Mental Illness and Illiteracy in New Jersey

Approximately 1 in 5 adults in New Jersey have low literacy skills, according to the American Community Survey. Illiteracy is a problem that can affect many social and cultural issues. This statistic is higher than the national average of 17.8%, but lower than the U.S. average of 23.9%.

Mental illness and depression affect the way people think, feel and behave. They can have an acute or chronic impact on a person's life. Some common mental health issues include anxiety, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a part of the Department of Health and Human Services, provides a toll-free referral helpline.

One of the biggest causes of unintentional injury deaths is alcohol use. In 2018, the binge drinking rate was 13.5% among adults in New Jersey, with the highest rates among Black and Asian adults (11.8% and 8.9%, respectively).

The share of adults in New Jersey with mental illness was 16.4% in the 2018-2019 school year. The number of adults who reported having serious thoughts of suicide in the past year was 3.8%. The share of adolescents who reported a major depressive episode in the past year was 12.7%. Other common symptoms of mental health problems are impulsivity and poor decision-making. The share of adults who reported needing counseling or therapy in the past four weeks was 19.5%.

The New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services offers early intervention and treatment for mental health problems. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration also has a treatment services locator. There are also several programs in New Jersey that offer free, quality tutoring for adults. If you are an adult who needs free, in-home tutoring or English as a second language classes, Literacy New Jersey is a nonprofit organization that provides these services. The organization serves functionally illiterate adults throughout New Jersey.

If you live in New Jersey and are not covered by a group health benefits plan, you may be eligible for the Individual Health Coverage market. In order to qualify, you must be a resident of the state, age 18 or older, and not covered by another group health benefits plan. You may also be eligible for NJ FamilyCare, depending on your gross income.

If you are an adult in New Jersey, you have a choice of purchasing individual health coverage, or purchasing insurance through your employer or a group health benefit plan. You can find a variety of plans in the individual market, which are guaranteed renewable and are not subject to lapse. Some insurers will cover you for up to 36 months. If you are married, you and your spouse may be able to insure each other. If you have children, you can also insure them under your family's plan.

In addition, New Jersey is home to the Young Adult Services Study, a randomized controlled trial being conducted by the Urban Institute that will seek to improve the lives of youth in foster care. It will begin random assignment of eligible youth in August 2021. The information collected will help improve services for this population.