Introduction
Division of mental health services (DMHS) of the state of New Jersey is a division of department of human services (DHS) and is responsible for mental health services in the state. The mission of Mental Health NJ Services is to promote opportunities for adults with mental illness and to maximize their ability to seek and obtain treatment. For a better ratio of mentally healthy people in New Jersey the agency encourages people suffering from mental ailments to live, work, socialize, learn and acquire new skills for earning a living in the least restrictive environment with the appropriate therapeutic support.
Values and principles
Mental Health NJ Services operates under some core principles. It promises to deliver the services in form of an extensive system of care which emphasizes the most appropriate and least restrictive settings to promote the highest level of functioning for people with poor mental health. Mental Health NJ Services provide a continuous care and coordinated services within the state and between public and private sectors and makes sure that the range of services provided by system of care responds appropriately to the needs of individual customers and serves the special population as well. New Jersey’s most severely disabled citizens are provided high quality care by Mental Health NJ services in the state psychiatric hospitals while the less disabled citizens are treat through community programs.
Services provided
Department of Mental Health NJ Services have 21 crises and screening centers and mental health administrators across New Jersey. They have a directory of mental health services which is revised and available online. Patient abuse including verbal and/or physical abuse, neglect, and professional misconduct at any of the psychiatric hospitals operated by the Mental Health NJ Services can be reported to Patient Services Compliant Unit (PSCU) by any hospital employee, patient and visitor. The Division for Mental Health Services provides mental health services in the community through contracts with more than 120 community-based not-for-profit organizations that provide services like Trained psychiatric personnel, outpatient services, partial hospitalization and care, Programs of Assertive Community Treatment etc.
DMHS licensed and contracted residential settings offer regular staff supervision for consumers, for the purpose of assisting with activities of daily living and providing support and supervision, as needed. The state aid program of Department of Mental Health NJ Services funds approximately 90 percent of the cost of indigent in patient care at six county psychiatric units or hospitals while it operates ive psychiatric hospitals that serve people with persistent and severe mental illnesses who are in need of intensive, inpatient care and treatment.
Wellness and Recovery
For wellness and recovery, Department of Mental health NJ service has four task forces- Primary care, Co-Occurring, Dual Diagnosis and Acute Care task force.
Primary care task force is responsible to increase access to primary care and to improve collaboration between mental health agencies and health care providers. Co-occurring task force is responsible to examine best practices, financing, policy, and regulatory and legal issues. Dual Diagnosis task force is committed to examining and resolving the serious lack of services, unmet service needs and other significant obstacles to receiving mental health services. Acute care task force is charged with making system recommendations to DMHS’ Executive Staff.
