NATURE AND PREVALENCE OF PROBLEM
The Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states that one in four adults experiences a mental health disorder in a given year and about one in 10 children live with a serious mental health or emotional disorder. One in 17 adults live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder and about one in 10 children lives with a serious mental health or emotional disorder in a given year. Warren County has a population of approximately 106,000. So statistically, this would mean that more than 25,000 Warren County residents experience a mental health disorder in any given year. FGC’s outpatient mental health programs received more than 5,500 calls to our centralized intake system for mental health and substance abuse services last year.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in 2013, an estimated 24.6 million Americans aged 12 or older—9.4 percent of the population—had used an illicit drug in the past month. This number is up from 8.3 percent in 2002. Warren County has a population of approximately 106,000. So statistically, this would mean that more than 10,000 Warren County residents used an illicit drug in the past month. In Warren County, there has been a sharp rise in heroin overdoses as evidenced by data from county hospitals as well as law enforcement.
According to NIDA, in 2013, an estimated 22.7 million Americans (8.6 percent) needed treatment for a problem related to drugs or alcohol, but only about 2.5 million people (0.9 percent) received treatment at a specialty facility. It is very difficult to make a decision to enter treatment for a substance abuse problem. Difficulty in accessing these services only exacerbates the problem.
The sexual abuse of children is a critical problem in our society. It is a problem that is difficult to talk about and most people would prefer to believe it doesn’t exist. However, statistics from the Crimes Against Children Research Center state that 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys is a victim of child sexual abuse. The latest census data reports approximately 22,666 people under the age of 18 reside in Warren County. This data suggests that a significant number of Warren County children are also at risk. Sexual abuse of children has dramatic effects upon them. Without appropriate, skilled and easy to access treatment, this abuse can have lifelong dramatically negative effects. These include a decreased ability to form connections, substance abuse, mental health issues, diminished self-esteem, increased family disruption and many other effects.
WHAT WE DO TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM
FGC’s Outpatient Service Programs provide highly effective therapy to residents of Warren County of any age regardless of ability to pay. Our program staff consists of New Jersey state licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors and medical staff consisting of psychiatrists and advanced practice psychiatric nurses.
FGC’s Outpatient Service Programs include of a mix of individual, couple, family and group therapy. The therapy utilizes various evidence-based programs including but not limited to cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing and various forms of trauma treatment. Medical staff provide psychiatric evaluations as well as medication management services.
FGC’s outpatient services staff develop an individualized treatment plan with the input and consent of every consumer to assure that everyone is working on the same issues and agrees with the plan. Staff will also assist in placement into an emergency psychiatric hospitalization or substance-abuse rehabilitation facility should the need arise.
Clients with critical emergent needs are seen very quickly. All requests for services are triaged based on clinical need and available services.