Let’s be real! It’s pretty simple! If you have problems, whether mental health, addictions or both, it should be clear that it’s NOT okay if you don’t take care of yourself! What “It’s ok to not be ok” DOES mean is that going for help is okay and it’s nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. If you are too arrogant or self-centered to get help, that is not ok! What is ok is trying to get help! No one ever said it would be easy, for sure, but there is no legitimate excuse not to take care of your mental health! After all, they say, “There is no health without mental health!”
Welcome to the human race! Let’s break this down. When someone is injured in a car accident, they are taken to the hospital for evaluation. When you have flu symptoms you go to a doctor, urgent care, or a hospital. So, if you are not feeling right emotionally, you should get help for that, too, right? We’ve all had times when we had a small injury like a bug bite and said no big deal and ignored it, procrastinating because of the dreaded ER, or long line at the urgent care. But then hours later there’s a bubble on that spot. We go get it checked out. So when it comes to mental health, do we find more excuses to not deal with that than when physically in pain? We’re not going to answer that because anything anyone says would be an excuse!
How many times has a friend or relative said; “Hey you really should get that checked out by a doctor!” Think about it. If you just said to yourself, yeah, I have done that, then why would you not call 201-262-HELP, or #988 when you see someone having a mental health crisis, or someone having a bad reaction to drugs or alcohol putting themselves or others at risk? Again, the only answers as to why you would not help are excuses!
How about homelessness? The same thing! I believe homelessness should be classified as a mental health disorder! How many homeless do you know who lost a job, became homeless, and have been homeless for a month or more? That is kind of a trick question, because most people who do not have underlying ailments bounce back pretty quickly. That being said, even if a homeless person does say, “Yeah, I became homeless because I lost my job,” you have to look beyond that and ask, why did they lose their job? There usually is an underlying reason for their “homeless affliction.” Why would you not call the homeless outreach agency or 211 for that person?
It’s NOT ok to not be ok! How many times have you heard or thought, “If I do get help, I will be labelled.” Especially when it comes to youth mental health, I have heard so many excuses from, “My kid won’t ever be able to get a decent job if he is labeled with a mental health disorder,” to, “My kid will be bullied and treated differently if he or she is branded with a mental health disorder.” Let’s be real, when it comes to youth, what’s the alternative? Having that kid end up in jail, a psych hospital, or worse, 6 feet under? Isn’t it better to get treated early on? To not get help is NOT ok! Remember addiction is included-it is a mental health disorder.
Let’s be clear. When it comes to youth, don’t ever let someone convince you that untreated mental health conditions won’t end in violence. Sadly, we see it every day in the news. We should not be ignoring youth mental health.
The whole purpose of “It’s ok to not be ok” is that a person reaching out for help should not be stigmatized, especially youth. We live in an age where It is ok to get help, and there is help available. There are places to go for help as well as phone numbers, support groups, 12 step programs, and agencies and organization that can help. What excuse can you come up with to NOT get help? I’d really like to know! Check out our Facebook news page and look up #DoorsandGuns series, and then come up with what you think might a good reason not to get help. I can save you the trouble of the gory details. It’s simply not ok to not get help. But it is ok to not be ok, if you are willing to get help to have a better quality of life and take responsibility for your actions. I don’t know anyone who wakes up any given morning and says, “I want to be homeless, I want to die in a jail cell today, or I want to live the rest of my life tormented and unhappy.” I guarantee the only ones who want this are those who consciously pick up a drug for the first time, the one who picks up that joint and smokes it. It’s 2022, not the stone age. Only those who live in a vacuum or a bubble don’t know that all drugs can lead to death!
Footnote: Don’t be “Martha’s Vineyard compassionate,” meaning don’t just say things and not take action! Take action today and get help for anything and everything! If you or someone you know is homeless, seek shelter! If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance, get help, if you or someone you know has addiction issues, get help, get them help! Don’t just say that everyone is welcome and then turn your back. There is no excuse!
Bottom line is, don’t be arrogant and think you are better than anyone else. You are not the only one with problems. Seek help. There are enough resources, free services, and phone numbers to help you live a happy, successful life! Pray on it, talk you your clergy about it, dial 988 and get help for it. Bergen County’s Mental Health and addiction services can help too! It’s 2022, not the stone age! Take the first step today!
To download the HRG Bergen Community Resource Guide PDF; CLICK HERE !!!
Basic SPANISH version of the HRG Bergen Community Resource Guide PDF; CLICK HERE !!
Recovery resources:
Bergen county has many resources for all addictions and has programs for recovery, halfway houses and many treatment program. if you or you know someone with an addiction of any kind there is help.
S.O.A.R.- Steering Out Alcohol Responsibility- mission-reduce abuse of alcohol for teens, increase leadership in the community, awareness of the dangers of teens and alcohol and support. 201-488-8680 facebook.com/HackensackSOAR
A great Organization for Teen alcohol awareness and teaching about and preventing alcohol use and abuse is S.O.A.R. http://www.tcadr.org/
Addictions Hotline of New Jersey –ReachNJ-1-844-ReachNJ(CLICK HERE) -Information; Quit Smoking – 1-800- NJ -STOPS; Gambling – 1-800-GAMBLER [1-800-426-2537]
Addictions Hotline of NJ 1-800-238-2333 Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund 1-800-335-FUND (1-800-335-3863) Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Have you downloaded the condensed version of the Special Covid-19 NJ Re-opening Edition-HRG Community Resource Guide! CLICK HERE to down load the PDF!
Do you want info on the Mental Health Resources? CLICK HERE!
Here are some other addiction recovery programs that can help as well!
Teen Challenge is a great Organization that is all over and Church Emmanuel at 34 van wettering place Hackensack is directly connected to this great resource here are both web sites: TEEN Challenge; EMC intake site. Keeping productive is also helpful for recovery! Staying positive! Did you download the HRG Resource guide with all kinds of events to enjoy during the holidays?
For women there is Hoving Home!
Bergen county has many resources for all addictions and has programs for recovery, halfway houses and many treatment program.
if you or you know someone with an addiction of any kind there is help.
| (201) 488-8680 |
| thecenter@cafsnj.org, http://www.tcadr.org/ |
ReachNJ: Call 1-844-ReachNJ (1-844-732-2465)
Addictions Hotline of New Jersey – Information; Quit Smoking – 1-800- NJ -STOPS, Gambling – 1-800-GAMBLER [1-800-426-2537]
Adolescent Substance Abuse Programs:
(201) 336-7350 1 Bergen County Plaza
Hackensack, NJ
Care Plus New Jersey Inc
(201) 265-8200 610 Valley Health Plaza
Paramus, NJ
Behavioral Counseling Associates
(201) 592-9002 1495 Palisade Avenue
Fort Lee, NJ
Have you Checked out the H.A.R.T. Program? (Heroin Addiction Recovery Team program) (Not only for Heroin recovery) NOW IN WESTWOOD as well!
The Heroin Addiction Recovery team Program (H.A.R.T.) IS NOT ONLY FOR heroin but recovery from other drugs as well! (Click for video) The H.A.R.T. program rolled out in 2017 and serves more than BC. You can contact the various locations directly! Walk-in hours are at Mahwah, Paramus and Lyndhurst police departments. For Mahwah Click the URL> http://www.mahwahalliance.org/ And Now Westwood!
List of 12 step programs can be found HERE!
If you want a good rehabilitation and or Detox hare are some of the better ones: Teen Challenge is excellent; CLICK HERE!
BNBMC Paramus is the County hospital! They have meetings, Detox and other programs including after care! CLICK HERE!
Saving the best for last; Bergen County’s Stigma Free initiative! Mental Health awareness and education! Joining the Stigma-Free Initiative will: Educate residents that mental illness is a disease and must be treated as such Raise awareness of the prevalence of mental illness in our community Provoke public interest in learning what is “STIGMA-FREE” Providing residents an opportunity to become involved in their community Allow people living with the disease to feel supported by their community and thus decrease feelings of isolation and shame Link people in need to local mental health resources Raise awareness that care is accessible regardless of income!
More MH resources; CLICK HERE!
If you have had problems after incarceration and you need help with getting back on track, Transition Professionals have reopened to the public in a limited setting (Call for appointment) at 269 Passaic St. Hackensack NJ. The Re-entry Programs have, started back up, including Breakfast with Benny support group on Sundays starting at 9:45Am. (flyer below)
Have a Blessed day!
HRG Community Resources, Guide & More 