The New Jersey Department of Human Services has teamed up with Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care in launching mental health hotlines geared towards helping professionals who have been uniquely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two hotlines, which are staffed by trained crisis counselors, are available from 8 AM to 8 PM every day. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare personell can call 1-833-416-8773 to speak with a counselor and can click here for online webinars and support groups. First responders like cops, firefighters, and EMT’s can call 1-833-237-4325 and click here for online webinars and support groups geared to them.
NJ Human Services Commissioner Carol Johnson said that the hotlines have been launched because so many of the above professionals have been doing so much for us at their expense.
“Our doctors, nurses, frontline hospital staff, first responders, and nursing home workers are risking their lives every day in this battle against COVID,” Johnson said. “Each day while caring for our families, they worry about the health and wellbeing of their own families. They have seen far too much heartbreak and tragedy, and we want to be sure that they have a safe place to talk about their experiences, anxieties, and trauma.”