NAMI Mercer NJ Inc

The NAMI Mercer Helpline is staffed by dedicated volunteers who fielded roughly 452 inquiries in 2024, 49% of which were first time callers. Utilizing VoIP, Helpline specialists provided a compassionate ear as well as valuable information and resources to help people better cope with the challenges of mental illness. Helpline Plus, a stepped-up level of care, provides an advocate to those with more complex needs related to system navigation, hundreds of hours were logged under this program. Demonstrating the importance of a network of support for adults living with mental illness, we offered three 8-session Family-to-Family courses, empowering families to better understand mental illness, access effective treatment, improve coping strategies, and better advocate for their loved ones. One was held in the Spring and two in the Fall, a total of 35 family members completed the course. We also continued our partnership with Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS) under Oaks Integrated Care, hosting 114 Family Support Group Meetings online or in a hybrid format, and providing space for IFSS specialists to meet in-person with individual families at no charge. With helping hundreds of family members/friends experience less stress and improve family functioning through the development of better coping strategies. The average participation per session numbered 12. Just Parents our support group for caregivers of youth under age 24 held 8 monthly meetings during which parents shared their experiences, resources, and how they navigate difficulties, leading to a sense of belonging and better role modeling for their children. Recognizing the power of peer support for individuals with mental health challenges, we offered NAMI Connection, a hybrid support group during which participants engaged in productive discussion and enhanced their coping skills, with an average of 5 participants per session. Members of our Just Friends and Becoming Friends social support groups participated in 200+ social activities, including parties, visits to museums, theaters, restaurants, and festivals with total attendance of 802. Our Hearing Voices Support Group met in-person for a total of 20 meetings with an average attendance of 5. Mending Mindsets, an online support group for those coping with anxiety held 20 meetings with a total attendance of 88. Weight ? Worth, a support group for those with an unhealthy preoccupation with food or body image, was held on campus at TCNJ and total attendance numbered 88. Two sessions of Healing Hearts, a support group for survivors of suicide loss, were offered. The summer session met 6x and the fall one 8x with total attendance of 66. The Empathy Network, a support group for those coping with depression, met weekly and averaged 12 participants per meeting. One six- week session of Working on Wellness (WOW) was held with a corporate partner; attendance averaged 9 per session. Through NAMI Mercers community education and outreach, we provided inspiration, strategies, and resources to promote mental wellbeing and expanded knowledge and understanding of mental illness. Our annual wellness conference, Harvest of Hope, was held in-person for almost 200 attendees, live-streaming Elizabeth Vargas as our keynoter, and offering practical, interactive workshops; thoughtful conversations rooted in personal experience; an uplifting performance; and plenty of opportunities for community-building. Twenty-seven community education events were held for over 700 attendees. Highlights include Crisis Intervention Training for law enforcement, faith community presentations and quarterly gatherings for TPH (Trenton Psychiatric Hospital) patients slated for discharge. NAMI Mercers NextGen (youth/school-based Initiatives) reached over 600 young people; and we participated in 23 community outreach events/wellness fairs/mental health awareness raising activities reaching more than 6,300 people. More than 500 people participated in NAMIWALKS Mercer NJ, raising awareness about mental health, building community virtually, raising funds, and demonstrating the kind of resiliency of spirit that enables people with mental health challenges to seek treatment, pursue recovery, and lead full, meaningful lives. NAMI Mercer hosts a robust volunteer and intern program. Many individuals with mental health challenges come to us seeking a supportive environment where they can rebuild their confidence, improve their skills, and gain experience some find their way back to the workforce and/or decide volunteerism is a way they can make a meaningful contribution to society. Over 11,000 volunteer hours were logged in 2024 with 34 new volunteers being onboarded. We mentored 32 graduate and undergraduate student interns representing 9 different institutions of higher education