News Stories from 2022 and 2023
New Jersey Business Magazine, “Greater Investment in the Behavioral Healthcare Workforce Is Needed: NJAMHAA Launches ‘Diverse Faces: Partners in Care’ Campaign, January 19, 2023
ROI-NJ, “‘Anxious time in the world’: Need for mental health services for youth remains dire,” Debra Wentz and several members interviewed, August 10, 2022
Northjersey.com, “New Jersey’s new budget can increase quality of life for diverse communities,” Op-ed by Debra Wentz, July 14, 2022
WBGO, “National Suicide Hotline Begins Operation July 16 --- 988,” Mary Abrams, NJAMHAA's Senior Health Policy Analyst, interviewed, July 12, 2022
Star-Ledger, “Three-digit answer to time of distress: 988,” Mary Abrams interviewed, July 12, 2022
NJ Spotlight News, “Op-Ed: NJ’s opioid settlement money is a chance to make serious changes” by Board Member Robert J. Budsock, July 8, 2022
Bergen Record/northjersey.com, “NJ residents in mental health crisis can get help by dialing 988 starting July 16,” Mary Abrams interviewed, June 30, 2022
Mental Health Weekly, “New Jersey provider association dedicates new website to increasing equity,” Based on NJAMHAA press release/Debra L. Wentz quoted, January 3, 202
Mental Health Weekly, “Readers bracing for 2022 amid pandemic, workforce challenges,” Debra Wentz interviewed, January 3, 2022
News Stories from 2021
NJ Spotlight News, “Mental health community program works, study says,” Oct. 13, 2021
ROI-NJ, “Report: N.J. becoming leader in behavioral health due to CCBHC model,” Oct. 11, 2021
ROI-NJ: "Supply and demand: In mental healt sector, pandemic is straining profession already streched thin by low wages, other factors"; Debra Wentz, Donald Parker and Michelle Borden Interviewed (August 10, 2021)
Courier Post, Letters to the Editor, "More Funds Needed for Mental Health Care", July 5, 2021
ROI-NJ, “Murphy’s budget lauded by leading health care associations,” Feb. 24, 2021
ROI-NJ, Op-Ed: “Fiscal 2022 budget must build bridge to better future for Jerseyans,” February 18, 2021
Insidernj.com, Op-Ed: “FY2022 Budget Must Build a Bridge to a Better Future for New Jerseyans,” February 18, 2021
KYW 1060 AM/103.9 FM, “New Jersey Site Offers Mental Health Help with Digital Therapy," February 5, 2021
NJ 101.5, “Before COVID, Therapy Access Was Already a Problem in New Jersey,” January 19, 2021
News Stories from 2020
- InsiderNJ.com, “Focus on Self Care to Enhance Mental Health during Winter,” Dec. 11, 2020
- NJ101.5, “What Happens When Seasonal Affective Disorder Meets COVID-19 Fatigue,” Nov. 2, 2020
- Patch (Ridgewood-Glen Rock, NJ), “Ricky Byrd’s ‘Sobering Times’ an Emotional Rock-and-Roll Triumph,” Oct. 14, 2020
- InsiderNJ.com, “NJAMHAA: Electronic Health Record Interoperability Program Benefits Substance Use Treatment Providers and Individuals they Serve”, Oct. 19, 2020
- KYW Newsradio, “Health experts: NJ teen, young adult suicide rate continues to climb,” October 9, 2020
- WBGO, “Mental Health Agencies in NJ Battle Effects of Covid,” Oct. 7, 2020
- CentralJersey.com, “Mental Illness Awareness Week has special focus on those coping with effects of COVID-19,” Op-ed, Oct. 2, 2020
- NJ.com, “Good job with state budget priorities ,” Letter to the editor, Sept. 29, 2020
- InsiderNJ.com, “Final FY2021 Budget Sustains Most Behavioral Health Funding, Adds Investments: Statement from Debra L. Wentz, PhD, President and CEO, New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc.,” Sept. 29, 2020
- njherald.com, “NJ families, advocates urge Murphy to reopen job programs for people with disabilities,” Sept. 22, 2020
- NJ Spotlight, “This is how Murphy’s budget allocates $2.4 billion in federal COVID funding,” Sept. 21, 2020
- NJ Spotlight, “Overdose deaths in NJ may hit record high,” Sept. 15, 2020
- Around Ocean County radio show on WJRZ, Sept. 13, 2020
- Politico, “Proposed cuts to New Jersey school-based mental health services ‘unconscionable,’ educators say, Members interviewed, Sept. 9, 2020
- The Guardian, “Many Americans face bleak winter as Covid takes toll on mental health,” Sept. 6, 2020
- Baristanet.com, “Students to Rally in Response to School Based Youth Services Program Cut from Murphy Budget,” Sept. 3, 2020
- InsiderNJ.com, “Governor Murphy’s Proposed FY 2021 Budget to Cut Funding for The Bridge, Inc.’s Imani Center,” Sept. 11, 2020
- InsiderNJ.com, “New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies: Cybersecurity Investments Needed to Protect Healthcare Industry, Patients,” Sept. 8, 2020
- InsiderNJ.com, “NJAMHAA Works to the Last Minute Advocating for Sustained and Increased Funding for Behavioral Health Services,” August 25, 2020
- ROI-NJ, “N.J. Assn. of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies pushing for more funding in budget,” August 24, 2020
- NJ.com/Star-Ledger, “Pandemic justifies more for mental health, addiction,” Letter to editor, August 23, 2020
- Press of Atlantic City, “Fund mental health care in NJ to counter pandemic stress,” Op-ed, Aug. 23, 2020
- NJTV News, “Emotional struggles likely to be part of any learning plan for kids,” August 18, 2020
- NJ101.5, “COVID-19 Raising Concern about NJ Kids Contemplating Suicide,” August 18, 2020
- Northjersey.com, “NJ group home residents with disabilities have been isolated too long, advocates say,” August 17, 2020
- PHL17, “Preparing for School and Addressing the Mental Health Impact of COVID19,” August 17, 2020
- InsiderNJ.com, “Experts Help Prepare for New School Year, Address Youths’ Mental Health Challenges,” August 15, 2020
- ROI-NJ.com, “Mental health providers prepare to deal with wave of COVID-related ills – even as their businesses’ bottom lines crumble,” August 10, 2020
- Star-Ledger, “New Jerseyans need more mental health services in this time of COVID-19,” Op-ed, August 10, 2020
- Philadelphia Inquirer, “New Jersey’s 2021 budget should expand mental health treatment,” Op-ed, August 6, 2020
- NJ 101.5, “Opioid Deaths Rose More Slowly in New Jersey in June,” Coverage of a panel discussion on July 27, 2020; radio report was on August 2, 2020
- Magic 98.3, “Community Outreach, COVID-19 and Mental Health,” July 21, 2020
- Asbury Park Press, “Congress, don't make it harder to afford our medicine,” Op-ed, July 20, 2020
- Stigma-Free Zone, “Congratulations to NJAMHAA!”, July 7, 2020
- InsiderNJ.com, “National Council for Behavioral Health Recognizes NJAMHAA for Advocacy Excellence,” June 19, 2020
- NJ.com, “Fatal shooting of unarmed man by cop during traffic stop raises questions about mental health training, communication,”June 15, 2020
- Star-Ledger, “Mental health issues must not take a back seat in the COVID-19 recovery,” Op-ed, June 10, 2020
- CentralJersey.com, “How to prioritize mental health during pandemic,” Op-ed, May 27, 2020
- NorthJersey.com, “New Jersey says doctors must prescribe Narcan alongside opioids for at-risk patients,” May 22, 2020
- Spreaker.com - Mental Health News Radio , “Technology and Compliance Leadership in Mental Health,” May 8, 2020
- NJAMHAA mentioned in Ancero Blog Post, May 6, 2020
- Asbury Park Press, “Coronavirus: Preparing for the mental health surge to come,” Op-ed, posted online May 3, 2020 and published in print May 8, 2020
- InsiderNJ.com, “Mental Healthcare and Substance Use Treatment Providers Need Support during and beyond Pandemic to Continue Serving Vulnerable New Jerseyans,” May 1, 2020
- NJBIZ, “Bergen New Bridge Medical Center launches suppression system to help mitigate COVID-19,” April 21, 2020
- WABC-TV Eyewitness News, “Coronavirus News: Homeless, addicted and battling COVID-19 – Eva’s Village in New Jersey,” April 15, 2020
- Star-Ledger, “Helping those with mental health, addiction issues will help slow the virus,” Op-ed, March 27, 2020
- NJTV News, “Bill would bolster mental health services for college students,” March 5, 2020
- NJBIZ, “Improving awareness: Businesses are offering more robust employee assistance programs, but some workers remain reluctant to use the services,” Jan. 20, 2020
- ROI-NJ, “RWJBarnabas Health names SVP of behavioral health, addiction service line,” Jan. 6, 2020
