Speaker, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education - Webcast, "Mental Health 101 -- How to Help Your Clients and Yourself"

There is a mental health crisis in this country, recently exacerbated by the pandemic, the housing crisis, the economy, and natural weather disasters, in addition to other challenges. Our clients will look to us for solutions when mental health issues and the legal ones intersect. In addition, we lawyers and judges spend so much time helping others and dispensing justice, we forget to take care of our own needs, especially our own mental health. What can we do to stay strong, and what services are available for us and our clients?

Join us for a program that focuses on the much needed but rarely discussed topics of mental health. The Hon. Daniel D’Alessandro leads a panel of legal and health experts who will provide an overview of the mental health crisis then dive into the specifics of civil commitment proceedings in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, examine how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are treated in the criminal justice system, look at select substance abuse issues, examine mental health and stress management options for legal professionals, how to help children facing mental health challenges and consequences during and after Covid, and what you can do to help clients with developmental disabilities.

Topics include:

• Overview of the Mental Health Crisis in NJ.
• New Developments in Crisis Screening.
• National efforts to change how screening are done
• Emergency Screenings; Involuntary and Outpatient Commitments
• Civil Commitment Overview and Civil Commitment Hearings in NJ, NY and PA.
  • Crisis Responses and Services for Individuals Diagnosed with Mental Health Disorders and Developmental Disabilities.
  • Brief overview of the commitment hearing.
• Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and The Criminal Justice System.
  • Diversionary Programs and Self Determination
• Select Substance Abuse Issues
• Mental Health fand Stress Management in the Legal Profession.
• Mental Health Challenges and Consequences for Children during and after COVID.
• Mental Health Services for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities Referrals; Guardianships; Supportive services.
  • Difficulties faced by the developmentally disabled and the attorneys who
    represent them.
  • Access to the courts
  • ADA issues.