The state’s department of Human Services has made a renewed commitment to helping residents with serious mental illness.
New Jersey’s Community Wellness Centers – in place for several years to support mental well-being – have expanded beginning this month to include all New Jersey counties, including Camden, Gloucester and Burlington.
“Community Wellness Centers are crucial resources that offer innovative support; peer assistance; social services; and education on mental-health and substance use disorders, all at no cost,” said Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman.
The Human Services Department of Mental Health and Addictions currently funds and supports 30 wellness centers in 21 counties, all of which are free and consumer-operated and provide dedicated space for individuals who want to improve their mental health with self-help, socialization, peer support, employment opportunities and specialized wellness programs, according to the department website.
The expansion will add services in Burlington County through the Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, which was awarded $443,000 in new state funds. Collaborative Support Programs of NJ received about $500,000 to expand in Camden County and $314,000 in Salem County. And the Mental Health Association of NJ will enlarge its services with $510,000 for Atlantic County.
Centers were already in place in Camden City and Barrington. Among expanding service providers are those in under-served areas.
According to the National Association on Mental Health, an estimated one in five adults lives with mental illness in the U.S. Four million children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental disorder that causes significant impairment at home, at school and with peers. Mental-health disorders account for more disability than any other illness, including cancer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports.
The state’s mental-health rate for adults in 2024 is 18.2%, according to the World Population Review, with 4% of residents experiencing severe symptoms.
New Jersey’s Community Wellness Centers provide a variety of activities on and off site. Clients can find peer support and mutual aid support groups. They can learn a foreign language. They can take advantage of classes in financial planning; exercise; conflict resolution; scrapbooking and meditation, among other offerings.
Some clients themselves end up volunteering at the centers.
“For individuals with substance-use and mental-health disorders, it’s essential to have access to supportive environments where they can receive compassionate care and be treated with dignity by individuals who themselves are in recovery,” notes Human Services Deputy Commissioner Valerie Mielke.
There are full-time managers at every wellness center and the facilities also have vans that transport individuals to and from activities like shopping and community meetings. Services at the expanded centers will be funded through June of next year.
Said Adelman: “We look forward to witnessing the positive impact of this additional funding.”
Anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide or a mental-health or substance-use crisis can call the 24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 or texting to 988. Chats are available at 988lifeline.org/chat. 988 also offers TTY services.
The Department of Human Services’ NJMentalHealthCares helpline can be reached at (866) 202-HELP (4357) or by texting NJHOPE to 51684.
