[NFBNJ] Press Release: Mental Health Telephone Support Available During COVID-19 Outbreak

Mon Mar 23 19:57:01 UTC 2020

Greetings to all!
Please review and share with others.
Joe  ---

From: Dianna Maurone
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2020 2:42 PM
To: NJDDS at LISTSERV.DHS.NJ.GOV
Subject: Fw: Press Release: Mental Health Telephone Support Available During 
COVID-19 Outbreak

Mental Health Telephone Support Available During COVID-19 Outbreak

The NJ Mental Health Cares Helpline Offers Support to Individuals 
Experiencing Anxiety and Worry Related to the Coronavirus Pandemic

March 23, 2020

(TRENTON) ï¿½ New Jerseyans feeling the emotional and mental toll of COVID-19 
can get support from a special helpline.

NJ Mental Health Cares, the stateï¿½s behavioral health information and 
referral service, will now also offer help to people dealing with anxiety 
and worry related to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. New 
Jerseyans can call 1-866-202-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support.  NJ 
Mental Health Cares will be answered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week 
by live trained specialists.

NJ Human Servicesï¿½ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services provides 
support to the Mental Health Association of New Jersey (MHANJ) to operate 
the line.

ï¿½This is a very challenging time for so many of us,ï¿½ said Carole Johnson, 
Commissioner of NJ Human Services. ï¿½We want to make sure that New Jerseyans 
have a safe space to talk to someone about their worries and concerns. The 
thoughtful and caring team at NJ Mental Health Cares are here ï¿½ at the other 
end of the phone line ï¿½ to help.ï¿½

ï¿½Talking to others and staying connected with friends and family can help 
reduce anxiety and make people feel more in control,ï¿½ DMHAS Assistant 
Commissioner Valerie Mielke said. ï¿½The trained specialists answering these 
phones can help callers take care of their mental health during this 
difficult time.ï¿½

ï¿½In times of crisis, it is important to pay as much attention to your mental 
health as your physical health,ï¿½ said Mental Health Association of New 
Jersey President and CEO Carolyn Beauchamp. ï¿½Life has shifted drastically 
and quickly ï¿½ this causes us to feel that we are not in control, which adds 
to the intensity of these emotions.ï¿½

NJ Human Servicesï¿½ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services has 
previously partnered with the Mental Health Association of New Jersey to 
operate the stateï¿½s mental health call line following Superstorm Sandy and 
9/11.

Along with providing help for mental health issues related to COVID-19, the 
NJ Mental Health Cares helpline will also continue to offer general mental 
health support and referral. It does not provide any medical or financial 
advice or referrals.

For the latest medical information, including mental health guidance and 
tips, visit the Centers for Disease Controlï¿½s website: 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html.

For the latest information about the COVID-19 outbreak in New Jersey, go to 
the NJ Department of Healthï¿½s website: nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml.

For the latest COVID-19 guidance and information for individuals, families 
and providers, visit NJ Human Servicesï¿½ website: 
nj.gov/humanservices/coronavirus.html.

###

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnj_nfbnet.org/attachments/20200323/b7a65699/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 14336 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnj_nfbnet.org/attachments/20200323/b7a65699/attachment.jpg>