U.S. Sens. Bob Menendez and Cory Booker of New Jersey, both Democrats, on Monday announced a combined total of $24,019,053 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support mental health and substance abuse services across the Garden State.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a steep toll on the physical and mental health of New Jerseyans,” said Menendez. “The stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines are necessary to limit the spread of the virus but can have severe consequences for individuals facing depression, anxiety, and drug and alcohol abuse. This funding will bolster organizations’ abilities to respond to the increase in mental health need and ensure individuals have the resources to get through this trying time.”

These services are especially critical during the current pandemic as anxiety and emotional distress rises as Americans follow state stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines. In March, at Gov. Phil Murphy’s direction, departmental actions were announced to ensure New Jerseyans have access to telehealth and tele-mental health services to the greatest extent possible during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“As we address the need for quality, comprehensive care through this public health crisis, it’s important we include treatment for not only physical health, but also mental health,” said Booker. “These federal resources will help New Jerseyans in need of mental health and addiction treatment access the care they need to maintain their health and well-being.”

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported an increase by more than 1,000 percent to the federal government’s disaster distress hotline during the month of April, a bleak reminder of the toll the pandemic has taken on individuals and families in New Jersey and across the nation.

The following organizations received funding to boost their mental health and substance abuse services:

• Oaks Integrated Care Inc. in Mount Holly: $4,000,000
• Care Plus NJ Inc. in Paramus: $4,000,000
• Northwest Essex Community Healthcare Network Inc. in Belleville: $3,999,907
• Somerset County: $2,343,404
• Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton in Trenton: $2,000,000
• CPC Behavioral Healthcare Inc. in Eatontown: $2,000,000
• Integrity Inc. in Newark: $2,000,000
• Rutgers Biomedical/Health Sciences in New Brunswick: $1,999,742
• Acenda Inc. in Glassboro: $1,676,000