FY2024 Annual Report

15 NJAMHAA Annual Report FY 2024 https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com The NJAMHAA staff continued to be contacted for interviews about seasonal affective disorder and holiday blues — as well as for insights on the state’s initiatives and other matters related to residents’ behavioral health and access to treatment and support services. For example, Dr. Wentz was interviewed by Northjersey.com about the impact of the Israel-Hamas war on employees and she was a guest on The Think Factory podcast’s Women’s Roundtable , both in November. Debra Wentz was also featured in a national publication, Behavioral Healthcare Executive , in November. The article, “New Jersey Institute Provides Model for States to Advance Behavioral Healthcare”, featured the New Jersey Mental Health Institute’s (NJMHI’s) innovative initiatives to address the behavioral healthcare workforce crisis, highlighting the NJMHI Leadership Academy for Behavioral Healthcare Professionals that was launched in October 2022. Dr. Wentz serves as the Executive Director of NJMHI, in addition to her role as President and CEO of NJAMHAA. Additional highlights of NJAMHAA’s media coverage resulting from staff’s press releases and op-eds include the following: “Overcoming stigma can literally save lives in New Jersey. Here’s how”, another op-ed that Shauna Moses wrote, was published in the Asbury Park Press in September, which is National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. In October, The Trentonian published an op-ed, “Compassion Is Needed to Combat Addiction”, that was co-written by Dr. Wentz and Bob Budsock, MS, LCADC, a member of the NJAMHAA Board of Directors and NJMHI Board of Trustees and President and CEO of Integrity House. Dr. Wentz shared her insights with Northjersey.com for a feature article, “Do mental health apps work? NJ therapists review BetterHelp, Calm and other options”, in early January. Mary Abrams, MPP, Senior Health Policy Analyst, was interviewed by NJ101.5 in February about proposed legislation that would lower the age at which minors could seek mental health care without parents’ or guardians’ consent from 16 to 14. Abrams was also interviewed by NJ Spotlight News in April about “‘Crisis diversion homes’ — an alternative to ERs for residents with mental health issues”. https://nj1015.com/