Testimony in support of AOT

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Testimonies in support of AOT

As New Jersey focuses on its lack of an assisted outpatient treatment law, families, organizations, consumers and lawmakers themselves have all presented powerful accounts as to why this type of reform is so desperately needed.

Their stories emphasize the fact that every day New Jersey delays means one more day a friend, loved one, or coworker is lost to the symptoms of their illness.

Cathy and Mark Katsnelson's lost their 11-year-old son. They testified in suport of the outpatient commitment legislation sponsered by acting Governor Codey and Senator Cardinale.
Sylvia Axelrod, executive director of NAMI New Jersey, expressed her organization's support of S2760.
Phillip Lubitz spoke on behalf of NAMI New Jersey on the outpatient commitment legislation sponsered by acting Governor Codey and Senator Cardinale.
Phillip Lubitz spoke on behalf of NAMI New Jersey on involuntary outpatient commitment and mental health funding.
John Monahan, President & CEO of Greater Trenton Behavioral Healthcare, testified in support of S2760.
Cathy Katsnelson spoke of her 11-year-old son Gregory, who was killed by a man with untreated schizophrenia, who had also killed his own mother earlier that same day. Under New Jersey’s current treatment system, his family was helpless when he refused to take his medications.
Joy Scoble spoke of her brother, currently homeless after refusing to take medication and cycling through the prison and mental health systems.
Valerie Fox spoke of her own experiences battling a severe mental illness and the opportunity presented by assisted outpatient treatment.
Senator Cardinale testified that he sponsored S1640 in response to numerous stories that he and other legislators have heard from families struggling to get treatment for a loved one under the current mental health system.

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