Bridgeway to take mental health services from NMH

NEWTON — As the lights at Sussex House — a place where adults with psychiatric disabilities were able to go for skill building and rehabilitation — are about to be turned off, an agency called Bridgeway Rehabilitation Services is coming to the county to help area residents recover from mental illness and the stigma that goes with it. “The mission of Bridgeway is to help people with serious mental illness to live successfully in the community, said Bridgeway’s Executive Director, Corey Storch, M.S., CPRP. “A lot of the difficulties for people who have serious mental illness is the belief that they can‘t be productive, successful and accepted. This wrong belief is a big debilitating factory... People need to hear that they can get better.” Newton Memorial Hospital took over the provision of Mental Health Services from the County of Sussex in 1978. The hospital made a commitment to meet not only the physical health needs but the mental health needs of Sussex County and its regional citizens. Even when the county discontinued the agreed-upon mental health subsidy, the hospital continued to provide the wide range of mental health services to the community, a range of services that has been nationally recognized. Newton Memorial has faced cuts in Medicaid reimbursement, in particular for Sussex House. the staff was reduced in January 2008, but the program continued to meet the needs of the community. Then came another reduction and virtual elimination of Charity Care funding to the hospital. Sussex House was forced to close its doors. Based in Elizabeth, Bridgeway Rehabilitation Services has stepped in to provide mental health services to the community. “We want to get the word out about Bridgeway’s plans,” said Executive Director Cory Storch. Bridgeway is a psychiatric rehabilitation service agency. Bridgeway programs provide skill development and support services to assist people along their journey to mental health, wellness, self-sufficiency and quality of life. The transition to Bridgeway will take place on Jan. 1, 2010. Storch said, “The plan is to have two locations: the main location will be in Newton and second location will be added someplace north of Newton later in 2010.” Bridgeway is in negotiations, but will not reveal a location until a contract is final. “No matter what happens with the facility activities, Bridgeway will start services as of January 1,“ Storch said, “We’re also developing a Plan B should we not have a permanent locale at that time.“ Storch said that Bridgeway has hired much of the staff currently working at Newton Memorial’s facilities. “We wanted as many to stay on as possible,“ he said. One such employee is Deborah Drumm, who worked at Sussex House for five years. During that time she integrated some alternative health programs such as working with members to grow and cultivate calendula then use it to create a healing salve. “This is a bittersweet time for consumers and providers of service here at NMH Center for Mental Health,” Drumm said. e hospital has provided superior services for over 30 years. There has been significant funding deficits causing financial burdens for hospital-based care centers. Bridgeway provides primarily psychiatric rehabilitative services, and I am happy to be included in the transition. I am excited to be part of this dynamic team. My entire career (since 1973) has been providing mental health services to consumers, however they were all hospital-based. It‘s an exciting time for mental health in our community.” Bridgeway has provided services throughout northern and central New jersey for 40 years. “People often wonder what to do if they don’t have Medicare, Medicaid or charity care,” said Storch. “Our policy is to provide services regardless of the ability to pay. We are a non-profit organization, and do our own fundraising, plus a lot of the funding comes from the State Division of Mental Health Services.” “The main message we want to get to people out in the community, is that because of the stigma linked to mental health, they don’t feel hopeful about themselves so they don’t get treatment,” Storch said. “If you get the right services you can learn to manage your illness and have a job and a place to live and friends just like everyone else.”