JFCS Spotlight - May 2023

According to the American Psychiatric Association, nearly half of the people who have mental illness do not receive help. When you break a bone, when you need stitches, when you have a tooth ache - what do you do? You go to the doctor. So why, when it comes to mental health, does there seem to be the complete opposite instinct? We don't rush to find solutions; instead, we keep our emotional pain hidden inside. The truth is that the stigma associated with mental health issues often prevents people from getting the help they need.

The stigma consists of 3 levels of shame. There is internal shame; you feel you are not good enough to deserve better. There is public shame; you won't be accepted by your friends and peers. And there is institutional shame; organizations have policies that work against you (e.g. a mental health provider that doesn't accept your insurance). When a person has these 3 levels of shame bearing down on them, it is no wonder that 50% of people do not seek mental health treatment.

At JFCS, we are working hard to stop the stigma. We pair a high quality of service with our policy of not turning anyone away because of an inability to pay. While many avoid getting help because their insurance doesn't adequately cover mental health treatment or their therapist doesn't even accept insurance, we make sure to offer an affordable and convenient psychotherapeutic option. Whether they have insurance or not, everyone is made to feel welcome.

An example of the environment we create is reflected in the feedback we received from a client who came to us for mental health support: "Our family suffered a catastrophic trauma and JFCS provided psychotherapy and caring support to us. JFCS is a compassionate organization, with caring professionals. They have been a beacon of hope for us and have embraced our family and supported us through the loss of a loved one."

This is the type of environment that JFCS provides - a place where all are welcome, all are poised to help, and where stigmas do not exist. At JFCSNNJ you and/or your loved one(s) will receive the highest quality mental health treatment in a warm environment that can be life changing.

Yes, there is still a long road ahead to truly stop the stigma, but at JFCS, we are on the way.

Dear JFCS family,

Happy Spring to You All!

This may be an overly light-hearted greeting considering the topic at hand -stigma and mental illness - but at JFCS, we address all of life’s challenges in an upbeat, positive and, ultimately, healing way. Everybody on our JFCS team is highly trained, exceedingly competent, and totally committed to helping with the goal of an improved quality of life, freedom, and joy. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but for us and our clients, every month is the month that our team of psychotherapists and social workers devote themselves to the children and adults who need them.

Of course, post pandemic, the mental health landscape feels different. All of us are experiencing our lives and our environment somewhat differently. We all hear about heightened anxiety in children, and many of us still feel somewhat isolated even though we are free to go out, to socialize, to re-connect. The rather tumultuous economy creates stress among most of us and many are just not engaged with the news anymore because it feels “healthier” not to.

So, every pillar at JFCS is dedicated to helping people address the many challenges that life sends our way, but the unifying theme is that we want everyone in our community to live the best life they possibly can. Most of us have always been conscious of our physical health and we work hard to maintain it. To really eliminate the stigma of mental illness and emotional vulnerability we can all begin to focus on and value our own mental health while recognizing when we may need a little help. Each of us “needing a little help” at some time teaches us to be tolerant of anyone who needs help any time.

Happy Shavuot!

Susan