Nature and Prevalence of Problem

Data from the National Institute of Mental Health identifies 18.6% of the adult population in the United States as experiencing symptoms of Any Mental Illness (AMI). With an estimated population of 83,335 adults (over the age of 18) in Warren County, approximately 15,500 adult residents are at risk for symptoms of AMI.

Furthermore, the results of a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study that found that 13% of children in the United States between the ages of 8 and 15 years old had experienced a diagnosable mental health disorder within the previous year. With 2,350 children under the age of 18 living in Warren County, this data suggests that a significant number of County children are also at risk.

 

What We Do to Address the Problem

The Crisis Intervention Unit/Emergency Services (CIU/ES) program provides emergency mental health services to Warren County residents who are experiencing a mental health crisis, their families and caregivers. The primary goals of the CIU/ES program are to prevent suicide, homicide and other violent and self-destructive behaviors or dangerous situations from occurring as the result of an individual’s untreated mental illness or as a result of a family experiencing a mental health crisis.

CIU/ES program provides a range of crisis responses that are available 24 hours/day, 365 days/year and that are provided by specially-trained professional staff who are also certified by the N.J. State Division of Mental Health and Addictions Services (DMHAS).

Crisis services include:

  • A 24-hour crisis telephone hotline staffed by professionals (908-454-5141)
  • 24-hour mobile outreach capability to consumers (adults and children) throughout Warren County to provide on-site assessment
  • Psychiatric/Behavioral health Crisis management
  • Assessment for psychiatric medication
  • Assessment for Psychiatric Hospitalization
  • Linkage with other community services for both the consumer and family members/caregivers
  • Linkage with follow-up mental health, health and social services