Your (Unofficial) Guide to State-Sponsored Therapy in New Jersey

There’s a way to get affordable mental health care that you might not know about. That’s New Jersey’s mental health system.

If you qualify, you can get mental health care at a community mental health program in New Jersey for a small co-pay or a low sliding-scale fee. But even if you don’t qualify for services at a state-funded program, New Jersey’s system can still give you information, referrals to affordable providers, and other essential help for free.

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If you’re in a hurry, you can read our quick start guide below for the most important information about the New Jersey mental health system.

To learn more about public mental health services in New Jersey, keep reading. We’ve done the research to uncover essential facts about who’s eligible, what services you can get, when to go, where to call, and how it works so you can decide if New Jersey’s mental health system might be right for you.

Who Is Eligible?

New Jersey’s mental health system can meet many people’s needs, but you should especially consider it if you (or a loved one) are having a mental health crisis, have a severe mental health condition, have Medicaid, or have a limited income.

Everyone in New Jersey can use the state-funded mental health emergency response system. If you or someone you love is in crisis, you can call a state or local crisis line to get the help you need, quickly.

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Public mental health services are usually the best option if you’re having a mental health crisis and need help right away.

State mental health programs are required to provide mental health crisis response services and are one of the fastest ways to get care when you’re having a mental health emergency.

The people who answer state and local crisis lines can provide caring attention and support as they help you determine the best response to a crisis, whether it’s inpatient treatment or an appointment with a counselor.

Even if you’re not in crisis, you can call a state or local mental health hotline for information about affordable mental health services in your area.

When you call, you can find out whether you might qualify for state-funded mental health services, schedule an assessment or intake appointment, or get free information about affordable providers.

There are many options for affordable care. There are no statewide restrictions on who can use the New Jersey mental health system. Instead, eligibility criteria vary from provider to provider, and many providers serve clients with a wide range of needs.

Most publicly-funded mental health providers in New Jersey don’t have strict (if any) limits on who can receive standard outpatient mental health services like therapy and psychiatric care.

What changes depending on your financial situation and diagnosis is whether you qualify for specialty and intensive services like case management or whether you qualify for financial aid.

Whether you’re eligible for state funding in New Jersey depends on your income and the severity of your mental health symptoms or condition. Some special funding is available for people with severe mental health conditions.

You need to meet income eligibility criteria to qualify for state funding through Medicaid, which all providers who participate in the New Jersey public mental health system accept.

However, you don’t need Medicaid to go to most publicly-funded providers. Most providers in the public system also accept private insurance. If you don’t have insurance or would prefer to pay out of pocket, most also offer sliding-scale fees.

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Medicaid is a great way to access the public mental health system in New Jersey. Not only do all publicly-funded mental health clinics in New Jersey accept Medicaid, but you can also use Medicaid to access services at other providers.

You’re eligible for Medicaid in New Jersey if your income is 138 percent of the federal poverty level or less. You may also qualify based on a combination of your income, your medical history, and your mental health condition.

If you’re not sure whether you’re eligible, it’s worth looking into. You can apply for Medicaid in person, by phone, or online. To learn more, you can visit the New Jersey Medicaid page.

In some ways, going to a publicly-funded provider in New Jersey is the same as going to any other provider: you either pay for services with your insurance or pay out of pocket. So, the best way to get affordable care is to look for providers who accept your insurance or who offer sliding-scale discounts.

Many publicly-funded mental health programs and integrated clinics in New Jersey offer outpatient mental health services like group and individual therapy, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management for an affordable fee or co-pay.

However, if you need specialty or intensive services, you’ll need to look for specialty providers who offer them. Many that do are part of the public system.

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Publicly-funded mental health programs in New Jersey are great places to find specialized and intensive mental health services like case management and day treatment that can be hard to find anywhere else. These specialty programs can give you extra help when you’re dealing with severe symptoms.

You can find the numbers for state-funded mental health programs in New Jersey in the directory below. We encourage you to call even if you think you might not be eligible.

Even if you’re not eligible, or if the program doesn’t offer the service you want, they can probably still help you. The people who work in these programs are knowledgeable about local resources and will often give you free information or even referrals to other affordable providers nearby, including local non-profits that provide free or low-cost counseling.

Where Do You Call to Get Started?

The easiest way to learn more about state mental healthcare in New Jersey is to call a state or local mental health hotline. The 988 mental health hotline will connect you to local crisis and information services no matter where you are in New Jersey. You can also call your county’s crisis line directly.

You can find statewide mental health hotlines in the information box directly below and can find your county’s crisis line in the directory in the next section.

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The statewide New Jersey mental health crisis hotline is 988.

The Crisis Text Line for the state of New Jersey is 741741.

You can reach the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline by calling 1-800-950-NAMI (6264).

You can reach the non-emergency NAMI New Jersey Helpline by calling (732) 940-0991 or (866) 626-4664.

You can get information and referrals by calling New Jersey Mental Health Cares’ mental health information line at (866) 202-4357.

You can get support from a peer from 8AM to 10PM on weekdays and 5PM to 10PM on weekends by calling the MHA in New Jersey Peer Recovery Warmline at (877) 292-5588.

You can reach the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services by calling (800) 382-6717 and can reach the DMHAS Ombudsman by calling (609) 438-4321.

Public mental health services in New Jersey are managed on the state level by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services within the New Jersey Department of Human Services.

For general information about New Jersey’s mental health system, you can contact DMHAS by calling (800) 382-6717. For help navigating the New Jersey mental health system, you can reach the DMHAS Ombudsman by calling (609) 438-4321.

However, you’ll probably get the best results by calling the program you’re interested in directly or by calling a state or local hotline. You can find local contact information in the directory below.

County-by-County Directory

Each county in New Jersey has its own mental health crisis and information line. Some county crisis lines are run by local hospitals with emergency mental health units, while others are run by community mental health centers. However, they all serve the same function: to help you get through a crisis and connect with the right mental health services.

Publicly-funded adult outpatient mental health services in New Jersey are primarily provided by programs licensed by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). These services fall into a few different categories: outpatient clinical services, case management, community support services, and partial care. Our listings focus on basic outpatient care but also include other mental health services.

The best way to find out if a publicly-funded mental health program in New Jersey is right for you is to call that program and describe your needs and the services you’re looking for. If you’re not sure who to call, you can call your county’s mental health hotline.

You can find your county hotline and contact information for DMHAS-licensed adult mental health outpatient clinics in the directory below.

You can use the mental health directory on the DMHAS website to check for updates or look for other types of mental health providers that we haven’t covered here.

You can call the number listed above for your county mental health department for more information about local mental health resources, but you will probably have better results by calling New Jersey Mental Health Cares’ mental health information line at (866) 202-4357 or by calling the DMHAS Ombudsman at (609) 438-4321.

Also Consider: Federally Qualified Health Centers

Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are another great way to get affordable publicly-funded mental health services in New Jersey.

These federally-funded programs provide cutting-edge care in places where good primary healthcare was once hard to find. Most provide integrated care so you can get primary medical and mental health services at the same location. Each FQHC accepts Medicaid and Medicare and offers low sliding-scale fees if you don’t have insurance.

You can search for FQHCs near you by using the online search tool on the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration website.

Troubleshooting Guide

The state mental health system is complicated and can be confusing to navigate. If you’re having any issues, we’re here to help. Here are some of our solutions to common problems you might experience.

If you’ve run into a problem that we haven’t addressed, don’t give up. Call someone at the program (or a state or local mental health hotline) and tell them what’s going on.

You’re much more likely to get the help you need when you advocate for yourself and are persistent. Tell the person you talk to what you need or what problem you’re having.

If they don’t help the first time, call them back and tell them. If you keep calling and keep calm and focused, you should eventually get through to someone who can help you.

Deep Dive: How Does the System Work?

To understand New Jersey’s mental health system, it helps to understand how it started and how it’s changed since then.

Public mental health services have been around for a surprisingly long time. But for over a hundred years in America, the only way to get them was in a psychiatric hospital.

In the 1960s, Americans started thinking differently about mental health care. Conditions in psychiatric hospitals were getting worse and new medications made it possible to provide mental health treatment on an outpatient basis.

In response, new laws were passed that required state and local governments to establish community mental health programs as alternatives to institutionalization for people with serious mental illness. The most important was the Community Mental Health Act, which President John F. Kennedy signed into law in 1963.

DEEP DIVE

To learn more about what the public mental health system was like in the early days—and how psychiatric inpatient care has evolved since then—you can read our article “Do Insane Asylums Still Exist? The Surprising Past and Present.”

To learn more about what inpatient mental health treatment is like now, and the differences between how it works in general hospitals and specialized psychiatric facilities, you can read our article “How Inpatient Mental Health Treatment Works.”

Many state mental health programs trace their origins back to the 1960s when these important changes started to happen.

New Jersey was ahead of the curve. It passed its own state community mental health law in 1957 that established state funds to build and develop community mental health programs. New Jersey was one of the first states to pass a community mental health law and one of the only states to pass such a law before the national Community Mental Health Act was passed in 1963.

That law helped create a system of support for people who previously only had the option to seek inpatient care. The primary purpose of the New Jersey public mental health system is to make sure people with serious mental illness have the support they need to live outside of institutions and that people can access mental health services in their local communities regardless of their ability to pay.

DEEP DIVE

New Jersey’s 1957 state community mental health law established local government departments called county mental health boards.

The purpose of each county’s mental health board is to direct program development, make sure county residents have access to mental health care, and direct funding to the agencies that provide public mental health services.

These county mental health boards are not required to provide services directly and contract with local agencies instead. They then supervise those agencies and the system as a whole to make sure they are providing the full range of mental health services and that the people who need them can access them.

Over the decades, New Jersey has prioritized mental health spending and funded its mental health programs more consistently than many other states. It was one of only 12 states that increased their mental health budgets every year from 2013 to 2015.

Like many states, New Jersey faced mental health and funding setbacks during the pandemic, but it quickly took action to address these issues. The state significantly increased its already substantial mental health budget in 2022 and 2023 to address new and developing mental health needs in the state.

Recent budget increases focus on improvements to the new statewide 988 mental health emergency response system, salary increases and loan forgiveness for mental health professionals, and the expansion of prevention and outpatient mental health services, especially for children and students.

DEEP DIVE

The New Jersey mental health system focuses on providing services for people who are recovering from a mental health crisis or who are at risk of hospitalization without additional support. However, New Jersey also funds public mental health services that can help people with less severe conditions or needs, including outpatient counseling and medication.

The New Jersey mental health system includes all of the following mental health services:

Psychiatric Emergency Screening to help people in crisis get the level of care they need to be safe.
Inpatient Mental Health Services to help people get through a crisis or stabilize severe symptoms.
Residential Mental Health Services and Supported Housing to help people who need extra help to live independently in the community.
Case Management Services to help people who have multiple and complex needs and need help navigating the mental health, medical, and social service systems.
Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) Services to help people gain and maintain stable housing.
Programs of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) to help people with severe and hard-to-manage symptoms get immediate help with crises and issues that could otherwise lead to hospitalization.
Partial Care Programs and Intensive Outpatient Treatment to help people who don’t need inpatient treatment but need more than basic outpatient treatment. Partial care programs meet daily (except for weekends), while intensive outpatient programs meet multiple times weekly.
Outpatient Counseling and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics to serve people who are in need of basic outpatient mental health services like therapy and medication.

The New Jersey mental health system also includes early intervention services, supported employment, specialty services to help people who are involved with the criminal justice system, and a separate, full system of care for children with mental health needs.

Public mental health services in New Jersey are overseen on the state level by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services within the New Jersey Department of Human Services.

Each county mental health board follows statewide requirements established by DMHAS but also makes independent decisions about how its program works. The county board ensures the full range of mental health services are available to county residents but decides where and how those services are provided.

No matter how your county does it, the best way to get started is by calling a state or local mental health hotline. They know how the system works and will help you get where you need to go.

Conclusion

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 40 percent of people in New Jersey who have mental health conditions get treatment for them. Many of them qualify for public mental health services but don’t know about them.

You can make a difference by reaching out and connecting with local mental health resources to get the care you need. If you’re not sure whether you qualify for New Jersey state mental health services, call a state or local mental health hotline. You may find out you can get mental health services through a publicly-funded program or that there’s another affordable option nearby.

The most important thing is to get started—the help you need may be only a call or click away.

Are You Thinking of Online Therapy? Start Here to Get Matched with a Licensed Therapist Right For You.

Therapy with No Waiting Rooms or Driving. Take a quick quiz about your preferences and needs and get matched to a therapist in as little as 48 hours.

Your (Unofficial) Guide to State-Sponsored Therapy in New Jersey

Are You Thinking of Online Therapy? Start Here to Get Matched with a Licensed Therapist Right For You.

Have you been in therapy before?

Quick Start Guide

Who Is Eligible?

PRO TIP

Use the State System When You're in Crisis

PRO TIP

Check If You're Eligible for Medicaid

PRO TIP

Check Out the State System If You Need Specialized Services

Where Do You Call to Get Started?

PRO TIP

Important Numbers in New Jersey

County-by-County Directory

New Jersey Clinics and Crisis Lines

Atlantic County

Bergen County

Burlington County

Camden County

Cape May County

Cumberland County

Essex County

Gloucester County

Hudson County

Hunterdon County

Mercer County

Middlesex County

Monmouth County

Morris County

Ocean County

Passaic County

Salem County

Somerset County

Sussex County

Union County

Warren County

Also Consider: Federally Qualified Health Centers

Troubleshooting Guide

Problems and Solutions

Deep Dive: How Does the System Work?

DEEP DIVE

For More Information

DEEP DIVE

What Is a Mental Health Board?

DEEP DIVE

The Continuum of Care in the New Jersey Mental Health System

Conclusion

Are You Thinking of Online Therapy? Start Here to Get Matched with a Licensed Therapist Right For You.

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