While New Jersey has made gains in K-through-12 mental health support, advocates said the state needs to do more.

In recent years New Jersey has passed legislation and seen a mix of state and federal grants awarded to help expand access to school based mental health services. In December, Montclair State University was awarded a federal grant to recruit and train school psychologists. Last fall, Rutgers University announced a similar grant aimed at increasing the number of highly trained school counselors.

Angela Kimball, chief advocacy officer for the mental health advocacy organization Inseparable, said for many people accessing mental health services can seem intimidating.

"When we offer mental health services in schools, it serves to actually normalize the idea of getting support for your mental health," Kimball explained. "That really reduces stigma, and it reduces other barriers to people getting the kind of support they need to thrive. "

The American School Counselor Association recommends a ratio of 250 counselors per student. New Jersey has improved its ratio from 2019 when it was near 350 counselors per student. In 2024, the number was just under 300 to one.

The state is currently in the second year of the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services network, which offers support to all students in the state through 15 regional hubs. The hubs are staffed by prevention specialists and licensed clinicians, and can deliver services in schools, other community settings and virtually.

The hubs offer three tiers of services ranging from workshops in tier one, to prevention services in tier two for groups of at-risk students and individualized intervention services in tier three. The program was intended to replace existing school-based services in place since the 1980s at 90 schools throughout the state. The school-based programs were preserved after some pushback and Kimball noted research points to benefits for keeping services in schools.

"Research is showing that youth who get school-based services are six times more likely to complete a full course of treatment than with community-based treatment," Kimball reported.

Last year, the New Jersey Department of Education found 13% of 12-17-year-olds in the state reported at least one major depressive episode in the past year, with 8% reporting a severe episode.

May is Family Wellness Month, and Minnesota households are encouraged to work on goals beyond the surface level of success.

One expert said family members can explore dimensions that go a long way in shaping wellbeing.

In a post-pandemic world, University of Minnesota Extension Department of Family, Health, and Wellbeing Educator Sharon Powell acknowledged that society isn't as laser focused on career or academic success in defining how well a person or family is doing.

Physical health should be near the top. But Powell added that with mental health a bigger priority these days, it's one way in which households can get a sense of whether or not loved ones are thriving.

She said a good frame of mind opens more doors.

"You feel happy and content and like you're contributing to your family's wellbeing," said Powell, "and to your community and even beyond."

Powell said if you notice sudden mood changes or a family member becomes withdrawn, it might be good to inquire about their emotional state, and whether it needs to be addressed.

On the topic of money, Powell said amassing wealth isn't the key, but financial stability is important. She said financial literacy guidance from nonprofits is a good place to start.

She said when families get ahead of the situation by setting spending goals aligned with their income, they have better sense of autonomy in this area.

"People feel better about their finances," said Powell, "when they feel that they have some choice in where their money's coming and going from."

Lastly, Powell said family members can't take daily communication for granted.

Saying hello to each other every day, or occasionally asking how things are going can help, but Powell said there's more you can do. That includes the often shared pieced of advice of being an active listener.

"Being an attentive and curious communicator," said Powell, "is a great way to show love for people."




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Mental health counselors focused on Nebraska's high rate of binge drinking during Alcohol Awareness Month, which just wrapped up.

Alcohol abuse is often associated with other addictions. Nebraska's binge drinking rate is among the highest in the nation and the number of alcohol-related deaths is on the rise. Alcohol was blamed for at least 720 fatalities in 2020, the latest year data were available.

Aileen Brady, CEO of the Community Alliance in Omaha, said alcohol abuse and addiction affects families and friendships but can also lead to safety issues among employees who may be alcohol dependent.

"If their reactions are not as sharp, if they're not sleeping well and if they're distracted with the sense of needing to have that drink, it's going to affect our workplaces, as well," Brady explained.

Brady adds alcohol and other substance abuse disorders affect at least 65% of Nebraskans seeking mental health treatment at Community Alliance. Nationwide, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health said more than 224-million people 12 and older report having consumed alcohol during their lifetime.

Brady added it is common among alcohol addicted people or those who abuse it to assume drinking will improve their mood, which she said can happen temporarily, but long-term, has the opposite effect.

"That might last for a period of hours, and then once they stop the drinking and they are coming down off of that use of alcohol, then the depressant sets in," Brady observed.

Brady added Community Alliance continues to dispel myths about the effects of alcohol and raise awareness about the negative physical and mental health outcomes of drinking too much.


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Budding flowers, warmer temperatures and longer days are welcome signs to many in Maryland after the long, dark months of winter. Some people might believe warmer weather improves mental health after seasonal depression in the winter months, but that's not always the case. Many people experience increased mental-health struggles as spring rolls around.

When people's feeling in the springtime doesn't meet their expectations, said Cynthia Cubbage, director of family and post-adopt service for the Barker Adoption Foundation, it can make mental-health issues worse.

"When people are looking forward to spring because it's a time of renewal, and those expectations don't happen, and then nothing gets better for them because it's deeper than that," she said, "then they get really stressed and depression can really set in. And it's because of the expectations."

Suicide rates rise in the spring and not winter, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Researchers find that seasonal allergies play a role. A person with rhinitis, which causes allergy symptoms, is more than 40% more likely to be depressed.

Cubbage said there are many ways people can combat those feelings: Get outdoors as much as possible and get out socially as well. But she reminded folks that sleep is vital.

"Definitely prioritize sleep, even though we're having more daylight," she said. "It makes people want to stay up longer - that they should be doing things - and to remember that's a big transition for your body. They should still prioritize their sleep. If they were still going to sleep at eight or they were putting their kids down at eight, that should continue."

Cubbage added that, if you continue to feel depressed or down even after trying those suggestions, it's best to seek out professional mental-health help.