The Story of Our Symbol: 
The Mental Health Bell 
“Cast from shackles which bound them, this bell shall ring out hope for the mentally ill and victory over mental illness.” —Inscription on Mental Health Bell

With enormous gratitude and pride we would like to acknowledge our counselors, staff, partners, leaders, volunteers and everyone who supported the New Jersey Hope and Healing (NJHH) program. We appreciate all of the dedicated work, heartfelt caring, and incredible amount of time and energy that they so freely poured into this vast effort across our state. Although the program officially ended on February 14, 2014, NJHH leaves a legacy of hope and life-changing difference for survivors of Superstorm Sandy.

Superstorm Sandy brought many challenges to all levels of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ). We focused our efforts by taking a leadership role as a partner in New Jersey Hope and Healing, the state-wide program involving the deployment of teams of crisis counselors in the disaster-declared counties of New Jersey. This program was sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Disaster and Terrorism Branch, through a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) grant. We also operated the state’s New Jersey Disaster Mental Health Helpline which provided critical information and support to survivors of the storm.

At the peak of NJHH, MHANJ hired, trained and supervised over 150 on-the-ground crisis counselors who spent much of their time canvassing the streets and working with community partners to seek out and assist those in need. MHANJ’s Call Center increased its hours and trained and added staff. Our entire agency was engrossed in this response, doing everything we could to provide emotional support to survivors and link them to the services that they needed.

The efforts paid off in many ways. MHANJ’s NJHH staff facilitated over 200,000 encounters and opened up discussions with community gatekeepers. In addition to helping individuals the program made connections and inroads that have reduced the stigma of mental illness in many communities.

Next Steps

The toll-free New Jersey Disaster Mental Health Helpline remains active. The number is 877-294-HELP (4357) (TTY 877-294-4356). This service was widely promoted as a key point of entry to the program.

MHANJ is also serving as the gateway to additional mental health and substance use disorder services available to Sandy Survivors with Social Services Block Grant funding from the New Jersey Department of Human Services. The number to call for more information is 866-202-HELP (4357) (TTY 877-294-4356). This is also the number for New Jersey MentalHealthCares, the established state-wide resource for information and referrals for mental health and substance abuse problems.

We encourage everyone who followed NJHH’s Facebook page to follow the Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s Facebook page for continuous updates and information.

The MHANJ is committed to continuing our role in providing behavioral health solutions and in building the mental health resilience of New Jersey residents.

The Mental Health Association in Atlantic County has five (5) certified Mental Health First Aid instructors on board to begin training our community members Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). MHFA is an international program proven to be effective. Peer-reviewed studies published in Australia, where the program originated, show that individuals trained in the program:

• Grow their knowledge of signs, symptoms and risk factors of mental illnesses and addictions.
• Can identify multiple types of professional and self-help resources for individuals with a mental illness or addiction.
• Increase their confidence in and likelihood to help an individual in distress.
• Show increased mental wellness themselves.

Studies also show that the program reduces the social distance created by negative attitudes and perceptions of individuals with mental illnesses. A list of all Mental Health First Aid studies and academic reviews from around the world is available here.

Mental Health First Aid USA is listed in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices. NREPP is a searchable database of mental health and substance abuse interventions to help the public find programs and practices that may best meet their needs and learn how to implement them in their communities. All interventions in the registry have been independently assessed and rated for quality of research and readiness for dissemination. Read the summary for Mental Health First Aid.

The map below shows a state-by-state breakdown of the total number of individuals trained in Mental Health First Aid and instructors (in parentheses).

R-POST (Recovery Peer Outreach Support Team) works to ensure that individuals and families who were affected by Superstorm Sandy are supported and linked to services. The case manager’s work is accomplished through outreach into the community to engage survivors and link them with resources specific to their needs. The program is designed to assist vulnerable populations inclusive of; seniors, individuals who have physical, mental, and developmental disabilities, single family households, individuals where a language barrier is present and individuals who feel alone.

Through grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & the American Red Cross, MHANJ has adapted the POST (Peer Outreach Support Team) Program to aid in case management during times of disaster with the formation of R-POST. Every survivor’s journey is different; R-POST hopes to make the process of recovery less trying. Recovery and healing take time, and thanks to the grantors,   R-POST will be available to assist survivors through the entire process.   

If you or someone you know is having difficulty with their recovery from Sandy please call the R-POST teams at 652-3800 ext 318.