NJ works to assist those with dual diagnoses

From The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J.:

Private hospitals and community agencies that serve people with autism and other developmental disabilities also must be prepared to deal with mental illness, which affects more than one-third of their patients and clients, according to a report released Oct. 10.

Hospitals need to create more short-term treatment facilities and more mental health professionals and direct care workers must be trained to treat "dually-diagnosed" people, who too often don't get help for severe behavior problems, the report by the Dual Diagnosis Task Force said.

A developmental disability is a chronic, life-long condition, like mental retardation, autism or cerebral palsy, that may interfere with language, mobility, learning, self-help, and independent living. A mental illness is medical condition, like major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning.

Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez called the report a "landmark effort" that will help the state prevent disabled people from being wrongly institutionalized. Velez said she would use the report "to enable individuals to fully participate in community life through the support of a service system that delivers appropriate treatment."

The report was commissioned by the state but written by a task force including parents who know the shortcomings of the mental health system first hand.

Donna Icovino of Millstone, a co-chairwoman of the Dual Diagnosis Task Force, said her son Michael, was twice taken to a local hospital when his behavior at his group home became unmanageable, but the hospital refused to admit him. He is diagnosed with autism and bipolar disorder.

Against Icovino's will, her son was committed to a state psychiatric hospital -- what she called "the saddest day of my life."

The shortage of treatment can be linked to misunderstanding about developmentally disabled people, according to the report. Many wrongly believe the developmental disability causes the potentially threatening or disruptive behavior; traditional talk-therapy cannot work, and only medication can help.

The task force's recommendations include cross-training professionals in mental health and developmental disabilities fields; adding short-term treatment beds in hospitals prepared to treat dually-diagnosed people; and creating county-based teams to assess the treatment needs of their constituents.

Mindful of the state's fiscal restraints, the task force did not attach a price tag to its recommendations, and suggested the department tap its existing $9 billion budget to make incremental change.

The task force assembled at the Woodbridge Hilton to present the report to Velez, who promised to create an executive committee to implement the recommendations.