2022 advocacy expanded edition

2 Aarav has struggled with multiple mental health conditions and had been suicidal since his early 20’s. Over the years, he was admitted into psychiatric hospitals numerous times for extended periods of time. However, he was not able to achieve lasting stability. Aarav’s psychiatrist recommended that he enroll in Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton’s Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT). Aarav has become an extremely active PACT participant. He participates in various recreational events and Illness Management Recovery Group meetings, and he works out regularly at a gym. Before, I was in the hospital 50 or 60 times, but I’ve never been in the hospital since I started with PACT. The PACT team saved my life. AARAV Investment Needed to Make More Successes Such as Aarav’s Possible Increase all mental healthcare and substance use treatment rates and contracts to cover the full cost of care, including to address wage compression caused by minimum wage increases, so children and adults can readily access the services they need. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statis- tics, Anxiety and Depression Household Pulse Survey (NHIS = National Health Interview Survey)