How to Access Mental Health Services as a Teen in New Jersey
- Abigail L., Max M., Nicoletta P., & Taliyah H.
- Jan 23
- 4 min read
Mental health is an important part of our lives and a huge number of teens in New Jersey struggle with their own mental health, or have a friend who is struggling. In this blog, we will discuss how to help yourselves and others, will review how many teens are struggling with mental health in New Jersey, and show you how to access some free resources. It is important for teens to be aware of the mental health resources that are around them in case they need them someday.
Who are the teens of New Jersey?
The population of teenagers from 15-19 years of age is around 585,215 (United States Census Bureau, 2023). Additionally, New Jersey is the 11th most populated state in the United States (World Population Review, 2025). Here are the percentages of the different race/ethnicities of youth in New Jersey:
White: 52%
Hispanic or Latino: 23%
Black or African American: 12%
Asian: 10%
Two or More Races: 3%
(United States Census Bureau, 2023)
14% of teenagers in New Jersey were living in homes below the poverty line in 2021 (NJ Spotlight News, 2023). Living in poverty sucks as a teen because this kind of home life can severely impact your mental health and well being. Additionally, around 168,000 children in New Jersey have admitted to struggling with anxiety and depression after the pandemic (Advocates for Children of New Jersey, 2022). This is why it is super important to know of some resources that could help you or a loved one!
A Free Resource We Love!
It may seem impossible to find a reliable and safe resource that can help your mental health. However, we found just what you are looking for. This resource is a FREE mental health resource that is credible and safe for teens in New Jersey!
We feel that the best online resource found for teens is 2nd Floor. This website, or app, is active 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Another amazing aspect of this resource is that it is free and anonymous. This website allows for you to be connected with counselors that can specifically help you! This website provides teens with multiple resources from other websites, a message board to see other’s stories from when they used the 2nd Floor, and an opportunity to text or call with an experienced counselor.
Features:
Hotline: (888) 222-2228
Email: patriciab@180nj.org
Chat at bottom right corner of page
Why We Love 2NDFLOOR
Abigail: In my opinion, 2nd Floor is very sufficient for all types of people, but especially teens. It is easily accessible and easily to follow. There is a website, but there is also an app that anyone can talk to experienced counselors. The best part is that it is all anonymous. I also think that the statistics are a good touch to the website to ensure the users that they are not alone and they are not the only person that is struggling with their mental health. Whether teens use this for themselves or suggest it to a peer, it is a great resource for everyone!
Max: I think that 2nd Floor is a nice tool for teens who feel they are struggling to get the help they need. I think the website has a very friendly feel to it, making it a safe space for getting the help a teen may need. I also like that there are many options to get help through a hotline, to an anonymous chat system, or a message board. There are lots of options/flexibility. The website makes it clear that many teens struggle with mental health issues and that they are not alone as well as getting help. The best part about it is it's all free!
Nicoletta: I find 2nd Floor to be a great resource for teens because of the messaging feature. When I was a teenager I did not like having to call anyone on the phone, and it can cause even more stress and anxiety during situations where they want to reach out for help. Speaking on the phone can also cause teens to avoid reaching out for help, especially if they are scared someone else in their house could hear them talking about their problems. Having the chat feature as well as it being anonymous creates a safe space for teens, and I think it would be a great place to start!
Closing
Overall, the systems will make mistakes and can be overlooked at times. However, the more attention we give to this, the better the systems will get for you, your friends, and the people around you. Our blog talked about some mental health resources in New Jersey and how important it is to get help when you need it. Remember, it is important to get help no matter where you are in the world and you are never alone!
Call-to-Action
Please reach out to someone if you are in need of help! Look at some other resources in your area that may help you or someone you love. If you do not feel comfortable reaching out to someone for help, please look at our step-by-step instructions to a resource where you can chat or text anonymously. If someone you know is in need of help and not in the state of New Jersey, we recommend looking at the other blogs written by our classmates to see if their state or providence is there. Remember, it is okay to get help! :)
References
Lee, L. (2022, August 15). National Kids Count Report: More than 10% of NJ children struggling with mental health issues. Advocates for Children of New Jersey. https://acnj.org/nj-children-struggling-with-mental-health/
Mental health. 2NDFLOOR. (n.d.). https://www.2ndfloor.org/get-help/mental-health/
New Jersey Mental Health Cares. New Jersey Mental Health Cares RSS. (n.d.).
New Jersey. New Jersey Population 2025. (n.d.). https://worldpopulationreview.com/states/new-jersey#economic-and-income
New Jersey income - census data. (n.d.-a).
NJ spotlight news - news, issues and Insight for New Jersey. (n.d.-b).
U.S. Census Bureau quickfacts: New Jersey. (n.d.-b).
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