September is National Suicide Prevention Month. This is a time to remember those who have been lost to suicide, those who struggle with thoughts of suicide, and those whose lives have been impacted by loss of a loved one to suicide. Millions of Americans struggle with mental health issues; if you’re one of them, you aren’t alone. There’s no shame in asking for help. Listed below are some resources at national, state, and community levels you can reach out to if you need someone to listen and provide assistance.
National Resources
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. Call or text 988.
- Crisis Text Line – Provides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need. Text HOME to 741741.
- FindTreatment.gov – A confidential and anonymous resource for persons seeking treatment for mental and substance use disorders in the United States and its territories.
- The Trevor Project – Provides 24/7 information and support to young people who are LGBT or part of other sexual orientation and gender identity minority groups. Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678.
New Jersey Resources
- 2NDFLOOR – A confidential and anonymous 24/7 helpline for New Jersey’s youth and young adults between the ages of 10 and 24 to help find solutions to the problems they face at home, at school or at play. Call or text 888-222-2228.
- NJ Connect for Recovery Call Line – Focuses on helping people who are experiencing distress related to the substance use disorder of a family member or friend. This service is a safe, confidential, nonjudgmental forum that New Jerseyans may call for emotional support, information and referral regarding their loved one’s substance use. Call 855-652-3737 from 8am-8pm on weekdays, 10am-4pm on weekends.
- NJMentalHealthCares – New Jersey’s behavioral health information and referral service that provides free, confidential emotional support, information and referral. It offers callers information and connects them to the behavioral health and other services they need, such as legal, housing, employment, rehabilitation, inpatient and outpatient, self-help and more. The trained staff also provide supportive counseling, psycho-education, advocacy and telephone case management to ensure every caller is linked to their desired service plan. Call 866-202-4357 from 8am-8pm daily.
- The Peer Recovery WarmLine (PRW) – A peer-run service providing ongoing telephone support to people in recovery from mental illness. All calls are answered by peers who are trained, supportive people with lived experience with mental health disorder. Call 877-292-5588 from 8am-10pm on weekdays, 5pm-10pm on weekends.
- ReachNJ – A 24/7 central call-in-line for New Jersey residents who are looking for help to overcome a substance use disorder. Each call is answered by a trained specialist who will provide the caller with a referral to a local treatment provider or other supportive services. Callers are connected to help regardless of their insurance or ability to pay. Call 1-844-732-2465.
Somerset County Resources
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Somerset NJ – A nonprofit organization that provides support, education, and advocacy throughout the Somerset County area on behalf of individuals and families affected by mental illness. It is a New Jersey Affiliate of NAMI, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
- Richard Hall Community Health & Wellness Center – An inclusive and affirming behavioral health organization that provides a safe and nurturing environment to promote an individual’s right to self-determination and a healthy mind and body. Services include a 24/7 mobile crisis team, immediate screening and risk assessment, easy access to care, tailored care for active-duty military and veterans, and expanded care coordination and case management. Located at 500 North Bridge Street, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. Call 908-725-2800.
- Somerset County Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (PESS) – Rapid mobile outreach focused on early intervention, least restrictive crisis intervention and hospital diversion, available to all those in Somerset County experiencing acute psychiatric distress. Call 908-526-4100.
