Press Release

Contact: Susan Preston
(973) 972-7265

New Hotline Offers Mental Health Assistance for Returning Military Veterans

4/13/05—The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs announced a partnership today (April 13) to create of a new mental health helpline for veterans returning from service in Southwest Asia.

The program was announced at a news conference at Fort Dix. Participating in the event were Major General Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General of New Jersey; Colonel (ret.) Steve Abel, Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs; Dr. John J. Petillo, President, UMDNJ; and Christopher Kosseff, President & CEO, UMDNJ-University Behavioral HealthCare.

The toll free helpline will provide immediate assistance to veterans suffering from psychological or emotional distress as well as those having difficulty re-assimilating back into civilian life following the conclusion of their mobilization for active duty service.

The helpline, which is accessible 24 hours a day seven days a week by dialing 1-866 VETS-NJ 4 (1-866-838-7654) will be coordinated by UMDNJ University Behavioral HealthCare. It will offer peer counseling, clinical assessment, and assistance to family members. It also will provide New Jersey veterans and their families with access to a comprehensive Mental Health Provider Network of mental health professionals specializing in PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and other veterans'; issues. All services are free and confidential.

More than 4,000 National Guard and Reserve personnel from New Jersey have been mobilized since September 11, 2001 for service in Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom.

--April 21, 2005