New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies

Stigma and misperceptions of mental illness are significant factors in the tragic trend of suicides, which continue to occur at alarming rates, particularly among active-duty military members and veterans. In fact, "perpetuating the notion that to seek counseling signifies weakness is among our gravest societal mistakes. It is contributing to our public health crisis," as Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick, Medical Director, Care Center for Infectious Diseases, Washington, DC, eloquently stated in the Huffington Post (January 23, 2013). "These days, we talk incessantly about living well and achieving life balance, yet we wear masks to hide our pain. No matter who you are, true wellness can never be achieved behind these and without facing our pain and stressors. The revelation of the loss of life from suicide among members of our military should assist us in maintaining a renewed urgency to devise a public health approach to mental disorders. Their decisions to end life rather than stay with us and engage are a poignant reminder about our urgent need to raise awareness, discuss these issues aloud and proactively change the national perception about mental disorder," Dr. Fitzpatrick wrote.

The New Jersey Mental Health Institute (NJMHI), a subsidiary of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA), and partner organizations will address this critical issue 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. - 4:30 p.m., Robert Wood Johnson Conference Center, Hamilton, NJ. This event was made possible through support from Johnson & Johnson. It is being presented by NJMHI in partnership with Community Hope, Inc. and UMDNJ-University Behavioral Healthcare, which provide behavioral health services to veterans and other individuals; the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the Governor's Council on Mental Health Stigma and NAMI New Jersey.

The overarching goal of this conference is to combat stigma by sharing information, personal experiences and resources. The 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

*Build understanding among a variety of individuals and organizations in New Jersey that veterans will rely on immediately upon their return home and long afterwards.

Who should attend?

* Veterans

* Family members of veterans

* Representatives from the Veterans Administration and other veterans service organizations

*State policymakers

* Employers

* Law enforcement/criminal justice personnel

* Health professionals, including providers of physical and behavioral health care

* College educators

* Anyone else who is interested and involved in supporting veterans

Program Highlights:

* Keynote presenter Eric Arauz will share his experience as a veteran with co-occurring disorders and his successes in recovery and other areas of his life.

* The New Jersey Mental Health Institute (NJMHI) will present the United for Veterans Honored Federal Leader award to Congressman Jon Runyan (R-3rd District).

* Panel discussions will address overcoming barriers and building solutions. Panelists will include behavioral healthcare providers, veterans, family members of veterans and state leaders focused on supporting veterans.

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

Visit the Conferences section of www.njamhaa.org for more details and to register.