About my Blog

 

About My Blog

Welcome to my blog!!! 

This blog is about the problems within the IDD/MI psychiatric service delivery systems and potential solutions to the problems. Approximately 1 in every 3 (30% to 40%) individuals with developmental disabilities also have a mental illness. In New Jersey, these individuals stay in State Hospitals three times longer than those without developmental disabilities. 

IDD/MI dual diagnosis is when someone is affected by both an intellectual developmental disability (e.g. Autism, Cerebral Palsy, intellectual disability, Fragile X Syndrome, etc.) and a mental health disorder (OCD, Schizophrenia, Anxiety, Depression, Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, etc.). According to the NJ Dual Diagnosis Task Force Report, the prevalence of dual diagnosis ranges from 30%-40% of individuals with developmental disabilities, and these individuals are hospitalized in State Hospitals three times longer than those without dual diagnosis 

This is not a complaint and is not meant to be investigated. It is intended to make the systems better, safer, and more therapeutic for everyone, staff and service recipients alike. A lot of the information you will find on this blog is secondhand information that I found online and through informal conversations with staff and other service recipients with experiences other than my own. As such, those with firsthand information will likely have different perspectives on my information. While I do reference specific programs' names I do not call them out as good or bad as many programs have both good and bad aspects. Also, remember that many people will only leave negative reviews online, such that positive experiences go unnoticed. Also, while this blog is not based on “scientific” research, it is based on anecdotal evidence that the items discussed matter to both service recipients and staff alike.  Some things are more trivial while others are major safety and/or therapeutic issues. 

This blog contains some radical ideas. While research may contradict some of my views, all of my views are reflective of my personal experience as a service recipient. 

Our Agreement for Commenting on This Blog

We Agree to:

1. Do not post about crises or other harmful behavior or thoughts.
2. Seek out a mental health professional or call 988 for assistance in a crisis.
3. Understand that I have comment moderation turned on and I reserve the right to approve and disapprove of any comments before they go public.
4. Understand that I will contact the authorities in the event of continued harassment or threats or if I feel in imminent danger based on negative posts
5. Avoid the use of the R-word to describe those with intellectual disabilities and use respectful disabilities language.
6. Do not post adult sexual content
7. Avoid the use of profanity such as the F-word and the B-Word
8. Understand that any inappropriate comments will be deleted and ignored.
9. If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t comment at all!!!