HEALTH PRIORITY 1
MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Mental health and substance use disorders together affect more than 25% of Americans aged 18 and over.
12.5% of Somerset County residents reported a history of Depression in 2016*, up from 9.2% in 2012.
In 2016*, the percentage of Somerset County residents reporting heavy drinking was higher than Hunterdon, Morris, and NJ rates.
* date of latest available data
OVERVIEW
Behavioral health refers to a constellation of mental health and substance use disorders. These disorders are recurrent, serious and may co-occur, but they are treatable, and many people recover. Mental disorders are health conditions characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, and/or behavior associated with distress and/or impaired functioning. Substance abuse refers to a set of related conditions associated with the consumption of mind- and behavior-altering substances that have negative behavioral and health outcomes. Substance abuse has a major impact on individuals, families, and communities. The effects of substance abuse are cumulative, significantly contributing to costly social, physical, mental, and public health problems.
HOW WE’RE GETTING THERE
GOAL
Address mental health and substance abuse concerns through treatment, prevention and health promotion.
OBJECTIVES
- Reduce the prevalence of depression by 10% (from 12.5% to 11%) by December 31, 2021.
- Reduce the prevalence of substance abuse by 10% from 5.5% to 4.95% by December 31, 2021.
- Provide 3 new satellite locations to offer weekly older adult activities.
- Increase participation in school-based programs by 25% and add peer mentoring in 2 additional schools by June 30, 2020.
- Train 600 people in Mental Health First Aid between Jan. 1, 2019 and Dec. 31, 2021.
- Train 50 MHFA Trainers by December 31, 2020.
- Enhance existing bullying prevention programs with adding modules on social skills by June 30, 2020.
- Increase the number of Middle School & High School students involved in weekly after-school activities by 25% by June 30, 2021 including adding after school bus service where not available.
- Increase the number of employers offering Employee Assistance Programs as part of their Wellness program.
- Increase the availability of “Screening/ Brief Intervention/ Referral to Treatment” (SBIRT) programs in schools by 20% by June 30, 2021.
- Increase the availability of SBIRT in medical settings.
- Engage the community of Manville to identify community factors that influence substance abuse by December 31, 2019.
- Develop and implement an evidence-based intervention(s) to address the community factor(s) identified in the Forum by December 31, 2020.
- Increase the number of mental health providers who have evening hours and who accept insurances.
- Sponsor a Grand Rounds/Professional Education Seminar on routinely screening patients for mental health as part of primary care visit.
