Elected officials visit Montclair to announce funding for mental health services – Newsroom

On Tuesday, May 7, New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way and Secretary of Higher Education Brian K. Bridges visited the Montclair State University campus to announce that New Jersey students Jersey will benefit from free 24/7/365 access to teletherapy, crisis connection and wellbeing. programming throughout the rest of the Murphy administration.

Launched a year ago, the state’s first partnership with mental health and wellness platform, Uwill, currently serves students at 45 eligible New Jersey higher education institutions who have chosen to participate in the partnership .

Reps. Linda Carter (D-22), Rosaura Bagolie (D-27), and Andrea Katz (D-8) joined Montclair President Jonathan Koppell and Director of Counseling and Psychological Services Jaclyn Friedman-Lombardo to welcomed the initiative during the lunchtime program, which also featured remarks from Uwill founder and CEO Michael London.

“During these challenging times, it is more important than ever to work together to ensure everyone feels seen and supported,” says Koppell. “While we can’t always change the world around us, we can foster a culture that empowers our students and employees to overcome obstacles and provide them with the resources they need to thrive. We are grateful for the state’s commitment to investing in services like Uwill, and are relieved that today’s announcement means thousands more students across the state will have the opportunity to obtain the support they need.

“Given the increased need for mental health support, Montclair State University Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) looks forward to partnering with Uwill to increase access and provide an option longer-term care for students,” says Friedman-Lombardo. “The telehealth program is particularly helpful in filling service gaps for students who commute, prefer virtual support, and/or need after-hours and weekend services. The partnership also allowed CAPS staff to focus their efforts on prevention as well as resolution of crises and more acute clinical problems.

For more information about counseling and psychology services at Montclair State University, visit the department’s website.