We provide an easy to complete, 8-hour training that empowers New Jersey communities to support people dealing with mental illness and addiction. In late spring 2015, the Mental Health Association in New Jersey began a project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Its aim - to bring together the diverse providers of Mental Health First Aid throughout the state to expand the delivery
of high-quality training to:
•Strengthen New Jersey communities’ understanding of the significant role of behavioral health in overall health and wellness;
•Build awareness of available supports and services; and
•Address the barriers that often prevent people from getting the care they need, among them stigma and lack of knowledge. To meet these goals, a coalition of 15 stakeholders was formed under the banner of “Mental Health First Aid for New Jersey.” The group includes behavioral health providers, community health gatekeepers and statewide prevention organizations, as well as Mental Health Association affiliates that cover eleven New Jersey counties. With the active support, involvement and encouragement of the RWJF and the National Council for Behavioral Health, which operates Mental Health First Aid in the U.S., the stakeholder group has created an innovative strategy for achieving the expansion of Mental Health First Aid in New Jersey.
