Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Mental Health
According to a 2024 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), among individuals aged 13–17, 16% experience mood disorders, 34% experience anxiety disorders, and 20% experience behavioral disorders. Common diagnoses for children aged 3–17 years in New Jersey include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), behavioral/conduct problems, anxiety, and depression.
New Jersey schools are uniquely positioned to identify early signs of mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders. By providing social-emotional support services and fostering critical coping skills, schools contribute to the emotional, social, and academic success of every student, particularly in the wake of increased mental health challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Using Mental Health Screenings in Schools
- New Jersey Comprehensive School-Based Mental Health Resource Guide
- Overview of the New Jersey Comprehensive School-Based Mental Health Resource Guide
- Suicide Prevention
- Social and Emotional Learning
- New Jersey Tiered System of Supports
- Special Education
- NJ Student Learning Standards — Comprehensive Health and PE
- Whole School, Whole Child, Whole Community (WSCC)
- The Child Mind Institute
- Provides free, evidence-based resources o help families supports children's mental health, including guides, article, and videos on various mental health topics.
- Family Acceptance Project
- Provides research-based resources and family education materials to support the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth, helping families foster acceptance and reduce risk factors.
- New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addictions Services
- Provides resources and services for mental health and addiction support across New Jersey.
- National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Resources:
- Care for Caregivers: Tips for Families and Educators
- Offers guidance on self-care strategies for families and educators to support their mental well-being.
- Supporting Students Experiencing Childhood Trauma: Tips for Parents and Educators
- Provides tips for parents and educators to support children who have experienced trauma.
- Care for Caregivers: Tips for Families and Educators
- New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc. (NJAMHAA)
- Advocates for mental health and addiction services, providing information and resources for agencies in New Jersey.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Children’s Mental Health
- Offers information and resources to help parents, caregivers, and professionals support children's mental health.
- KidsHealth for Parents from Nemours Emotions & Behavior
- Provides educational resources for parents on understanding and supporting children's emotional and behavioral development.
- 7 Cups
- Offers a safe, anonymous platform where teens can connect with trained listeners and licensed therapists through secure chat, along with self-help guides and community forums.
- TeenMentalHealth.org
- Offers accessible information on mental health conditions, coping strategies, and support tools to improve mental health literacy among teens.
- BeMe
- A digital mental health platform providing teens personalized support through chat-based services, interactive content, and access to licensed therapists.
- TeensHealth
- From Nemours provides adolescents education on a variety of mental health topics and is overseen by medical professionals
- Set To Go
- A program by the Jed Foundation provides resources and tools to help high school students, parents, and educators navigate the transition from high school to college
- National Institute of Mental Health- Do I have Depression?
- Mental Health Applications
- Breathe2Relax
- Users follow along as the app provides deep breathing exercises to lower stress levels.
- Happify
- Utilizes games and activities to help users relax.
- Headspace
- Provides guided meditation based on areas of concern.
- Breathe2Relax
- Hotlines / Helplines - available 24 hours / 7 days a week
- SEL4US (Social Emotional Learning Alliance for the United States)
- Provides free resources, including toolkits and webinars, to help schools implement social-emotional learning (SEL) programs that foster student well-being and resilience.
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
- Offers free training materials and resources for implementing evidence-based behavioral interventions to create positive school climates.
- Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative (TLPI)
- Provides free resources and toolkits for creating trauma-sensitive schools, guiding educators in supporting students affected by trauma.
- Mindwise Innovations
- Provides screening tools and educational resources aimed at preventing and identifying mental health issues early in school settings.
- Family Engagement: Online Technical Assistance Toolkit
- An online toolkit offering best practices for educators to engage authentically with families and community members.
- Traumatic Loss Coalition
- MentalHealth.gov
- National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Resources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Supporting Behavioral Health
- Guidance to States and School Systems on Addressing Mental Health and Substance Use Issues in Schools — SAMHSA
- Mental Health First Aid Training
- Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC)
- School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation System (SHAPE)
- American Psychological Association (APA) K–12 Education Resources
- Final Report of the NJSBA’s Task Force on Mental Health Services
- What Works Clearinghouse — Review of Programs
- Social-Emotional Learning Activities - This website offers social-emotional learning activities for the classroom to support positive mental health.
- Coping Skills for Kids - This website offers coping skills resources for teachers and parents, including worksheets and activities.
- Headspace for Educators - This website offers mindfulness resources for educators, including guided meditations and resources for self-care.
- Sesame Street in Communities - This website offers resources and activities for the classroom to support social-emotional learning and positive mental health.
- The Center for School Mental Health - This website offers resources and articles on promoting positive mental health in schools, including resources for teachers.
- The MindUP Curriculum - This website offers resources and activities for promoting mindfulness and positive mental health in the classroom.
- Mindful Schools - This website offers mindfulness resources for educators, including guided meditations and resources for self-care.
- The Calm Classroom - This website offers resources for promoting calm and positive mental health in the classroom, including breathing exercises and mindfulness activities.
- Smiling Mind - This website offers free mindfulness resources for educators and students, including guided meditations and resources for self-care.
- Home - American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
- New Jersey Association of School Social Workers (NJASSW)
- New Jersey State School Nurses Association NJSSNA)
- National Association of School Nurses (NASN)
- New Jersey Association of School Psychologists (NJASP)
- School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA)
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Mental Health Initiative
- Webinar 1: Developing a MTSS Framework
- Webinar 2: Needs Assessment and Resource Mapping
- Webinar 3: Establishing Universal Prevention
- Webinar 4: Establishing Tiered Supports (Tiers 2 & 3)
- Webinar 5: Risk Assessment
- Webinar 6: Suicide and Substance Use Risk, Assessment and Prevention
- Webinar 7: Funding
- Webinar 8: Collaboration with System Partners
- Webinar 9: Staff Self-Care
- NJ Comprehensive School-Based Mental Health Resource Guide
- Protecting Youth Mental Health - The U.S. Surgeon General Advisory
- Data and Publications - CDC
- The Impact of Combining SEL and PBIS on Youth Mental Health - Cook et al.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Explore Data on Mental Health Services in K–12 Public Schools
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