Winter 2023
IN THE NEWS:
A Unique Combination of Performing Arts
and Mental Health Awareness
Purple Swans Corp. Features MHANJ and
Mental Health Awareness Messaging
in Dance Performance/Fundraiser
 
A dance performance affords a wonderful opportunity for people from all walks of life to gather and enjoy a beautiful cultural event. It isn't often that a show like this includes a special focus on mental health awareness. Thanks to the Purple Swans Corporation, the 1000-plus audience members got the message! The Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ) was honored to be featured and also to be declared the benefactor of their November 2022 performance entitled, Dancing into the Dawn, shown at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown. This impressive production integrated indigenous Chinese dances and music with popular American genres. The audience experienced the grand celebration while also supporting mental health awareness. The November event marked the Purple Swan's second performance collaborating with the Mental Health Association in New Jersey to raise funds and awareness for mental health. Click here to read more.
Valentine's Day is Coming!
Honor or Remember a Loved One and Support MHANJ at the Same Time!
Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world, with candy, flowers and gifts exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. However, the true identity of St. Valentine has remained shrouded in confusion for centuries. Some historians maintain the origin is from the ancient Roman ritual of Lupercalia - a pagan fertility festival dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture. Either way, the MHANJ is offering a wonderful opportunity to express your feelings to a loved one while supporting mental health!
Here's how it works?
Simply click the link to participate on the left below the graphic, fill in the form completely and make a one-time or recurring donation of at least $5. Use our new, user-friendly format to send a personalized e-card directly to the recipient you would like to honor, or to a loved one of the person you are remembering.

Click "yes" to opt in to include you and your designee's name in an e-blast and on MHANJ's social media on or before February 14, 2023.

Your donation makes a difference!
All donations will support the mission of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey: to strive for children and adults to achieve victory over mental health and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training and services.

Questions? 
Call 973-571-4100, ext. 123.
Spotlight on Call Center:
Just a Phone Call Away
Representative members of MHANJ's Call Center team are pictured above.

How We Make a Difference:

NJ MentalHealthCares helps people who don't know where else to turn.

The Peer Recovery WarmLine supports people in their community.

NJ Connect for Recovery helps to open up lines of communication with loved ones.

Self-Help Group Clearinghouse helps people find or run a support group on a variety of topics.

988 connects individuals with a trained crisis counselor who can help.

The MHANJ's Call Center serves as a hub for support and resources for individuals and family members regarding mental health and substance use conditions. Feedback from callers indicates the important impact the Call Center has on our friends and neighbors; not to mention the sheer volume of calls, which has drastically increased over the last few years. Click here to read more and for a directory of the call lines.
Invisible Pain Day Brings Healing
Representing MHANJ at Invisible Pain Day: Parantap Pandya, top photo; Mercedes Gomez and Joyce Benz releasing bubbles, bottom photo.
The MHANJ's Union County Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS) team was in attendance at the Invisible Pain Day on January 7th in Sayreville. Sponsored by The Darren Clark Jr. Memorial and NAMI NJ, this is an annual event for those who have lost a loved one to mental distress and suicide. On this special day, members of the community gather to encourage and support one another and to ensure that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need.

The MHANJ was honored to be one of several organizations invited to participate. Information on our programs was provided to the attendees. "One of the objectives of this event is to acknowledge their loved one's pain and to talk about it, not staying silent due to stigma, shame or fear," said Joyce Benz, LCSW, Union County IFSS Program Director. "The gathering brings awareness to mental illness and reminds the world that loved ones may be gone, but they will never be forgotten."

One healing gesture of the day is the release of bubbles sent up to heaven to signify, “We haven’t forgotten you. We love and remember you.”

The MHANJ provides Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide prevention gatekeeper training. For more information, contact Jaime Angelini, MA, DRCC, AMTP, Statewide Director of Disaster Services and Special Projects, at jangelini@mhanj.org.
MHANJ's Bulletin Board
(Right click on the image to open in a new tab and enlarge.)
Flyers below
Follow MHANJ's Social Media for Updates and Inspiration
Suggestions?
If you have any suggestions on how the MHANJ can serve the community,
or comments on our services please send them to info@mhanj.org.
Mental Health Association in New Jersey | 800-367-8850 | info@mhanj.org