(GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ) – Each May, the Board of Directors celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month to reinforce and expand on this important topic that impacts the health and well-being of our residents. Established in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month is a national campaign to educate people about the important role mental health plays in overall well-being.
Mental and behavioral health conditions can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, or income level. Recent data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that the United States is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. Nearly 1 in 5 women experienced anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions in the last year.
“Mental health is so important, but it's often left out of the conversation when it comes to caring for ourselves,” said Secretary Virginia Betteridge. “You can't be healthy if you don't take care of your mental health. Throughout this month, we want to highlight the resources available to those struggling with their mental health.”
The main event of Mental Health Awareness Month here in Camden County is our annual Mental Health Walk. The event shows solidarity with people affected by mental health issues and will be held at Wiggins Park in Camden on May 18th at 10am.
In 2023, the county expanded its mental health services thanks to state opioid litigation settlement funds. These efforts include:
- Post-crisis follow-up case management services after the patient is discharged from the hospital.
- We provide free access to qualified clinical mental health professionals for school-age children who have been suspended/expelled from school due to mental health/behavioral issues. They will have proper access to mental health clearance assessments in order to return to school.
- Social, recreational, and support group services for boarding house residents
- In conjunction with the Camden County District Court's Project SAVE program, we are implementing a mental health navigator. Project SAVE is a program established in 2018 to focus on early intervention by certified social service professionals in the municipal court system to combat the scourge of substance use disorders. These navigators will be derived from programs with specific mental health components that present the challenges of both mental illness and opioid use disorder at the same time.
Another purpose of Mental Health Awareness Month is to break down the stigma around mental health conditions and make it easier and normalized to seek help.
“Unfortunately, talking about mental health remains quite difficult for many people,” Betteridge continued. “There is an element of shame and embarrassment attached to this topic when it shouldn’t be, so this month we should be laudable for starting conversations about mental health and making it a priority. I want to emphasize that there is nothing to be ashamed of.”
Residents seeking help can contact the Camden County Department of Mental Health and Addictions at (856) 374-6361 or visit the website camdencounty.com. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also has a treatment search site available at this link. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 for help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
