New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies

Army suicides have increased by at least 54 percent since 2007 when there were 115 and, despite a suicide-prevention campaign that the Army launched in 2009, suicides in the Army have increased by another 9 percent. Furthermore, more soldiers died by suicide than in combat last year, according to the Department of Defense.

"The Department of Defense has been proactive in developing new strategies to reduce suicides but, as with civilian populations, effective interventions have remained elusive," said Christopher Kosseff, MS, President and CEO, UMDNJ - University Behavioral HealthCare (UBHC), which operates the Vets4Warriors and Vet2Vet helplines and offers a variety of programs to help veterans cope with mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. "It is clear that the pervasive stresses and unique risks of military life, particularly during wartime, foster an environment conducive to suicide."

In fact, Kosseff will present a workshop, "Military Suicide from a Public Health Perspective," during a conference, "A True Welcome Home: Ensuring New Jersey Veterans' Successful Return Through Resources and Support," February 7, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Robert Wood Johnson Conference Center in Hamilton, NJ.

"Our overarching goal in presenting this conference is to combat stigma by sharing information, resources and personal experiences from veterans and family members. Our objectives are to engage more veterans in behavioral healthcare treatment and related support services; secure ongoing support from state funders to invest in these services to ensure unimpeded access to them; and build understanding among a variety of individuals and organizations in New Jersey, such as healthcare providers and employers, on whom veterans will rely immediately upon their return home and long afterwards," said Debra L. Wentz, Ph.D., Executive Director of the New Jersey Mental Health Institute (NJMHI) and Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc. (NJAMHAA). The conference is being presented by NJMHI, in partnership with UBHC, Community Hope, Inc., the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the Governor's Council on Mental Health Stigma and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) New Jersey.

Highlights of the conference will include:

* "An American's Resurrection: A New Jersey Veteran's Journey from Trauma to Triumph," keynote presentation by Eric Arauz, President of AIE-Arauz Inspirational Enterprises, LLC

* Presentations of United for Veterans Honored Leader awards to Congressman Jon Runyan (R-3rd District) and State Senator James Beach (D-6th District), Chair, Senate Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs

* Panel discussions on overcoming barriers and building solutions with behavioral healthcare providers, veterans, family members of veterans and state leaders focused on supporting veterans

* Workshops on how everyone can support veterans, a public health perspective on military suicide and how veterans can maximize the value offered by various resources

"This conference is designed for - and important for - everyone, not just veterans and their family members. The knowledge and insights to be gained through informative presentations and dynamic dialogue are equally critical for representatives from veterans service organizations, state legislators and policymakers, employers, law enforcement and criminal justice personnel, all types of health professionals and college educators - basically, anyone else who may serve or work with veterans and is interested in supporting veterans," Dr. Wentz said.

For conference details and to register, visit the Conferences section of www.njamhaa.org.