International Overdose Awareness Day is recognized annually on August 31st to raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with drug-related deaths. The day also remembers and honors those who lost their fight to overdose. At Oaks, our mission remains consistent – helping to save lives. According to the CDC, over 90,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in 2020 alone, with opioids remaining as the leading cause. However, drug overdoses can be prevented. The CDC states, “More than 3 out of 5 overdose deaths had at least one potential opportunity to link people to care before the fatal overdose or to implement life-saving actions when the fatal overdose occurred.” Recovery is always possible with the proper treatment, [...]

For today’s youth, mental health holds a significance in their day-to-day lives. As we head back-to-school this September, many students may struggle with changes in their daily routine or encounter new challenges in school. Parents and caregivers should keep an eye out for persistent behavioral changes, excessive stress, or withdrawal as indicators that your student is facing a mental health-related challenge. Looking at the numbers, an estimated one in six children have a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder today. As outlined by the CDC, mental health disorders are described as “serious changes to the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions, causing distress and problems throughout the day.” ADHD, anxiety, behavioral problems, and depression are the most [...]

Beginning on July 16, 2022 a new 988 suicide and crisis lifeline was released throughout the United States. In the state of New Jersey, 988 will offer “compassionate, accessible care and support” to anyone experiencing mental health-related distress, thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance abuse crisis. With our focus on mental health and addiction services, Oaks remains dedicated to informing you about the changing status of mental health resources in the US. Here is what you need to know about the new lifeline: Designated by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the 988 lifeline will directly route callers to mental health services for people in distress and crisis. The free, 24/7, and confidential support offered by the lifeline is [...]

This July, we asked members of our leadership team to share personal or work experiences related to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) Mental Health Month. Our Vice President of Adult Developmental Disability Services, Pam Brown, wrote the following opinion piece about her experience growing up in an African American Christian household and how the "Pray it Away" philosophy impacted her life ~ "Pray It Away" this phrase has been used when discussing homosexuality but it was also used in my household for many years as it relates to mental illness. Growing up in a Christian household, I always heard my grandmother say, "there is nothing wrong with him." Pray and God will take it away. PUSH (pray [...]

Just as every person is unique, so is every culture. BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) individuals hold rich histories and unique experiences which impact their beliefs and well-being. According to Mental Health America (MHA), BIPOC communities are significantly more likely to develop mental health conditions. With July as BIPOC Mental Health Month, it remains essential to understand mental health challenges through a diverse lens. To support BIPOC communities, MHA outlined information and resources for specific cultural groups. American Indians/Alaska Natives It is estimated that at least 18.7% of the 9.6 million American Indian/Alaska Natives have experienced a mental health condition within the past year. Many native tribes and lands that exist within the U.S. have been deeply [...]

"While everyone - all colors - everyone is affected by stigma - no one wants to say 'I'm not in control of my mind.' No one wants to say, 'The person I love is not in control of [their] mind.' But people of color really don't want to say it because we already feel stigmatized by virtue of skin color or eye shape or accent and we don't want any more reasons for anyone to say, 'You're not good enough.'" - Bebe Moore Campbell July is BIPOC Mental Health Month, formally recognized as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in 2008 by a bipartisan and bicameral Congress. Oaks seeks to provide tools and support for all individuals [...]

Creating and rebuilding a healthy, nurturing environment is essential for families after a child has been placed outside of the home. Supervised visitation services give families a chance to develop positive parent-child interactions. From therapeutic to intensive, Oaks Integrated Care offers families supervised visitation services with the ultimate goal of reunification. Services include case management, weekly supervised visits and parenting groups based on the Nurturing Parenting Program curriculum. The evidence-based curriculum takes a trauma-informed approach designed to build nurturing parenting skills and stop the cycle of abuse and neglect. The family-centered program helps families like Jerry’s work together toward reunification. Jerry’s Story As a veteran and single father of three children, Jerry struggled with many challenges due to unaddressed [...]

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be overwhelming for both the individual and their family. PTSD is a common illness, not a sign of weakness, with the National Center for PTSD reporting about 12 million adults in the U.S. living with PTSD during a given year. As a loved one to someone battling PTSD, understanding how symptoms can affect many aspects including their career, family, and just day-to-day life is key to supporting them. Oaks Integrated Care offers mental health services with a focus on Trauma Informed Care for individuals and their families. Here are some tips to help guide you through the process of helping someone with PTSD. Learn and listen. Educate yourself on the symptoms and treatment options [...]

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, and Agender (LGBTQIA+) individuals are a valuable part of our communities. Oaks Integrated Care welcomes and celebrates diversity, inclusion and equality throughout our organization from our employees to the individuals and families we serve. For those who identify as LGBTQIA+, it’s important to recognize how the challenges they face can impact their mental health. According to Mental Health America, 4.5% of the U.S. population identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and over 39% of those individuals reported having a mental illness in the past year. That is nearly 5.8 million people. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, transgender individuals are nearly four times as likely as cisgender individuals to experience [...]

When living with a mental health condition or facing a mental health concern, it’s common to feel like no one understands what you’re going through. But many people overcome the mental health challenges they face. You aren’t alone – help is out there and recovery is possible. As outlined by Mental Health America below, mental health conditions can be hard and confusing. It’s becoming more and more common to talk about mental health in the open, but there’s still a lot of stigma or judgment that people have about mental health conditions. If you’ve seen or heard negativity about the same challenges you deal with, you might internalize those attitudes and feel shame about your experiences. This shame, or self-stigma, [...]