A new report from FAIR Health, Trends in Mental Health Conditions: An Analysis of Private Healthcare Claims, which analyzed more than 46 billion healthcare claim records from 2019 to 2023, found that over that time, the percentage of patients who received medical services and had mental health diagnoses rose 39.8%, from 13.5% of patients who received medical services in 2019 to 18.9% in 2023.

However, access to mental healthcare, substance use treatment and support services continues to be a challenge, primarily because of the workforce crisis in the behavioral healthcare field. NJAMHAA urges the New Jersey State Legislature to vote in favor of significantly increased funding to ensure access to these life-saving and -enhancing services.

NJAMHAA’s campaign, Diverse Faces: All Are Worthy of Full Investment, features several of the numerous examples of individuals' successes that were made possibly by behavioral healthcare and social services they received. Such individual victories also translate into benefits for the state overall.

“By making prevention, treatment and recovery supports available to all New Jersey residents, the state would benefit from the prevention of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, homelessness and individuals’ involvement in the criminal justice system,” said Debra L. Wentz, PhD, President and CEO of NJAMHAA.

Please click here for a few inspiring examples of the positive impact behavioral healthcare treatment and supports have on individuals' lives, as well as links to additional details.