The Relationship Institute of New Jersey

Relationship and Individual Counseling

Support Resources

Immediate 24/7 Help in a Mental Health Crisis/Emergency 

  • Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org (National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
  • Alternatively, you can call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. In Atlantic County, you may go to or call the Psychiatric Intervention Program (PIP) at 609-344-1118. PIP is located at the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, and you enter through the emergency department. (For other counties in NJ, click here for the designated mental health crisis screening center.)

Mental Health Help and Referrals

Support for Those with Mental Health Conditions

Information and peer support forums for people with mental health conditions can be a useful supplement to mental health treatment. Here are some options for folks dealing with various different mental health conditions. Note: There are many more resources out there. This list is meant to help you get started in your search. Inclusion on the list does not represent an endorsement. Also, information included was accurate at the time of inclusion on this list, to the best of our knowledge, based on content from each respective website. Please check on your own to see if resources are still being offered or have changed.

General Mental Health Conditions

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

NAMI New Jersey 

  • Connection Recovery Support Group: A 60-90 minute online support group for adults (18+) with a mental health condition. Participants gain the support of peers who understand their experience and gain insight into others’ challenges and successes. Register here.
  • LGBTQ+ NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group: Offered periodically. An online peer-led recovery support group for individuals (18+) in the LGBTQ+ community who have a mental health condition. Contact jyudof@naminj.org for information. Register here | View flyer
  • Asylees/Refugees NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group: Offered periodically: NAMI NJ and Interfaith Rise collaborate to offer a NAMI Connection Recovery Online Support Group for asylees and refugees. Contact info@naminj.org for more information. Download flyer to share!

NAMI Vermont

Mental Health America

 Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and Depression Association of America

  • About – Anxiety and Depression Support | HealthUnlocked: This community is a safe space for those affected by anxiety and depression to talk to others who truly understand. ADAA is a nonprofit dedicated to the prevention, treatment, & cure of anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD and co-occurring disorders through education, practice, & research. www.adaa.org offers free educational resources; Find-a-Therapist database; webinars, blog posts, podcasts & videos; support groups, and more. ADAA does not provide psychiatric, psychological, or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention Deficit Disorder Association

Depression and Bi-Polar Disorders

Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance (DBS Alliance)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

International OCD Foundation

Self-Injury

Self-Injury Recovery Anonymous

Self-Injury Recovery Anonymous (thesira.org): support groups

  • Meetings: Saturdays, 4:30 PM EST, Saturdays, 10 PM EST, Sundays, 12 PM EST, Wednesdays, 9:30 PM EST, Youth meeting (AGES 12 – 19) 3RD MONDAY OF MONTH, 8 PM EST. Virtually via Zoom *Email us for the zoom link & passcode. Head to our contact page.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) 

BDD Foundation

  • Online Support – BDDF (bddfoundation.org): email helpline and support groups
  • Online Support Groups – BDDF (bddfoundation.org):
  • Adults 50 Plus Peer-Led BFRB Virtual Support Group: We are a peer-led community and support group for people 50 years of age or older with BFRBs, offering strength, hope and community. As we age, we are challenged with new circumstances and needs. In this group, we strengthen our community and each other. To register for the online support group, visit the link at the top of the page or copy and paste this link into your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rcO6oqj4iGtdP5iZef-YXeMdU9C2cyOX6. If you are registering from your phone or a tablet, make sure to separately select the meeting occurrence(s) you wish to attend from the drop-down menu, as you will use this registration link to register for all of our online meetings. Our online meetings are on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month at 6:00 pm ET (3:00 pm PT) for 90 minutes, and the meeting dates can be found in the drop-down menu of the Zoom registration page. Please email Carin & Holly at adults50plus@gmail.com with any group inquiries.
  • Consider joining another open support group if you are under the age of 50, as we 50+ folks have unique challenges with our BFRBs.

Eating Disorders

National Eating Disorders Association 

  • Free & Low Cost Support | National Eating Disorders Association. Everyone deserves support for their eating concerns, and NEDA wants to connect you with resources that can help in addition to professional help. These free and low-cost support options offer ways to connect with others and provide tools to promote recovery.

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders 

Skin Picking

Obsessive Skin Pickers Anonymous OSPA

OSPA is a beacon of hope for the many sufferers of skin picking disorder who have battled repeated attempts to stop, the shame and remorse of relapse, the hideous scarring, and the social stigma of skin picking. Based on the 12 Step Program of Alcoholics Anonymous and founded upon the concept of one skin picker helping another with an attitude of love and hope, OSPA is an answer to this disease, guides us towards a gentler way of life, and embraces the precious mantra “To thine own self be true.” OSPA hold weekly phone and skype meetings. For meeting schedules and more information, visit http://www.osparecovery.org

  • Skin Picking Support Online Support Group: Online topic-based meetings monthly for people who compulsively pick their skin or have another body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB). The purpose of our peer-led support meetings is to explore the various ways compulsive skin picking affects our lives while providing a safe environment for members to share their experiences surrounding BFRBs. The goals of these meetings include improving members’ quality of life by reducing shame, voicing struggles in a place with people who understand, and gaining insight into managing urges. When: One Saturday a month at 7:30 am PT/10:30 am ET unless otherwise stated. Where: A link in the Facebook event, provided the day of the meeting. Who: Anyone with excoriation disorder (skin picking) or other BFRBs who is a member of the Skin Picking Support Facebook Group. Minors under 18 need legal guardian’s approval to attend. https://www.facebook.com/groups/skinpickingsupport. If you have any questions or suggestions, email Angela at angie@skinpickingsupport.com with any concerns related to this group.

Tics

Tourette Association of America

Living with Tourette Syndrome – Tourette Association of America: Tourette Syndrome is one type of Tic Disorder. Tics are involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations. They are the primary symptoms of a group of childhood-onset neurological conditions known collectively as Tic Disorders and individually as Tourette Syndrome (TS), Persistent (Chronic) Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder, and Provisional Tic Disorder. These three Tic Disorders are named based on the types of tics present (motor, vocal/phonic, or both) and by the length of time that the tics have been present. 

Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling)

TLC Foundation for BRRBs, Hair Pullers Anonymous

  • This is an online 12-step support group for adults affected by Trichotillomania. The format is similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, and we use the book Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous (OCA). There is no charge (except the cost of the long-distance call). This group meets every Saturday morning at 11:00 am Eastern time (10:00 Central; 9:00 Mountain; 8:00 Pacific; and 7:00 Alaska time) and Sunday at 8:00 pm Eastern time (7:00 Central; 6:00 Mountain; 5:00 Pacific; and 4:00 Alaska time). Please visit our website or email us for more info. Hair Pullers Anonymous – Support Group Directory | TLC Foundation for BFRBs

Substance Use Disorder

  • NJ Connect for Recovery is a free, confidential call line focused on helping family members and friends coping with a loved one’s substance use disorder. A service of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, NJ Connect for Recovery provides a safe, nonjudgmental place for individuals and family members to get counseling, and assistance from professional staff members on substance use issues. It provides emotional support, education, ongoing family and peer guidance and access to treatment options through REACHNJ. Calls are answered live at 855-652-3737 from 8 am – 10 pm on weekdays, 5 pm – 10 pm on weekends, and 3 pm – 10 pm on holidays. Call855-652-3737 for immediate guidance and support and get your substance use disorder questions answered.
  • Vermont Helplink for Alcohol & drug support center (vthelplink.org). VT Helplink is a free resource for Vermonters, providing confidential, non-judgmental support and referrals to treatment, recovery, and other services. Call 802-565-5465.

Support for Family and Friends

Here are a few free regional, state and national resources for people who support individuals in their lives who are/were suffering from mental illness. Collectively, they offer a mix of education, skills training and self-care support. They can supplement therapy or be a stand-alone aid. Note: There are many more resources out there. This list is meant to help you get started in your search. Inclusion on the list does not represent an endorsement. Also, information included was accurate to the best of our knowledge, based on website reviews. Please check on your own to see if resources are still being offered or have changed. 

For Those Supporting Others with Mental Health Conditions

  • NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) NJ offers Family-to-Family, an education programfor family, friends and significant others of adults with mental health conditions. It provides information about a variety of mental health conditions, as well as communication, problem solving, treatment and recovery. It is designed to increase understanding and advocacy skills while helping participants maintain their own well-being. The program is taught by trained family members who have a loved one with a mental health condition. Classes have been offered both in-person and online. For more information: NAMI New Jersey, N Brunswick, NJ (naminj.org).
  • NAMI NJ periodically offers a Family Support Group. This online support group for adult friends and family members (18+) of people with mental health conditions. Participants gain support from peers who understand their experience and gain insight into others’ challenges and successes. Go to NAMI New Jersey, N Brunswick, NJ (naminj.org) to register.
  • NAMI NJ periodically offers a Sibling Support Group. This online support group is for individuals with a sibling who lives with mental illness. Gain support and share with others who can relate to your personal experiences. Participants must pre-register and be 18 years or older. Go to NAMI New Jersey, N Brunswick, NJ (naminj.org) to see if there is a group current being offered and to register.
  • NAMI NJ periodically offers a Spouse/Partner Support Group online, for individuals with a spouse/partner who lives with mental illness. Gain support and share with others who can relate to your personal experiences. Participants must pre-register and be 18 years or older. Go to NAMI New Jersey, N Brunswick, NJ (naminj.org) to see if there is a group current being offered and to register.
  • NAMI Vermont offers family support groups. Go to Support Groups – NamiVT.
  • The Mental Health Association in Atlantic County NJ offers Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS) for families of relatives with mental illness. Throughout NJ, many families take an active role in care for a relative who has mental illness. IFSS offers families a variety of services to help build coping skills to address these challenges. IFSS is open to all Atlantic County families with a relative with mental illness. Find out more: Services to Families – Mental Health Association New Jersey (mhaac.info).
  • Mental Health America offers useful online information for caregivers to help them maintain their mental health and better assist loved ones with mental illness. Go to Mental Health Resources for Caregivers | Mental Health America (mhanational.org).
  • The Mental Health Association of Atlantic County also offers on Acute Care Family (ACF) program, which assists families when their family member is in crisis and in need of treatment from the behavioral health acute care system. The staff engages with families, educating them about mental illness and offer resources and referrals that can help their loved one. Any family member in need of help can phone the On-Call Acute Line at 609-517-8614, 8 am to 8 pm daily, including weekends.

For Survivors of Suicide Loss

  • Are you a loved one of someone who died by suicide? A psycho-educational group for survivors of suicide loss, sponsored by the Mental Health Association of NJ, meets via Zoom the first Monday of each month at 6:30 pm. Each meeting includes a topical focus and time for discussion and reflection. In addition, a general support group meets via Zoom on the third Monday of the month, same time. For information, e-mail jyoung@mhanj.org or call 609-377-5859.
  • For similar groups in Vermont, see VTSPC Updated Grief Resource List 5/31/22.docx.

For Those Supporting Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (or Significant Emotion Dysregulation)

  • Do you have a loved one who deals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) or significant emotional dysregulation (ED)? The Family Connection program, offered by the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder, is a Zoom course offering education on BPD/ED, relationship skill-building based on dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), support from course leaders who also have a relationship with a person with BPD/ED, suggestions for taking care of yourself, and communication techniques. For more: The Family Connections Program | National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder.

For Families of Relatives with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

For Families of Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

For Those Supporting a Person with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

For Those Supporting Someone with Tourette or Tic Disorders

For Parents/Caregivers of Persons with Mood Disorders

  • The Parent and Caregiver Network is an online support community for parents and caregivers to find connections, resources, and hope. The Network was created to connect parents across the world who are raising children living with mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder. Our family-focused community provides reliable information to caregivers about mood disorders, treatment, school accommodations, research, and more. The online community has groups, forums, and other resources to support you along your journey. The discussion boards are moderated by dedicated volunteers who are parents and caregivers themselves and understand the realities of raising a child living with a mood disorder diagnosis.

For Those Supporting Persons with a Substance Use Disorder

  • NJ Connect for Recovery is a free, confidential call line focused on helping family members and friends coping with a loved one’s substance use disorder. A service of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, NJ Connect for Recovery provides a safe, nonjudgmental place for individuals and family members to get counseling, and assistance from professional staff members on substance use issues. It provides emotional support, education, ongoing family and peer guidance and access to treatment options through REACHNJ. Calls are answered live at 855-652-3737 from 8 am – 10 pm on weekdays, 5 pm – 10 pm on weekends, and 3 pm – 10 pm on holidays. Call for immediate guidance and support and get your substance use disorder questions answered.
  • Vermont Helplink for Alcohol & drug support center (vthelplink.org). VT Helplink is a free resource for Vermonters, providing confidential, non-judgmental support and referrals to treatment, recovery, and other services. Call 802-565-5465.

For Those Supporting Persons with Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors

  • Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) include hair pulling (trichotillomania), skin picking (excoriation/dermatillomania), nail biting (onychophagia), cheek biting (morsicatio buccarum), and other associated behaviors. They can cause significant shame and isolation due to societal stigmas and mischaracterization. If you have a loved one that experiences body-focused repetitive behaviors, the TLC Foundation offers a variety of health education and community programs to support the whole family. See Families – TLC Foundation for BFRBs as well as the other resources on this website.

For Those Supporting Persons with Eating Disorders