News

December 21, 2021 While the holiday season is a joyful time for many people, especially for those who are able to reunite with friends and family after long separations due to the pandemic, this is unfortunately not the case for many other individuals. Traveling to see loved ones is s...

Children and adults throughout New Jersey represent every ethnicity, race, language, culture, gender identity and religion, and many of them have mental health and/or substance use disorders (SUD). However, many do not have access to community-based services that have been proven to be hi...

December 28, 2021 "Democrats are hoping to pass President Joe Biden's $1.7 trillion social spending agenda after setbacks in December pushed negotiations into 2022. Lawmakers are also expected to turn their focus to issues such as telehealth and mental health, which have broad support...

It is meaningful that World Social Work Day was on St. Patrick's Day this year as the entire world is extremely fortunate to have support from social workers. Social workers have always played a vital role in enabling individuals of all ages to cope with challenging situations, rangin...

Just a few weeks after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, the citizens of Haiti are facing much more devastation from an earthquake that claimed the lives of nearly 1,300 individuals, seriously injured at least 5,700 people and left thousands more displaced due to total destru...

Across New Jersey, a mental health crisis is brewing with potentially dire consequences. On the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for mental health services has increased exponentially. While providers of mental health services are working tirelessly to support community members ...

Statement from Debra L. Wentz, PhD, President and CEO On behalf of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, I extend deepest condolences to the family of Haiti President Jovenel Moïse, who was assassinated early yesterday morning, and send warmest wishes to ...

March 24, 2021 Statement from Debra L. Wentz, PhD, President and CEO The New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA) is deeply saddened to hear about the loss of lives in the recent shootings in Boulder, CO, and the Atlanta, GA area, and sends heartfelt...

March 22, 2021 March 22nd through March 28th Is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® On February 22, 2021, Governor Phil Murphy signed three bills that legalize cannabis for recreational use, decriminalize marijuana and establish civil penalties for individual...

March 15 to 21 Is Brain Awareness Week March 15, 2021 While there are things that currently remain unknown about COVID-19, it is known that it impacts mental health and brain health. Research from the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago ha...

Feb. 22, 2021 February 22nd through February 28th Is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health and substance use disorders. An article that was published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders (2020) indi...

March 1, 2021 March Is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Isolation has been a common issue for individuals with disabilities since long before the COVID-19 pandemic, which has worsened the sense of seclusion for many in this vulnerable population. While connections wit...

March 5, 2021 March Is Problem Gambling Awareness Month Every March, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) holds its Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, which is known as March Madness. During March, there are 67 college basketball games that are divided into fou...

An op-ed written by NJAMHAA President and CEO Debra L. Wentz, PhD, has been published by insidernj.com and ROI-NJ. The op-ed states that the numbers of individuals contending with mental illness, substance use and overdoses have been increasing. These rates have increased due to circumsta...

February 23, 2021 Statement from Debra L. Wentz, PhD, President and CEO The New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA) appreciates Governor Phil Murphy's continued focus on addressing the ongoing opioid crisis and pandemic, bolstering youth services wi...