Elections are about more than parties and politics — elections are about mental health. Your vote matters for people affected by mental health conditions. Learn more, spread the word and take the pledge to #Vote4MentalHealth at

 www.vote4mentalhealth.org.

Date: Thursday, November 3rd, 2022

Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. ET

Date: Thursday, November 3rd, 2022

Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. ET

Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS) of Middlesex County

Artmaking delivers many health benefits. It is therapeutic because it allows the mind to focus on the images at hand and on nothing else. Please don’t miss this opportunity for self-care! Please call IFSS at 732-235-6184 to register no later than Tuesday, Nov 1, 2022.

988: Reimagining Crisis Response

From the New Jersey Department of Children and Families 

BOOKLET FOR NEWCOMERS TO NEW JERSEY

The Office of New Americans has developed a Welcome Booklet for Newcomers to support information, referral and navigation of key services and resources available to newly arrived immigrants. This tool is especially important as we welcome an increase number of newcomers in New Jersey communities. The booklet provides an outline of the immediate services- from legal supports, food assistance and healthcare - that can assist newly arrived immigrants to New Jersey. The booklet available online HERE also has direct links to websites including additional program and contact information.

Welcome Booklet Flyer and Booklet: Welcome to New Jersey

SAMHAJ would like to share a summary with you on some of the events from the past month. Here is what we accomplished in October:

SUPPPORT GROUPS: Thanks to our wonderful facilitators we were able to successfully host our peer connections and family support groups on the first Thursday of the month October 6th, 2022.

NAMIWalks NJ 2022: Thanks to wonderful volunteers and NAMI NJ SAMHAJ family we were able to reach many individuals and families through NAMIWalks NJ. Our SAMHAJ families participated in NAMIWalks NJ 2022 in both the locations and SAMHAJ team raised $500+ this year. Thank you to all the donors and virtual and in person walkers. Online donation is still open Team SAMHAJ and appreciate all the support.

ANNUAL EMOTIONAL WELLNESS FAIR: Thanks to Cornerstone counseling center for giving NAMI NJ SAMHAJ an opportunity to table and spread mental health awareness at their annual emotional wellness fair on October 23rd. Thanks to SAMHAJ volunteer Zulekha for participating in the outreach and helping SAMHAJ spread the awareness about mental health. There were about 100 attendees.

AASJ 5K: Thanks to AAASJ for giving NAMI NJ's both Asian multicultural programs CAMHOP & SAMHAJ to table and talk about our programs at their 5K mental health awareness event on October 23rd. Thanks to Sesha and Saket Bolisetty for representing SAMHAJ.

Teenage depression is a topic that has come to the forefront during COVID-19. It is particularly prevalent among South Asians as depression is considered a taboo by most parents. They will try their best to hide it or ignore it hoping that it's part of teenage hormones and it will go away. The underlying fear is how society will judge them if they find that their kids have mental illness. Log Kyaa Kahenge is the most often used sentence. 

AnGsT is a story about the journey of a teenager going through depression and the impact that it has on a middle-class immigrant family. The story also explores how South Asian parents undermine the importance of mental health and put undue pressure on their kids to perform well in academics to maintain their status in society. The movie will be released in early 2023 via OTT platform. The updates about the story can be found via their Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/movieangst/ 

A Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD) is a written legal document that expresses an individual's preference about their mental health care during a personal mental health crisis. This document has information about what type of treatments, services and other supports the individual wishes or do not wish to have.

CRISIS HOTLINES

The New Jersey Hope and Healing Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) is provided by NJ provider agencies in collaboration with the NJ Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS).

Visit the DMHAS webpage for a list of agencies providing county-based services, including those for special populations.

At the option- Feel free to let us know why you are passionate about our cause! Please mention you would like to designate your contribution to SAMHAJ program. Thank you!