MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey’s youth suicide rate is lower than the nation’s, but it has unfortunately trended up over the last decade, Assemblywoman Aura Dunn said.

A new report required under legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Aura Dunn and cleared by an Assembly committee this week focuses on the causes contributing to the increase.

“To significantly reduce and hopefully eliminate youth suicides in New Jersey, legislators need to understand better why it is happening,” Dunn (R-Morris) said. “Do we need more mental health support in schools? Should pediatricians screen teens for suicide risk? How many children had increased suicidal thoughts while taking antidepressants? These are questions that I am hopeful this report will help answer so that we can reach kids sooner, get them the right help, and save lives.”

The bill (A3198) directs the state’s health commissioner to work with the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Human Services, and the New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council to study the causes of youth suicide and associated risk factors like mental illness and substance abuse.

Ninety-four New Jersey youth ages 10 to 24 died by suicide in 2021, making it the second leading cause of death among that age range in the Garden State, Dunn said.

“Every year, thousands of young people end up needing emergency or inpatient care because of a suicide attempt, but oftentimes there are red flags like social isolation or increased anxiety before a person needs a crisis-level intervention,” Dunn said.

Of the youth who died by suicide in the state between 2017 and 2019, 70% were known to be struggling with mental health issues, problems at school, suicidal ideation, and more. Eleven percent disclosed their suicide intent to another person before acting, Dunn said.

Dunn said that after the study, the health commissioner will issue a report that includes recommendations for legislation or regulatory changes to address the causes.

“Recognizing who is at increased risk, the reason why, and the contributing causes will help create successful safety nets and prevention plans,” Dunn added. “Making sure parents are aware of the warning signs and all the available treatments, as well as their benefits and risks, is important, too.”

Dunn noted how the FDA started requiring a black box warning on the class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in 2004 to alert doctors that children and teens taking that type of drug might be prone to thoughts of suicide.

According to a mental health industry watchdog organization, 15,840 New Jersey children and teens between the ages of 0 and 17 in 2023 were prescribed antidepressants under Medicaid.

“New Jersey needs a bigger picture, which will be provided through this comprehensive report, to ensure the right programs and information are offered in the right places at the right times,” Dunn said.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the suicide rate among young people ages 10 to 24 increased 62% from 2007 through 2021.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Annual Peach Festival will be held on the historic grounds of Community Presbyterian Church, 220 Main Street, Chester, on Saturday, August 3rd. Admission is free, and the event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The event is held rain or shine. There will be peach pies, homemade peach ice cream, other desserts, and fresh, locally grown peaches for sale.

At the huge White Elephant Tent, big bargains include toys, books, sporting goods, household items, and more. Call (908) 879-5091 for more information, or click here for details.

MORRIS COUNTY — Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) stood up for New Jersey consumers by supporting the Shrinkflation Prevention Act, legislation preventing corporations from deceptively selling less of a product without lowering the price accordingly. Sherrill’s support is part of her ongoing work to lower everyday costs for New Jersey families.

“We’ve all felt the disappointment of opening a bag of chips and finding out that it’s mostly full of air – and that’s not an accident. Large corporations have gotten away with charging more and selling less for too long while New Jerseyans foot the bill. Tackling this issue of shrinkflation is a big step in stopping inflation at the supermarket. That’s why I am proud to support the Shrinkflation Prevention Act to lower prices at the grocery store, hold large corporations accountable, and make sure Garden State families get a fair shake,” said Rep. Sherrill.

The Shrinkflation Prevention Act is led by Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) and Chris Deluzio (PA-17) in the House, and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) in the Senate. The legislation would:

• Direct the Federal Trade Commission to develop regulations establishing shrinkflation as an unfair or deceptive act or practice prohibiting manufacturers from engaging in it.
• Authorize the FTC and state governments to pursue legal actions against corporations who unlawfully engage in shrinkflation.

Since taking office, Sherrill has fought to lower prices and make the Garden State more affordable for families. She helped to successfully pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered the cost of prescription drugs for seniors and expanded access to clean energy tax credits. She voted to pass the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act through the House, which would boost support for American farmers, expand competition in the meat industry, and make new investments in biofuels. 

After passing the CHIPS and Science Act to strengthen American supply chains and reduce the cost of cars and electronics, Sherrill also introduced her American Jobs and Competition Plan to address unfair economic practices by the Chinese Communist Party and level the playing field for New Jersey businesses. She has also led legislation to cap childcare costs at 7% of families’ income and to provide tax relief to New Jerseyans by repealing the SALT deduction cap.

MORRIS COUNTY — Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) introduced a resolution to express support for the federal “Equal Representation Act,” which would modify the apportionment of United States Representatives and electoral college votes based on the population of United States citizens.

“Appropriating representatives to the United States Congress based on citizenship is the only formula that allows for accurate representation in our federal government,” said Pennacchio. “It is imperative that the right of each American citizen to receive equal representation in government is protected from dilution.”

More than 10 million people have illegally entered the United States under the tenure of President Biden, which, according to current estimates, has increased the total population of illegal immigrants in the United States to more than 20 million people and the total population of noncitizens to more than 30 million, Pennacchio said.

“The noncitizen population is so large that if they were all located in one state, it would be apportioned 40 congressional districts and 42 electoral votes in presidential elections. In no world does that echo the sentiment of equal representation,” Pennacchio said.

The United States House of Representatives introduced H.R. 7109, known as the “Equal Representation Act,” on January 29, 2024, and passed the bill on May 8, 2024. Enactment of the bill would ensure that the allocation of congressional seats and electoral votes among the states would be apportioned based on the United States citizen population and would not be diluted by the country’s noncitizen population, said Pennacchio.

Additionally, Senator Pennacchio has introduced companion legislation that would protect the process of redistricting New Jersey’s legislative seats by only counting New Jersey citizens during that process.