"Across New Jersey, in too many households, in every community, there are untold stories of children, youth and adults with mental health and substance use disorders who cannot access the services they need. There are also the untold stories of the staff who provide those critical services who are currently carrying larger caseloads and more responsibilities due to a severe workforce shortage. They are facing their own mental health, financial and work/life balance challenges. This is especially true for those staff who must work multiple jobs just to get by, as the salaries in the behavioral health field are so inadequate," wrote Debra L. Wentz, PhD, President and CEO of NJAMHAA, in an opinion-editorial piece that was published on northjersey.com.

Significantly increasing funding for behavioral healthcare services "is not only the right thing to do for the children, youth and adults of our state, but also a fiscally responsible one. It is time to invest fully in the mental well-being of our citizens so they may turn their stories to ones of success for themselves and for New Jersey’s bottom line," Dr. Wentz stressed.

Click here to read this entire article and here to view the Untold Stories campaign, which everyone is strongly encouraged to share on their social media pages and in their advocacy.