NAMI Sussex envisions a community where those impacted by mental illness obtain the help, support and hope they require to achieve resiliency, recovery and wellness.

The new phone number for NAMI Sussex is 862-299-9250 so please update your contact information.

Tuesday, January 17th - ONLINE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP for family members (or close friends with a caregiving role) - meets via Zoom on the third Tuesday of every month, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Everyone on our email list will receive a reminder and instructions how to register for the group the Wednesday or Thursday before. The co-facilitators of the group are Annette Hoffman and Charles Cantelmo. Please note that registration is required using a link to a Google Form that will be provided in our email invitation.

NAMI Family-to-Family is taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there, and includes presentations, discussions and interactive exercises. NAMI Family-to-Family not only provides information and strategies for taking care of the person you love, but you’ll also find out that you’re not alone. Recovery is a journey, and there is hope.

NAMI NJ has released their Annual Report for 2022. This report includes summaries of the educational programs, community outreach and advocacy efforts that took place over the past year. See how your support has helped numerous NJ families who are coping with mental health struggles. To view the 2022 Annual Report, click here.

The Mental Health Association has launched a new teen support line for teens and young adults, ages 13-24. Teens and young adults can use the toll-free number, 1-888-866-6054 to speak with a trained young adult for non-crisis support and understanding. Starting on January 16th a texting line will be available at 1-973-791-5700. Both lines are supervised by mental health professionals. The line is open from 5-10p.m., Monday - Friday. This is not a crisis line.

To download the flyer, click here.

MHA also runs a peer support line for adults. This line is staffed by adults who have lived experience with mental health struggles and offer non-crisis support. The peerline hours are 11am-2 pm , Mon-Fri (1-877-760-4987) and 5pm-10pm, daily (1-877-760-4987, 1-866-445-3902, 1-800-381-2059).

To see the flyer for the Wellness Hub, click here.

Let’s stay connected, text, chat, call or email the NAMI HelpLine today.

Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email us at helpline@nami.org

On July 16^th the Suicide Prevention Lifeline switched to a 988 number to provide easier access for individuals needing assistance with mental health related distress. The 988 number can be reached by phone or text and a chat feature is available at the Suicide Prevention Lifeline website which is:988lifeline.org. 

NAMI Family Support Group is a 60-90 minute support group for adult friends and family members (18+) of people with mental health conditions. Participants gain the support of peers who understand their experience and gain insight into others’ challenges and successes.

NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group is a 60-90 minute support group for adults (18+) with a mental health condition. Participants gain the support of peers who understand their experience and gain insight into others’ challenges and successes.

Attendance is limited. For information and registration, click here. Please register by 11am or 4 pm on the day of the support group. You will receive a link via email on the day of the scheduled group.

Last Sunday of the month at 7pm EST

For more information, click here

Register here

2nd Thursday and 4th Thursday of the month at 7 pm EST

(Jan. 12th, Jan 26th)

3^rd Friday of the month at 4 pm EST

*Attendance is limited. For information and registration, click here. 

IFSS Family Support Groups - Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and 1st and 3rd Mondays at 11:00 a.m.. Call Carrie Parmelee at 973-579-4399 x. 402 to request an email with links to the meetings or a number to join by telephone. You can also check the website for the Mental Health Association, mhainspire.org.

Intensive Family Support Services (run by the Mental Health Association) in Sussex County also offers free counseling, referral and support services to individual Sussex County families who support an adult loved one who is coping with a serious mental illness. There are IFSS services offered in every county in NJ. For more information please call Carrie Parmelee at 973-579-4399, ext. 402 or send her an email at cparmelee@mhainspire.org.

To see all the programs and services offered by the Mental Health Association, check their website at mhainspire.org.

Family Partners of Morris/Sussex Counties - Various groups for youth (ages 13 - 21) and parents. Click here for information.

MHA NJ Hope & Healing Counseling Resources - For free emotional support and counseling from NJ Hope and Healing Crisis Counseling Program (CCP), click here.

The Mental Health Association in NJ has a peer-run Virtual Wellness Center. To find out more information click here.

To read more about Project ASPEN and access Project ASPEN resources, click here.

Jan 9 -  Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care and NAMI Middlesex County in collaboration with Family Support Services of Middlesex County (IFSS) invites you to attend a two part “Winter Speaker Series”. The first part “Helping vs Enabling” was created with and for families with a loved one with severe and persistent mental illness and/or addictions. It will be held via zoom from 5:00 p.m – 6:30 p.m.  Download Flyer 

Jan. 10 - Sex Differences in Mental Health Disorders - The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation presents a Meet the Scientist Webinar by Erin S. Calipari, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Molecular, Physiology and Biophysics

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. This presentation will discuss where sex differences occur in mental health disorders and, where they do not, and how we can use this understanding to help affected individuals. For more information, click here. To register, click here.

Jan. 10 - Navigating the Ups and Downs of Bipolar Disorder - As part of McLean Hospital's educational webinar series, Kirsten Bolton, LICSW, discusses the various forms of bipolar disorder, shares tips for identifying manic and depressive episodes, and answers questions about effective treatment methods and additional supports for someone living with BD. If you cannot attend you can register and this will allow you to receive a recording of the presentation in your email to view at your convenience. The presentation begins at 11:00 am. For more information and to register, click here.

Jan 19- The New Jersey Child Placement Advisory Council (NJ CPAC) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness of New Jersey (NAMI NJ) invite you to Looking at Mental Health Care Through a Cultural Lens. This two-part series will explore the cultural aspects of mental health and well-being and will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., EST. For more information click here.

Jan. 24 - Recognizing and Addressing Eating Disorders and Body Image Issues

As part of McLean Hospital's educational webinar series, Roberto Olivardia, PhD offers educators, clinicians, and concerned loved ones a roadmap for recognizing eating disorders and body image issues, provides tips for finding appropriate professional care, and answers questions about the causes and many manifestations of these conditions. This presentation begins at 11:00am, EST. If you cannot attend you can register and this will allow you to receive a recording of the presentation in your email to view at your convenience. more information and to register, click here.

Jan. 31 - Q&A With Dr. Chris Palmer on Getting Stress Under Control - As part of McLean Hospital's educational webinar series, Dr. Chris Palmer provides tips on stress management, shares ways to reshape our stress reactions, and answers audience questions about stress. This presentation begins at 12:00pm. It was previously recorded so new questions will not be taken during this session. If you cannot attend you can register and this will allow you to receive a recording of the presentation in your email to view at your convenience. For more information and to register, click here.

To watch the first video presentation in a series developed by the DMHAS Adult Suicide Prevention Committee click here. Their goal is to share tips, ideas, and ways to manage during this life-changing pandemic. Watch here.

For replays of webinars offered by Family Partners of Morris and Sussex Counties offered in May, 2021 as part of their Lunch and Learn series, click here. The topics discussed during this series included: Organizations Collaborating To Help, Involvement Opportunities, Mobile Response & Stabilization Services Available 24/7, Overview of Care Managers & In-Home Assistance, Meet the Family Partners Team and Hear Highlights of Services. 

For past NAMI NJ webinars, click here.

For replays of NAMI's Ask the Expert webinars, click here.

For NAMI Covid-19 Support and resources, click here.

For replays of Team Up for Hope's webinar series, click here.

For the TIME100 Video series on mental health presenting conversations with advocates and thought leaders in the mental health field including Daniel H. Gillison, Jr., CEO of NAMI; Taraji P. Henson and Tracie Jenkins of the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation; and Matthew McConaughey, click here.

Website for NAMI Sussex (namisussex.org) - Our website offers information about upcoming presentations, support groups and NAMI courses, numerous educational and informational resources and local community resources for Sussex County families.

Websites for NAMI National (nami.org) and NAMI New Jersey (naminj.org) – The national and state-based websites for NAMI have a great deal of information that is useful to both consumers and caregivers. These websites provide educational information about different diagnoses, types of treatment and resources for support for both consumers and families. You can also find information about NAMI signature programs and opportunities for advocacy.

Website Resource for the Latest in Research Findings about Mental Health -This website from NAMI provides summaries and links to some of the latest research findings in the area of mental health. To view, click here.

Website for the National Institute for Mental Health (nimh.nih.gov) – a division of the National Institutes of Health which has educational information about mental illness, treatment, recent research findings and clinical trials.

Website for Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration (samhsa.gov) – a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provides information about mental illness and substance use.

Websites for local organizations who help those who struggle with addiction - The Center for Prevention and Counseling offers many programs for those in addiction recovery and family members who seek to support them. Their website is: https://centerforprevention.org/. The Hope and Serenity Recovery Community Center recently opened in Sparta and also offers many services for those in addiction recovery and those seeking help to improve mental health wellness. Their website is hasrcc.org.

Website for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (dbsalliance.org) – a national organization dedicated to helping individuals living with mood disorders. This website offers information about diagnoses, treatment options, peer support, support for friends and family and a tool to help find local support groups                                                           

Website for the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (bbrfoundation.org) – The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation is a global nonprofit organization that aims to improve the understanding, prevention and treatment of psychiatric and mental illnesses. This foundation awards grants for important research. They have a monthly series called “Meet the Scientist” webinars that are often featured in this newsletter. They also provide a venue for recent research findings and you can find links to videos about various topics, called the Healthy Minds series.

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