New Jersey social outreach program highlights importance of mental health support

The Family Guidance Center of Warren County (FGCWC) in New Jersey has been helping sufferers of mental illness and people with substance abuse problems for more than 55 years.

According to New Jersey Online, the center operates 16 programs from eight locations, and more than 4,500 Warren County residents make use of FGCWC's services every year. The center has a full-time staff of clinicians and social workers who work with patients to ensure that they are diagnosed and treated appropriately.

"We’re here to discover your strengths, your aptitude, your interests, your courage, your bravery, your ways to learn about your illness, overcome your illness, and achieve the things that you want to achieve in your life," said Rich McDonnell, FGCWC's executive director, quoted by the news outlet.

The work of organizations such as FGCWC highlights the importance of mental health awareness. The National Institute of Health (NIH) announced in July that greater emphasis needs to be placed on researching the treatment of mental, neurological and substance abuse disorders by the medical community, according to its website.

The NIH claimed that in comparison to illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, there are far fewer preventative treatments available for the treatment of psychological and mental health conditions such as depression, schizophrenia and alcoholism. 

POSTED BY: ec_admin - August 3rd, 2011 at 03:51pm ( 0 )