(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by
Assembly Democrats Carmelo G. Garcia, Raj Mukherji, Valerie Vainieri Huttle,
Charles Mainor and Tim Eustace to help empower minors to seek treatment for
mental illness and emotional disorders was approved by an Assembly panel on
Thursday.
“This bill takes into account the
fears and stigmas associated with mental illness, particularly for
young people,” said Garcia
(D-Hudson). “Hopefully by creating a more private means for them to seek
treatment we can drastically improve and ultimately save lives. I’m grateful to
the young men and women of the Hudson County Boys and Girls Club who
prompted me to sponsor this
legislation.”
The bill (A-3435) is designated as
the “Boys & Girls Clubs Keystone Law” in honor of the members of the
Keystone Club of the Hudson County Boys & Girls Clubs who were concerned
about suicide and self harm among teenagers.
“It’s
inspiring to see the young men and women of the Hudson County Boys & Girls
Club concerned with the welfare of their peers,” said Mukherji (D-Hudson).
“They understand, firsthand, what it’s like dealing with these hurdles as
teens. This legislation will allow teens in need to seek mental health
treatment and, hopefully, aid in preventing suicides.”
Specifically, the bill would amend
current law to permit a minor to give consent for behavioral health care for the
treatment of mental illness or emotional disorders.
“Research
has shown that one of the greatest barriers to mental health treatment for teens
is stigma,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). “Millions of young people forego
treatment every year because of this. Hopefully this bill will help them
overcome that and seek the much-needed help they deserve.”
The
bill provides that the minor’s consent to treatment under the supervision of a
physician, an individual licensed to provide professional counseling, including,
but not limited to, a psychiatrist, licensed practicing psychologist, certified
social worker, licensed clinical social worker, licensed social worker, licensed
marriage and family therapist, certified psychoanalyst, licensed psychologist or
licensed clinical social worker, or in a health care facility would be valid and
binding as if the minor were an adult.
“Social
acceptance plays a huge role in the lives of teens,” said Mainor (D-Hudson).
“If they’re afraid to talk to a parent or guardian about any mental health
issues or emotional disorders they might be experiencing then they may never
seek the treatment they need. This bill can change all that.”
Additionally,
under the bill, the treatment would be considered confidential information
between the physician, the individual who is licensed to provide professional
counseling, or the health care facility, as appropriate, and the patient.
“Breaking
down cultural ‘norms’ and overcoming stigma is hard at any age, but can feel
impossible as a teen,” said Eustace (D-Bergen/Passaic). “By granting them the
same measure of privacy afforded to adults, hopefully we can help them overcome
whatever fears they may have to seek the treatment they need.”
The
provisions of the bill are similar to those which already permit a minor to
consent to treatment for venereal disease, HIV, AIDS, sexual assault, or drug or
alcohol abuse.
The
bill was approved by the Assembly Women and Children Committee and now awaits
consideration by the full Assembly.
