TRENTON — Minors who wish to get mental health treatment would be able to do so confidentially and without seeking permission of an adult under a bill approved by the state Assembly today.
The bill would add mental illness and emotional disorders to the list of conditions state law already allows minors to seek treatment on their own. They include sexually transmitted diseases, sexual assault and drug and alcohol abuse.
The bill passed, 67-3 with one abstention.
"Research has shown that one of the greatest barriers to mental health treatment for teens is stigma," said Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), one of the bill's sponsors. "Millions of young people forego treatment every year because of this. Hopefully this bill will help them overcome that and seek the much-needed help they deserve."
The bill (A3435) is named "Boys & Girls Clubs Keystone Law" to pay tribute to members of the Keystone Club of the Hudson County Boys & Girls Clubs who wanted to make it easier for teens to seek help, according to a statement from Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D-Hudson), who is also a sponsor. "They understand, firsthand, what it's like dealing with these hurdles as teens. This legislation will allow teens in need to seek mental health treatment and, hopefully, aid in preventing suicides," he said.
The Department of Children and Families would be required to post on its website and develop a pamphlet that explain the law to teens and mental health professionals.
Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.