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| A Newsletter from NJ MentalHealthCares February 2017 |
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Are you struggling with your mental wellness?
Are you concerned about a loved one?
Please give us a call -
We are here to help.
If you have any questions at all about mental health -- on behalf of yourself or a loved one -- we encourage you to call the NJ MentalHealthCares' toll-free, confidential number. No inquiry is too trivial, no concern is too minor -- whether related to mental health, substance use, legal or housing issues, employment, rehabilitation, inpatient or outpatient treatment, self-help or something else. Our staff of trained,
behavioral care specialists uses their experience and expertise to help callers identify the the problem and then determine the best next steps to make a difference. And it doesn't stop there. Our counselors listen, they offer support and education and apply their understanding of the system to provide information and help connect callers to the services they need. They serve as advocates and telephone case managers to help ensure that every caller is linked to the desired service plan. The NJ MentalHealthCares Helpline is a free, confidential service funded by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
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Noting Hidden Signs of Depression
Stigma, cultural perspectives, personal privacy and other barriers may deter people who are coping with mental illness from getting treatment.
An article from PsychCentral entitled, "Six Secret Signs of Hidden Depression," by John M. Grohol, Psy.D., identifies six hard-to-recognize signs of depression that, if identified, could help alert family members that a loved one needs help.
In summary, they are:
1. Altering eating and drinking habits
2. Portraying a "happy face" and making excuses to be isolated
3. Talking philosophically
4. Requesting help and then backing out of it
5. Exhibiting/experiencing intense emotions
6. Being more pessimistic than usual
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Fighting Stigma...
New Jersey and the United States as a whole are plagued with stigma about mental health and substance use disorders. Increasing incidences of senseless violence and unfounded fear call for continuous efforts to improve enlightenment and knowledge.
One way that the Mental Health Association in New Jersey fights stigma related to mental illness and substance use disorders is through education and training programs offered by its
Community Education and Outreach Department. In 2015, the department reached over 7,300 people by providing presentations on a variety of topics including: Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) overview, a personal roadmap for recovery; Hearing Distressing Voices, a simulated experience that inspires an understanding of challenges faced by those with psychiatric problems; and Psychiatric Advance Directives, a legal document indicating one's preferences for mental health care in the event of a crisis. Sessions are provided across the state, at venues such as schools, nonprofit organizations, community groups, police training facilities and others. For more information contact Anne Lopez, MHANJ's Director of Community Education and Outreach at 973-571-4100, ext. 113 or
alopez@mhanj.org
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