If you need a place to spend social time, a volunteer opportunity, psychotherapy, housing or vocational training, here are some resources for people challenged by depression or another form of mental illness. Please feel free to post resources you know of which aren’t listed in a comment and I’ll add them to the list after checking them out.
For US By US Self Help Center
40 North Van Brunt Street, 2nd Floor, Englewood, NJ 07631
201-541-1221
Hours: Monday-Friday 1-5pm
What it is: This program is a place where people dealing with a mental health issue of any type can spend time to socialize or spend quiet time in a place away from home. Activities take place that you can join if you like. The center is pretty much run by peers with professional oversight in the background.
Who can participate: You may self-qualify to participate.
Admission requirements: Drop-ins welcome – just show up. Feel free to ask a friend to bring you by.
Work/volunteer opportunities:
- Volunteering: can help out immediately and after a few weeks, can sign up to be on the scheduled volunteer rotation.
- Paid positions: after volunteering for a while, people can qualify for a paid position when one opens up.
Crossroads to Wellness at Care Plus NJ
610 Valley Health Plaza, Paramus, NJ 07652
201-265-1233
careplusnj.org/pages/3087/index.htm
What it is: A program which provides rapid access to comprehensive and intensive mental health services, integrated with self-directed wellness and recovery tools.
Who can participate: All Bergen County Residents
Admission requirements: Must be in acute need of mental health services or transitioning out of a long-term facility.
Friendship House
125 Atlantic Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601
201-488-2121
njfriendshiphouse.org
What it is: Support and training for mentally ill or behaviorally challenged individuals in need of vocational rehabilitation, group therapy, workplace reintegration skills and assistance, job coaching.
Work/volunteer opportunities:
- Supportive in-house workplace environment available on site. Pay commensurate with an individuals’ productivity level
- Friendship House programs include
Computer training, culinary classes, maintenance work and clerical training. Social groups, therapy groups, beauty classes, diet classes, diabetes management, groups for young people diagnosed with Asperbergers or on autism spectrum
Admission requirements: By referral. Call to speak with a program counsellor who can help you understand the steps needed to be referred into one of the organization’s programs.
Volunteer Center of Bergen County
64 Passaic Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601
201-489-9454 bergenvolunteers.org info@bergenvolunteers.org
What it is: A service that matches volunteers with non-profit organizations in need of help.
Work/volunteer opportunities: read more
