly request that you help spread the word about the SUSU art contest, an opportunity for youth and young adults affected by parental incarceration to share their artistic talents and stories. More information can be found on the attached flyer.
 
As a highlight of SUSU month, the Osborne Association extends a warm invitation to you for our event titled "Reentry Through a Child's Eyes" on October 11, 2023. This event is specially designed for professionals in the criminal justice and reentry fields, those dedicated to serving children and families, as well as policymakers. It promises to be an insightful and thought-provoking occasion that will deepen our understanding of the challenges faced by these children and how we can support them. Please take a moment to RSVP for this free, in-person event.
 
Your participation and support are crucial in making a positive impact on the lives of children affected by parental incarceration. Together, we can create a more inclusive and empathetic community for these children and their families.

Racism and History

By David E. Geiger, MEE, PE (ret)

 

 

I will no doubt get myself into trouble with this one, but sometimes some things should be said.

 

I was with some friends recently, and the comment was made that we – all of us – are going through a time of difficult change which includes comments on racism and how its history should be treated. What should we teach our children? Should we take all of the statues down and rewrite our history books? Someone made the comment that what happened – happened. So, we need to teach this to our children so they can learn from it, never to repeat it.

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Comment about In the Matter of Edwin Potter:

 

“While the information and research are interesting, the personal anecdotes are what make this book meaningful. Those who suffer from mental illness are more than a statistic. Geiger proves that by sharing about his illness and his court trial.”

 

-Piper McGee, 5/5 stars on Goodreads

Shocking! Further NIMH Discrimination Revealed

By Janet Hays, Director, Healing Minds NOLA

August 4, 2023

 

An email from E Fuller Torrey M.D. today (August 4, 2023) reveals glaring inequity in how NIMH funds research for psychiatric diseases. He writes:

"The NIMH Research Portfolio: An Update" was published today in the Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders (attached). [Torrey, EF, Dailey L, Simmons, W. The NIMH research portfolio: An update. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2023;25(0):23m03486].  This report is part of ongoing efforts of the Treatment Advocacy Center to monitor the NIMH research portfolio and urge them to undertake more clinical research to help people with severe psychiatric disorders who are currently suffering.

The article documents the following:

  • During the 6 years between 2017-2022, NIMH funded only one clinical drug trial for the treatment of schizophrenia and one for the treatment of bipolar disorder.

  • During the 6 years between 2017-2022, the NIMH-funded research projects on schizophrenia decreased by 22% and those on bipolar disorder decreased by 20%. 

  • Between 2016 and 2021, Congress increased NIMH's budget from $1.5 to $2.1 billion, an increase of 40%. These were among the largest budget increases that NIMH had ever received. 

 

"It appears that the more money Congress gives to NIMH, the less research it does on schizophrenia and bipolar disorder." 

 

If you share the opinion of Dr. Torrey and the Treatment Advocacy Center that this is outrageous, please (1) forward this article to others who you think need to see it and (2) notify your Representative and Senator in Washington.  Tell them what you think about how NIMH has shifted most of its funding to basic research, which may (or may not) help someone 35 years from now.  NIMH is doing almost no research that will help anyone who is currently affected. Ask your Representative and Senator to contact the key members of the Appropriations Committees who determine the NIMH budget.  These are the only people NIMH will listen to:"

Key members in the House:

Kay Granger (R-Texas, 12th district)
Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut, 3rd district)

Key members in the Senate:

Tammy Baldwin (D, Wisconsin)
Shelly Capito (R, West Virginia)

 

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Review about In the Matter of Edwin Potter:

 

“I originally gave this a four-star rating,

 

"I should probably preface this by saying I am not a believer. Not that I don’t believe a god exists, just that I do not affiliate myself with any religion, in particular, I rarely ever pray, and I don’t believe in godly miracles. But parts of this book had me thinking. And that is an outstanding thing for someone like me to say. While I remain non-religious today, there were messages in this book that stayed with me, and for that, I gave this book a 5-star rating.”

 

-Lana Smith, 5/5 stars on Goodreads

 

988

by David E. Geiger, MEE, PE (ret’d)

Take notice of this one. 988 is the national suicide hotline. Call it when you need it for you or a loved one.

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“Edwin Potter’s story will take you into an in-depth analysis and emotions of what it feels like to be having a mental illness and be treated like a criminal. Impressively well-written and challenging. Highly recommended.”

 

-Jalyn Simmons, 4/5 stars on Goodreads

Legislation for the Mentally Ill

By David E. Geiger, MEE, PE (ret’d.)

Sadly, there are those with mental illness across the nation who have no place to live except the streets. They have the additional brand of “homeless.” And they get no help. It happened in my case. It happens in America. It happens around the world. The reason why they receive no help is because the law says that the person suffering must ask for help. And because the patient does not see himself as sick, called anosognosia, he does not ask for help and so gets worse and worse until he finally kills himself or someone else. This has been the law of the land for over half a century.

 

Today a growing number of people – including me – are saying this is crap and are making inroads to understand how this works and what can be done about it. The laws have begun to change as a result of our efforts. The changes began in Louisiana about a half year ago where the law now says that if a person shows something called “psychiatric deterioration” the person can be taken off the street for treatment.

 

I am trying to make this work in NJ. Write to your State assembly person.

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Comment on the book:

Powerful and compelling, very hard to put down, and I kept thinking about it each time I had to close the book for real life. -Paisley Booker 5/5 stars on Goodreads.

Miami Center for Mental Health

Dear David, 

This is just too good not to share!

See why people from around the country are flocking to Miami to see the - first of its kind - facility to address the over-representation of people living with serious mental illnesses who are homeless, in the criminal justice system, and held prisoner in their own minds.

This is substantial. What other leaders are willing to roll up their sleeves and do the necessary hard work to stand up and operationalize facilities?

Judge Leifman is solving the homeless crisis by more than just talk, handing out water bottles, socks, and granola bars. This was what I had proposed for Charity Hospital in New Orleans and how I met Judge Steve Leifman.

We could have been half done by now!

“As we approach Stress Awareness Month in May, learn how Miami is helping its most vulnerable population take back their lives. Join me in welcoming The Honorable Judge Steve Leifman of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit as we discuss mental health in Miami’s homeless community and the opening of the Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery, a pioneer facility that will change lives and assist Miami in achieving its goal of functional zero. The facility, which I like to refer to as a resort because of its thoughtful decor and amenities, will be a one-stop shop for primary care and psychiatric services for unhoused people with acute mental illnesses who are in the criminal justice system or at risk of entering it.”

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFVC4Xg7Nc8

More news coming soon!

Be well,

Janet Hays
Director - Healing Minds NOLA
(504) 274 6091

HealingMindsNOLA@gmail.com

Healing Minds NOLA is a 501c3 non-profit charitable & educational organization dedicated to identifying & creating alternatives to incarceration, homelessness and early death for seriously mentally people.

-- 

Copyright © 2020 *HEALING MINDS NOLA*, All rights reserved.

Stevens Alumni Book Club: May is Mental Health Month

A dialogue between David Geiger, MEE, PE (ret.) and Kendra Dixon (Moderator)

Mental Health Month | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

Hi, Kendra.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The link above (a little quirky) will bring you to a website that will provide some information.

In the context of our reading in this club, you may remember that Hubert Bird in All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle had a son David (no, not me!) who suffered from mental illness. He lived in the streets and received no help. The reason why he received no help is because the law at the time said that the person suffering must ask for help. And because the patient did not see himself as sick, he did not ask for help and so, got worse. This is called anosognosia. It happened in my case. It happens in America. It happens around the world. The laws have begun to change as a result of our efforts. They began in Louisiana just a few months ago where the law now says that if the person shows mental deterioration the person can be taken off the street for treatment. To go a step farther, there was a ZOOM conference with the FDA back on Nov. 2, 2022 regarding medication development for those with serious mental illness (SMI). They have no information. I was a panelist at that conference, and I told my story of the symptoms of schizophrenia. It is a step in the right direction.

Stay well.

Hi David,

Thank you for sharing this with me. Might you consider posting this in the forum for other book club members? It’s so important to have first-hand knowledge to share with others; it’s how we all learn and grow, and mental health awareness is an invaluable topic for people to learn more about. Thank you for considering!

Take care,

Kendra

Save the Date: World Schizophrenia Awareness Day is Wednesday, May 24!! Join us to Take Action

On World Schizophrenia Awareness Day (May 24), we need your voice to draw urgent public attention to the discrimination against people living with schizophrenia that is embedded in our health systems and society.

S&PAA’s Day of Action will shine a light on these realities. As a community, we will lead the way, breaking down the barriers to care so that people living with schizophrenia can finally get the care they deserve.


Our Day of Action features three major events:

A “Hill Day” of 1:1 meetings where we will urge members of Congress to support new policies that will help people with schizophrenia get the care they deserve.

Who should attend: People with schizophrenia, their families & advocates

When: May 24 throughout the day

Sign up to participate in our Hill Day.

A Capitol Hill briefing co-hosted with the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists that addresses dangerous  treatment barriers for this treatable brain disease.

Who should attend: Federal policymakers & staff; anyone participating in our Hill Day.

When: May 24; time TBA

Sign up to participate in the Capitol Hill briefing.

A global (virtual) webinar hosted by the Alliance for Health Policy in partnership with S&PAA that showcases the severe, systemic gaps in care, the resulting cost to individuals, families and society and the actions required to bridge those gaps.

Who should attend: Government leaders, healthcare experts, housing & criminal justice audiences, people living with schizophrenia, their families & advocates.

When: May 24, 2-3:30 pm ET

Sign up to be alerted when webinar registration opens.



Until we break down the systemic barriers to treatment and care for people living with schizophrenia, we cannot achieve equality in how we are treated – by our governments, by healthcare providers, by the criminal justice system and by society.  We hope you’ll join us and make World Awareness Schizophrenia Day count by taking action.

 

S&PAA Joins Schizophrenia Spectrum Biomarkers Consortium to Support Earlier Diagnosis, Development of New Treatments for Severe Brain Disease

By S&PAA

Submitted by David E. Geiger, MEE, PE (RET.)

We are proud to announce that we have joined the Schizophrenia Spectrum Biomarkers Consortium, organized by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health to identify certain signs in the body that could help diagnose schizophrenia earlier and guide development of new treatments. 

Schizophrenia is one of the most disabling medical conditions, yet we know little about what causes it, and there are no proven markers to assess a person’s risk of the disease or how (and how quickly) it will progress.  Meanwhile, existing treatments for schizophrenia symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions can cause massive weight gain, diabetes and other severe side effects. 

The Consortium seeks to identify biomarkers that can help unlock these diagnosis and treatment barriers.

Many people who live with schizophrenia have yet to find a medicine that works for them, leaving them unable to work or live independently and to suffer disabling and dangerous symptoms. We joined the Biomarkers Consortium because its work is critical to better understanding this severe brain disease. 

If we can diagnose schizophrenia earlier and develop more effective treatments, we give people in our community a chance to survive – and thrive.

See the full announcement here.

The Biomarkers Consortium, founded in 2018, is led by the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute in Boston, which is affiliated with Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Spotlight on NJ Reentry Corp.

By former NJ Gov. Jim McGreevey
Submitted by David E. Geiger, MEE, PE (RET.)

Reentry program supports those who want to live up to their highest potential | Opinion

On Thursday, April 6th, 2023, our Annual Reentry Conference - Training for the Dignity of Work, will focus on how "industry-recognized" training profoundly changes lives. For court-involved, addicted, and veterans of combat, who have struggled to secure employment, skill-based certifications change so much in the job marketplace.

Ande Richards' thoughtful examination of NJRC training highlights how individual odds have been transformed by training. For persons who were unable or unwilling to access education earlier in their lives, NJRC's training offers a profoundly powerful Second Chance.

NJRC, God-willing, can do most things right with legal, medical & behavioral, federal & state benefits, housing, but without long-term employment, a career, it will be difficult to sustain a healthy and productive life. Please read and enjoy Ande's compelling story, thanks.

Masters of the Universe

So much has happened for the better in the criminal justice system during the past few years: mentors, education, jobs, housing, and so much more. There may be a future in this. So, let’s have that go on its own for now while we work on another related topic.

“I am the Master of the Universe!” This is more than some adolescent’s video game mantra. In my mind, this is the underlying thinking of our most serious criminals, drug lords, human traffickers, terrorists, mobsters, and similar. They prove their point with weaponry, death and destruction, and similar.

Let me think about this. What do you have to say?

NJRC Annual Conference 2023

Written by NJ Gov. Jim McGreevey
Submitted by David E. Geiger, MEE, PE (RET.)

The NJRC Annual Conference will be on Thursday, April 6th at 9 am at the Mac Mahon Student Center, Saint Peter’s University, Jersey City. The conference is titled

Training for the Dignity of Work. We will hear from NJRC program participants, employers, labor and business leaders, and government officials as to how to strengthen training to provide good jobs.

A good job, a long-term source of income, is critically necessary to provide for long term health, stability, and transformation. Our program participants are almost heroic in overcoming substantial odds of addiction and trauma.

Please register today to support the men and women who are rebuilding our lives, to support the labor and business leaders who are putting them to work, and the committed political and government leaders who support our daily efforts to transform lives.

Please register today at the Eventbrite link below. This conference will move your heart and soul and fortify your spirit. Be there.

Register Here

 The New Jersey Reentry Corporation (NJRC) is a non-profit agency with a social mission to remove all barriers to employment for citizens returning from incarceration.

 www.reentry.org