Our View
CSPNJ has just released a position paper regarding medication optimization.
This paper states a clear position:
CSPNJ believes that mental health services should be designed from the perspective of the lived experiences of people in recovery. CSPNJ will be issuing position papers that represent the consensus views of the Governing Board and administration of the agency, concerning issues impacting recovery. This paper discusses the pros and cons of psychotropic medications and offers suggestions related to their use.
The following is the story of Nancy D. Brown, a survivor, advocate and current Governing Board president of CSPNJ, in her own words.
“Why did I escape relatively unscathed from my serious bout of manic depression? I have always wondered just why my recovery enabled me to work and lead a fairly normal life after several years of pure hell. After hearing and talking with Bob Whitaker and Dr. Courtenay Harding at the annual Wellness Conference in spring 2010, I finally connected the dots.
In the ensuing years, I worked, attended a few colleges, got married, raised two sons, and led a relatively normal, if slightly zany, life. My Big Bang, as I call it, came at 37 years of age. With the Big Bang also came my first encounter with psychotropic medications. During the next several years, I lost count of the many drugs given to me to try to stabilize my wicked mood swings, delusions and hallucinations, all to no avail.
Six psychiatrists, twelve hospitalizations (including two at Trenton Psychiatric), two or three rounds of ECT and one notorious failed suicide attempt- that was my life for a while.
I finally found an amazing psychiatrist, one who actually listened and inspired trust. He tweaked my medications in a thoughtful and judicious manner. He insisted on annual physical and dental exams for me. My medications were changed forever. What a difference-on his watch, I attained good recovery. I am now on a low maintenance regimen of Depakote and Topamax easing the mood swings I still encounter.
As one gets older, one ponders. After meeting Bob Whitaker and Dr. Harding, and connecting the dots, I realized how much there was to be thankful for and relieved about. I often wonder what would have happened if I wasn’t challenged to push myself. What if I had accepted a passive role? What if I had been medicated when I was 17 years old? What if I had spent those early years in a state facility?
I may never have married, raised a family nor had the joy of grandkids. I may never have had my career as a P&A advocate or the opportunity of serving as the president of the CSP Governing Board in my mid-70s.”
To read the entire position statement, please see the attachment.
 Medication position paper FINAL edition 1-25-2012.pdf | [ ] | 232 Kb |
| Reference List for Medication Optimization Position Paper.pdf | [Reference List for Medication Optimization Position Paper] | 46 Kb |
CSP-NJ has just released a position paper regarding the over-reliance on dependent living situations.
This paper states a clear position:
"We continue to feel strongly that these types of living facilities are not conducive to mental health recovery and wellness. We believe that New Jersey needs to begin the process of significantly limiting the use of boarding homes and RHCFs for people with serious mental illness who are being discharged from psychiatric hospitals. Only in cases where a person makes a clear choice to reside in this type of congregate housing should it be considered, and only if the State provides the necessary supports."
To read the entire position statement, please see the attachment to this article.
| 2011CSPNJPositionPaper.pdf | [ ] | 136 Kb |