Mental Health, Substance Abuse Issues Updated In Howell Report

HOWELL, NJ — Making mental health - and transparency about mental health issues - a priority in the township, the police department has released its quarterly statistics on the issue.

"These are our neighbors!" is the reminder the police include with every release of what may seem like impersonal numbers.

The Howell Alliance partners with the Howell police to present these statistics to create community awareness, said Christa Riddle of the Howell Alliance.

"These statistics also inform our future prevention efforts, such as unwanted medication collection initiatives," she said.

These are the statistics for the quarter ending June 30:

• Overdoses: 29 (includes 3 fatalities)
• Suicide completions: 2
• Suicide attempts/threats: 34
• Juvenile arrests: 8
• Crisis calls: 220
• Unwanted medication at-home pick-up calls for police: 4
• Project Medicine Drop box total unwanted medications collected: 335 lbs.

Howell chooses to be transparent about its numbers to help drive awareness and change as a community and without judgment, the police said in a new release on Facebook.

The Howell Alliance offers programs and suggestions in many area of mental health.

For example, it has just posted a link to a documentary by filmmaker Ken Burns on mental illness and young adults.

"Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness" is a documentary that premiered in June that features first-person accounts from over 20 young people (ages 11 to 27) who live with mental health conditions. It also includes perspectives from their parents, teachers, peers, and treating healthcare providers, as well as independent mental health experts. Watch the documentary using this link.

Executive Producer Ken Burns said in an interview with KPBS, “We hope that this film will save lives. As a society, we continue to test the resiliency of youth without truly understanding how the stresses of today, including this unprecedented pandemic, are impacting them. It is a remarkable journey that captures the unique voices of these young people as they navigate an extraordinarily difficult era in our country’s history.”

The Well Beings campaign addresses the critical health needs of Americans through broadcast content, original digital content, and impactful local events.

Regarding the release of the statistics for the town, the post said that removing the stigma of mental illness or substance abuse is a way to create change:

"Educating ourselves about substance use prevention/recovery and mental health, sharing conversation, stopping stigmas, and looking out for one another can spark positive change and lower our numbers," the post said.

To learn about substance use prevention/recovery and mental health support resources, visit the Alliance website page "Substance Use/Mental Health Support Services."

To learn about unwanted medication disposal options in Howell, visit the Alliance website page "Safe Prescription Disposal."