New Jersey is unprepared to address the mental health crisis facing children due to a shortage of counselors.
That’s according to Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-25), who called on her Democratic counterparts to support her bill to increase the number of counselors available for children and teens.
“The money set aside in the state budget to train child and adolescent psychiatrists is incredibly insufficient. Children are facing rising rates of depression, anxiety and suicide and there are not enough mental health professionals to meet the demand. It’s heartbreaking,” Dunn said.
A Need for Increased Funding
Dunn said that of the $9.62 million allocated in the state budget to increase the number of health professionals, only 8% was specifically earmarked for child and adolescent psychiatrists. New Jersey only has 17 practicing child and adolescent psychiatrists per 100,000 children, which meets the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s definition of a severe shortage.
“I have written a letter asking Assemblywomen Linda Carter and Mila Jasey to post my bill for a hearing in the Assembly Higher Education Committee, but my request has been ignored. Improving access to mental health care is a bipartisan issue,” Dunn said.
Providing Loan Redemption Payments
Dunn’s bill, A-3698, would provide student loan redemption payments of $1,000 a year for four years, and gross income tax credits of $1,000 for each taxable year a mental health professional provides services to children and adolescents.
Dunn pointed to media reports that the average medical student is carrying a debt of $350,000 to $400,000, and that medical residents are leaving New Jersey to find more lucrative loan repayment options.
“As we emerge from the pandemic, the damaging effects of social isolation orders and school closures are evident. We have a mental health crisis on our hands and the lack of providers is a barrier to getting kids the help they need,” Dunn said.
Wait Times on the Rise
The New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Social Workers said there is a 30 to 60 day waiting period before a person can see a counselor, and a three to five month wait for an appointment with an agency therapist.
In 2020, one in six young people experienced a major depressive episode. Additionally, suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-24. Only half of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems got needed treatment, according to Dunn.
“It is time we prioritize our children’s mental health,” she concluded.
State Actions
Dunns plea comes as Gov. Phil Murphy, in taking the reins of the National Governors Association (NGA),unveiled a mental health initiative he will be leading for the next year while reminding those in attendance that Americans do not care about party when it comes to making their lives better. The unveiling of the Strengthening Youth Mental Health initiative comes amid an escalating youth mental health crisis experts say has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, according to Murphy.
A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that 37% of high school students reported poor mental health during the pandemic and 44% reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. “The youth mental health crisis knows no bounds—neither geographic nor political—and we must similarly transcend state borders and political divisions to protect our children,” said Murphy.
Additionally, the new, three-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is recently went live in the Garden State and nationwide. The 988 number is available for call, text, or chat, providing easier access to the Lifeline network. The national network is comprised of over 200 local, independent crisis centers equipped to help those in need.
“988 is more than just an easy-to-remember number. It will be a direct connection to accessible and compassionate support and resources, available 24/7 to anyone experiencing psychiatric or emotional distress or those worried about a loved one. Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis will only need to remember these three numbers to reach trained counselors who can help,” said New Jersey Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman.
Thank you, Aura! You are a champion in the Statehouse!