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If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and are thinking of hurting yourself or someone else, call the mental health crisis line by dialing 9-8-8 or go to the nearest emergency room

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FAQ

It can be overwhelming to figure out where to start, but we are here to help 

Frequently Asked Questions

The short answer is YES! On average, 1 out of 4 people in the United States has a mental illness that goes untreated each year. The fact of the matter is, everyone experiences some battle with low moods, hyperfixations, or anxiety. 

From time to time everyone can use some external support. There are so many ways to receive support and guidance on your mental health. Typically, if you are experiencing negative feelings or thoughts it is always appropriate to reach out for help. 

The best thing you can do for a friend is be there to support them. Mental health issues can be very isolating and lonely, so knowing someone is there can make a huge difference. 

That being said, it is important to make sure you are also taking care of yourself. You can not “fix them”  or save them from what is happening. Supporting someone with their mental health challenges can be emotionally exhausting. When the people we care about are hurting, that can be incredibly stressful and take a toll on our own mental health. That doesn’t mean you should ignore their pain. It just means you have to be mindful of your own self-care.

Second hand exposure to trauma is called vicarious trauma. As we empathize and help people who are hurting and experiencing mental health struggles, if we aren’t taking care of ourselves, we can start to experience the same struggles. If you continue to experience vicarious trauma without taking a step back and practicing self-care, that could lead to compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue is when you become so overwhelmed with someone else’s emotions that you just stop caring and become numb to other people’s suffering.

Taking care of yourself is the best way to make sure you can be effective at supporting the people you care about.

Anyone who is willing to listen. This can include but is not limited to: parents, family, friends, teachers, counselors, coaches, employers, religious community members, mental health professionals, peer support specialists, crisis response workers, mental health first aiders, ect. 

That is ok too! Please see the list above and identify one person you can talk to about what you are experiencing. If you cannot identify with anyone, you can always call the warm line for support. Peer Recovery Warmline 1-877-292-5588

Professional help is when you seek support from a mental health professional. This can look like mental health counseling sessions, intensive outpatient counseling, group counseling, medication management, substance recovery support

Yes. You can always access some kind of help, but if you are under 18 it might be a bit harder to get help with out them finding out. Learn more below:

How can I get help without my family knowing?

Sometimes professional help is not appropriate or needed for you all of the time. Different cultures have different ways of dealing with mental distress.  That’s okay too! Here are some other people who can help you. Peer support specialists, Sponsors, Mentors, Coaches, and Holistic Healers. 

Mental health is a combination of a ton of different factors. Things like your genetics, family history, culture, and social support can all affect your mental health. There is not one reason why you might be experiencing mental distress. 

Everything you are doing to survive is a coping mechanism, but some of them are healthier than others. Good or healthy coping skills are things that support your mental well-being in the long term. Unhealthy coping skills usually feel good in the moment, but are not so great in the long term. For example, it might feel good in the moment to eat a tub of ice cream when you are having a bad day, but in the long term, that tub of ice cream can impact your health in numerous ways and crash your mood even further. 

Check out self help resources for some great coping skills! 

About

Hopeworks, is proud to have developed a this youth-focused website with the support of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon) to help young adults find relevant mental health resources

The project, which began in January 2022 after Hopeworks received a $20,000 grant through Horizon’s philanthropic arm, the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, was inspired by the isolation, anxiety, and the many other mental health concerns and needs among youth brought about by the global COVID-19 pandemic and other current events in the United States over the past few years.

This website, which was built by the young professionals training at Hopeworks, is a user-friendly tool that combines Horizon’s already strong resources with statewide resources from the Chaffee Workgroup, the office of First Lady Tammy Murphy, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and state directories. Leveraging these sources and support from Horizon Behavioral Health Team as advisors, Hopeworks created a hub that meets the critical mental health needs of young adults.