COVID-19 and Mental Health
Uncertainty and concern for our own health and livelihood, along with the well-being of those we love and our community at large is a very stressful thing to live with. Below you will find resources that will help you connect with people who you can talk to about how you are feeling. We have also added information about virtual support groups that are being held.
New Jersey Helplines and Hotlines
New Jersey has many helplines/hotlines that are open and ready to help answer your questions or just hear your concerns.
Mental Health Association of NJ (MHANJ)
If you are feeling stressed, anxious or depressed due to COVID-19, please call NJ Mental Health Cares Helpline at 866.202.HELP (4357) for emotional support, guidance and mental health referrals as needed. Live assistance from trained professionals is available from 8:00am - 8:00pm seven days a week. You can email them at help@njmentalhealthcares.org if you prefer. Visit their website.
MHANJ has been conducting online support groups/remote learning on many different topics from AA to employment wellness to student stress. Take a look at this robust list of sessions that are available for free.
New Jersey Hope and Healing Crisis Counseling Program
A vast variety of virtual support and discussion groups are available to provide emotional support. These groups are for people from all walks of life including: Health care workers, caregivers, teachers, parents, adults, teenagers, baby boomers, Spanish-speaking, and many more. Learn more here.
National Mental Health Association
As the number of cases of COVID-19 increase, so does the associated anxiety.
For the general public, the mental health effects of COVID-19 are as important to address as are the physical health effects. And for the one in five who already have mental health conditions – or the one in two who are at risk of developing them – we need to take personal, professional, and policy measures now to address them. To aid individuals and communities during this time, the national Mental Health Association has compiled a range of resources and information. You will find them here.
Free Emotional Support Helpline for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
The NJ Department of Human Services’ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, in collaboration with the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, have opened a videophone helpline for individuals who are deaf and/or hard of hearing to access emotional support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sign language users are able to communicate directly with state partners at ACCESS, of St. Joseph's Healthcare System in Paterson. Individuals who are deaf and/or hard of hearing can call 973-870-0677 VP, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.