According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, the U.S. is currently experiencing a mental health crisis simultaneous to a shortage mental health professionals and this particularly apparent in rural, black and Latino communities. 

The statistics on mental health and access to services in New Jersey are equally concerning.  As of 2021, 42% of NJ adults reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression.  There has also been an increase in anxiety and depression in NJ children, coupled with an alarming increase in self-harm behaviors by NJ teens.  Further, NJ rates death by drug overdose deaths continue to outpace all previous records, and suicide remains the second leading cause of death for young black men and women ages 15-24. There has never been a greater need for licensed mental health professionals in NJ!

In partnership with the American Counseling Association and the National Center for Interstate compacts, the New Jersey Counseling Association (NJCA) is currently advocating for legislation to address this need by joining as a member state of the interstate Counseling Compact.  The Counseling Compact provides a number of important expansions to access, mobility, and licensed professional counseling services within and outside of the state.  By joining as a member state of the Counseling Compact, Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) within and outside of NJ could offer licensed counseling services to clients residing in any of the Counseling Compact member states. Currently, 22 other states have joined as members of the compact.  This would also improve continuity of care during for both the client and the LPC during travel, and would ensure that special demographics such as students attending college out of state, or military service members and there families can continue with their NJ counselors while living outside of NJ.

Please join us in reaching out to your NJ State Senate and Assembly representatives!  Ask them to pass the Counseling Compact Legislation, Senate Bill S3061 and Assembly Bill 5311 here in the Garden State!!

Information and resources for finding and reaching out to your representatives can be found on the NJCA website: https://njcounseling.org/interstate-counseling-compact-training-1-31-23/

Additional information on the Counseling Compact is available on their website: https://counselingcompact.org/