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Sussex County Unveils a New Video Directory of Mental Health Resources

Release Date: September 24, 2020
The ongoing pandemic has certainly affected some families' overall mental health. Looking for help to improve one's mental health may be challenging in rural communities such as Sussex County. However, the Sussex County Division of Community and Youth Services is pleased to introduce a new video directory of agencies and services provided for mental and behavioral health for children and adults. This tool can be used to obtain more information about available services.

thumbnails of mental health videos

The pandemic has affected everyone in one way or another. Some families have been affected in multiple ways ranging from physical health to mental health and more. Already, according to Census Bureau data, a third of Americans are feeling severe anxiety and nearly a quarter have symptoms of depression. According to a recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the pandemic has negatively affected the mental health of over half of U.S. adults. Texts to a federal emergency mental-health line in April were up 1,000 percent from the previous year (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/07/coronavirus-special-mental-health-disaster/613510/).

In a rural community like Sussex County, where can someone go when they recognize that they or a loved one needs help with their mental health? Sometimes finding the answer to that question alone can be challenging.

The Sussex County Division of Community and Youth Services is pleased to introduce a new video directory of agencies and the services they provide for mental and behavioral health for children and adults. This directory also links to the agency’s website for more information and the phone number to call to access services. Many agencies are currently using tele-mental health in order to follow CDC guidelines to keep people as safe as possible while still providing services. If transportation is a concern, it is now even easier to access care. The directory of videos and list of services can be found at https://sussex.nj.us/mentalhealth.

Sussex County continues to encourage everyone to know the Five Signs of good mental health and be aware of the Campaign to Change Direction.

The goal of the Change Direction Campaign is to educate the community on knowing the Five Signs that might mean you or someone you know needs assistance and to normalize the conversation so that people are as comfortable talking about mental health as they are about physical health. Considering statistics that suggest as many as one in four individuals will experience a mental health event at some time in their life, we all need to know the Five Signs, how to offer help and where to get help.

The Five Signs are:

  • Personality Change: Sudden or gradual changes in the way someone typically behaves.
  • Agitation: When someone seems uncharacteristically angry, anxious, agitated or moody.
  • Withdrawal: When someone becomes withdrawn or isolated from other people, pulling away from family and friends.
  • Poor Self-Care: When someone stops taking care of themselves and may engage in risky behavior.
  • Hopelessness: When someone seems overcome with hopelessness and overwhelmed by their circumstances.

If you are interested in learning more about this campaign, you can obtain more information at www.sussex.nj.us/changedirection or by calling Cindy Armstrong, Mental Health Administrator, at 973-940-5200, ext. 1371.