Spring Reflections, Summer Connections

Feels like the months are flying by! How is it summer already?! 

The days are getting a lot hotter, longer, and before we know it, we’ll all be searching for the nearest pool, stocking up on popsicles, and trying to remember to reapply sunscreen throughout the day. (I’m working on it...)

The NJ Self-Help Clearinghouse team wishes you a breezy summer filled with opportunities to relax, spend time with loved ones, and enjoy some delicious food from the grill along the way! 🏊🌭

For those of you with children (or grandchildren, or siblings, or nieces and nephews!) home from school, we hope you’re settling into your summer routines. I spend my workdays responding to support group requests… and I have a feeling my evenings are about to turn into nonstop requests from my nieces instead—and I’m looking forward to it!

June is also Pride Month, Men’s Mental Health Month, and PTSD Awareness Month, each highlighting important experiences, identities, and areas of awareness. We’ll briefly touch on each, along with an acknowledgment of other important awareness efforts throughout the month. That being said, we’ll primarily focus on the work happening across the NJ Self-Help Clearinghouse this quarter—and the updates, outreach, trainings, and highlights that have shaped the past few months!

If you’ve been keeping up with the SHCH, you’ll know we’ve had an especially busy quarter! Okay, maybe I say that every quarter, but I swear this quarter was even busier than the last! While we continued delivering trainings, responding to support group requests, updating our database, and doing our best to make sure people know we exist, we also expanded our work in a number of areas.



So, what have we been up to lately? Let’s take a look at support group requests, trainings and workshops, community outreach, highlights and recognitions, and what’s coming next.

Support Group Requests:



·      We answered over 130 support group requests! Requests for mental health and grief support groups continue to top the list of types of requests that we receive.

·      Middlesex County sent in the highest number of requests this quarter, with Monmouth County following closely behind 🏆. Last quarter, Bergen County led by a significant margin, highlighting a shift in where requests are coming from across the state.

·      We received the least number of requests from Atlantic, Hunterdon, and Warren County. We take this as a sign to further promote our services and strengthen outreach efforts in these areas moving forward.

·      We also received 5 student requests from individuals seeking to observe support groups as part of academic assignments. 🧑‍🎓

·      Unique requests this quarter included support for adoptees, spiritual and faith-based mental health support groups, homeschoolers, gardening/nature as a wellness tool, shopping addiction, and estrangement—just to name a few!

·      We’ve seen an increase in individuals directly contacting SHCH staff after being referred to by others, reflecting the value of word-of-mouth. If you've told others about us, thank you!

Thanks to our community members, we've been receiving ongoing updates and additions to our support group database, helping us keep resources current. We especially would like to shout out the Archdiocese of Newark and the Centers for Independent Living for continuously sending updates!

Community Outreach:



Building connections within the community continues to be one of our favorite parts of what we do. If it was possible to attend every community event that comes our way, we’d do it in a heartbeat!

·      Bombers Beyond Resource Fair: Megan M. represented the SHCH as a vendor at the 2nd Annual Bombers Beyond Resource Fair in Sayreville. Hosted by Bombers Beyond—an 18–21 transitional program through the Sayreville School District that provides job training and life skills through its public café and apartment—the event brought together families, educators, and community organizations to share valuable local and statewide resources. Thank you to the Bombers Beyond team for inviting us to be part of such a welcoming and close-knit community event! (The iced coffee I purchased from the café was delicious! 10/10, would recommend. You could even see it in the photo!) (shown below)



·      NAMI NJ 2026 Annual Conference: Kelly U. and Megan M. had the incredible opportunity to present at the NAMI NJ 2026 Annual Conference at the Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center! They presented on the importance of peer-led support groups in our workshop, “From Isolation to Empowerment: How Peer-Led Self-Help Groups Advance Healing Across New Jersey.” They loved connecting with mental health professionals, peers, advocates, and community members from across the state! As a fun little bonus, the conference also happened to fall on Megan's birthday—definitely a birthday to remember! 🎂(For those of you that attended the workshop, thank you for supporting the SHCH! We definitely saw some familiar faces 😊) (shown below) 

If you have events coming up and would like speakers or vendors, let us know! Email us at njgroups@mhanj.org.

Highlights & Recognition:



This quarter also included several exciting milestones worth celebrating. We’re incredibly proud of our team—including Consumer Connections—and wanted to share some of the accomplishments and recent achievements.

·      Eve Ellsworth, Consumer Connections’ Peer Workforce Coordinator, participated in a 3-day intensive training in Dupont, Washington to complete her WRAP® Advanced Level Facilitator (ALF) recertification. She trained with a wonderful group of both new and recertifying ALFs. Already an amazing facilitator, we are excited to have Eve bring a fresh perspective and renewed energy to our WRAP® trainings! (shown below)

·      Kelly U., Assistant Director of Education and Outreach, was honored with the New Jersey Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (NJPRA) Educator Recognition Award at this year’s NJPRA Spring Conference. Kelly’s leadership and passion for education continues to make an impact, and all the work she does to keep the community informed and skilled does not go unnoticed! (shown below)

·      Chrissy Schayer, Director of Consumer Connections, and Kelly U. traveled to Seaside, Oregon to present at this year’s Peerpocalypse Conference. Their workshop, Boundaries, Burnout Prevention, and Everyday WRAP® For the Peer Workforce, explored practical, peer-centered strategies for maintaining wellness while supporting others, and included discussions of how WRAP® can help. Together, they presented to more than 100 peer professionals and community members from far and wide. What an audience! (shown below)

Here are additional webinars to consider, as part of Consumer Connections’ Wednesday Webinars:

·      NJ Self-Help Group Clearinghouse Overview ( July 8 | 10am-12pm) This workshop will explore the services and supports available from the NJ Self-Help Group Clearinghouse.

·      Understanding the New Jersey Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD) (September 2 | 10am-12pm) In this informative session, participants will gain a comprehensive overview of Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs) as they relate to New Jersey law. PADs are powerful self-advocacy tools that allow individuals to outline their preferences for mental health treatment in the event of a crisis when they may be unable to make decisions. This session is designed for individuals, families, healthcare providers, and anyone interested in learning how PADs can enhance self-determination during mental health emergencies.

Click on the button below to reserve a spot on Consumer Connections' Eventbrite page!

Let’s take a closer look at what June is all about:

• Pride Month - Happy Pride! Pride Month celebrates LGBTQIA+ identities, histories, and resilience, and recognizes the importance of visibility, affirmation, and belonging. It is a reminder of why the work we do remains so important today, as many individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community continue to face discrimination, stigma, rejection, and disproportionate mental health challenges, along with barriers to care and support.

• While Pride Month may come to a close, our commitment to supporting members of the LGBTQIA+ community continues year-round. We remain committed to showing up as allies and helping raise awareness of the support groups and resources available.



• For a detailed list of support groups and related resources throughout NJ, we recommend taking a look at Garden State Equality's resource list!: https://www.gardenstateequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/County-Resource-List.pdf

• Men’s Mental Health Month - Men’s Mental Health Month is an important time to recognize the emotional well-being of men and the unique challenges they face when it comes to seeking support. While conversations around mental health have grown in recent years, conversations about mental health can still feel difficult for many men, as it is shaped by societal expectations around strength, responsibility, and emotional restraint.

• If you identify as a man and you’re reading this, your mental health absolutely matters. It can take time to unlearn the idea that you have to hold everything in, and even more time to feel comfortable opening up and expressing what you’re going through.

• In January, NAMI NJ announced the launch of "Men Talk," which is an initiative designed to engage men in open conversations about mental health. Check it out here: https://naminj.org/nami-nj-launches-men-talk-initiative/



• Broreavement is a brotherhood for men and boys, especially men of color, where they can heal from grief and build healthy coping skills. Events and opportunities include, but are not limited to, fishing, anger management and self-defense classes, and gardening: https://broreavement.org/

• PTSD Awareness Month - PTSD Awareness Month highlights the impact of trauma and the many ways it can show up in people’s lives. It brings attention to the reality that people are not alone in what they’ve been through, and that these experiences are often deeply personal and not always easy to talk about. We recognize PTSD because trauma can affect anyone, and its effects can appear in different ways—sometimes long after the event itself. However it shows up, it can shape how someone feels, connects, and moves through daily life.

• This month also reminds us of the importance of continued awareness and connection, and the value of expanding access to spaces where people can talk about these traumatic experiences freely and safely.

• Pay What You Can Peer Support is a non-profit organization born out of a desire to have low barrier mental support available to whomever needs it. PWYCPS offers online, peer support groups that span a broad variety of topics, from specific diagnoses to more general issues that people often struggle with, including PTSD & trauma: https://www.paywhatyoucanpeersupport.com/

• Warrior Talk is a virtual support group for veterans, active military, and first responders. The group is hosted on Zoom weekly. The group was created by first responders who recognized the importance of having a platform to share stressors (related to work/service, current events, and personal life) and find practical ways to deal with them: https://www.rachelkorenblitlcsw.com/warrior-talk



• CPTSD Foundation offers a safe virtual support group called, CPTSD Community Safe Group, as well as other groups you can access with a monthly fee. They have been offering a safe group for survivors of trauma since 2014: https://cptsdfoundation.org/safe-support-groups/

We also want to take a moment to acknowledge a few other important observances from June:

Juneteenth

• Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is a time to reflect on freedom, history, and the ongoing work toward equity and justice. Juneteenth is an opportunity for people in this country to recognize the history and contributions of the Black experience in the United States.

Memorial Day

• Honoring our fallen heroes not only means remembering those we have lost, but also supporting those who are still with us, and taking care of ourselves as the heavier emotions persist past the long memorial weekend. It is a time to grieve, check in with veterans, active service members, their families and loved ones, and yourself.

As we move into July, we also recognize an upcoming moment of reflection and celebration:



• On July 4, 2026, the United States marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. A milestone like this only comes around once, making it a unique opportunity to reflect on our nation's history, recognize the many people and events that have shaped it, and consider how the past continues to influence our communities today. Looking back at history allows us to better understand where we've come from, and it encourages us to think about the role each of us plays in writing the next chapter. The SHCH team hopes you have a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July! 🎇

That's a WRAP! We hope you're able to enjoy the rest of your summer, spend time with the people who matter most, and maybe even squeeze in a vacation or weekend getaway.

But don’t worry, we're here all summer long! If you're looking for a support group or interested in starting one, don't hesitate to reach out.

Stay cool 😎- Megan M.

Here are a few flyers that have come our way! If we missed yours—no worries! Outside of newsletters and support group requests, we're doing our best to get your support groups known using social media :)

*Click on each flyer to see their website or send them an email!*