The Eight Dimensions of Wellness

CULTURAL
Developing awareness, knowledge, and appreciation for one’s identities and the identities of others. Ability to create and maintain a positive, inclusive environment that values inclusivity, diversity, and social justice.

EMOTIONAL
Coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships. This part of wellness looks at feelings and thoughts and how you cope with and react to your emotions. It helps you cope with the ups and downs of life by working on building resiliency.

ENVIRONMENTAL
Good health by occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being. This dimension is about being aware of the natural and built environment.

It looks at who and what you are surrounded by, how the environment impacts you, and how your actions impact the environment.

FINANCIAL
Satisfaction with current and future financial situations.

This dimension is about learning how to successfully manage expenses for both the short and long term and living within your means.

INTELLECTUAL
Recognizing creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills. This dimension involves having curiosity about the world around you and being a lifelong learner.

OCCUPATIONAL
Personal satisfaction and enrichment from one’s work. This dimension is also about being able to balance your responsibilities – academics, work, extracurricular, etc. while having time to do the things you enjoy.

PHYSICAL
Recognizing the need for physical activity, healthy food, and sleep. This dimension also involves seeking medical attention when needed and taking part in primary care/prevention screenings.

SOCIAL
Developing a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system. This dimension includes your relationships with friends and family as well as how you are connected to and involved in the community.

SPIRITUAL
Expanding a sense of purpose and meaning in life. This dimension involves clarifying your values and beliefs. This area also deals with how you create meaning in your life and define your purpose.

The Assisted Outpatient Treatment Services (AOTS) facilitates the Involuntary Outpatient Commitment Law in Somerset County.  This program was created in the county in 2014 from legislation passed in 2009.  All counties in New Jersey, as well as 42 states, have implemented similar programs with successful outcomes. 

The Involuntary Outpatient Commitment Law was designed to help those individuals who have a mental illness and meet certain criteria for commitment, but would be best served in the community instead of an inpatient psychiatric hospital. In the past, individuals would either be involuntarily committed to an inpatient setting or discharged into the community independently.  Participation involves having legal status changed and periodic legal reviews in the community.

The AOTS serves as a means to keep an individual in the community with the support of an intensive mental health case management team.  The goal of the AOTS is to provide mental health case management to adults in the least restrictive alternative that is available while ameliorating danger. 

The goal of the program is to connect consumers to mental health services, as well as to other people and organizations that can support their goals.  We seek to support each person’s wellness and recovery in the community.  This could include assisting the consumer with:

• Writing a WRAP(Wellness Recovery Action Plan) and maintaining overall health
• Establishing a Psychiatric Advance Directive
• Transportation training
• Referral to DVRS for  education goals
• Referral to SE for vocational goals
• Medication education and monitoring
• Assistance with living independently
• Assistance reconnecting with family

In Case of a Psychiatric Emergency
Please contact Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (PESS) at 908-526-4100.
This service can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The CARE (Co-occurring and Relationship Empowerment Program)  is a client-driven wellness and recovery program dedicated to empowering individuals who struggle with co-occurring mental health, substance use disorders, and relationship challenges to make choices in support of self-determination and personal growth.

Our Services Incorporate: 

• Medication Management
• Group, Family, and Individual Therapy
• Individualized treatment plans designed to support and achieve personal goals

Treatment Modalities include:

• Motivational Enhancement Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP)
• Art Therapy
• Personal Skills Development
• Stress Management
• Dealing with Difficult  Emotions
• MI-CBT

Levels of Care Include:

• Level 2.1 Intensive Outpatient – a minimum of 9 hours of group per week, weekly individual therapy and weekly toxicology testing
• Level 1.0 Outpatient – a minimum of once weekly individual therapy and random toxicology testing; may include a combination of individual and group therapy or medication assisted recovery
• Substance use evaluation including toxicology testing

To inquire further about these services, please call us at 908-253-3165

In Case of a Psychiatric Emergency
Please contact Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (PESS) at 908-526-4100.
This service can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Center is pleased to offer different groups that are available within the Center. For more information please contact our Access Center at (908) 253-3165.

In addition these are some self-help support groups: 

In Case of a Psychiatric Emergency
Please contact Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (PESS) at 908-526-4100.
This service can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

OPTIONS FOR MEN AND WOMEN

Options for Men and Women is a 26 week psycho-educational group provided for those seeking to end abuse to their partners. 

Relationship Empowerment & Services

Is a gender-specific, psychoeducational program to stop and prevent domestic violence in relationships. The program is available to any interested individuals including those that are self-referred or court ordered with a willingness to commit to growth and change.

Assessment and Referral

• Individual Assessment
• Intervention Recommendation and Referral

Batterer Intervention

• Minimum of twenty-six (26) week domestic violence group program with random drug screening

Service Coordination

• With the courts and other agencies

Adjunctive Services

• Individual therapy for other mental health and substance use issues, relapse prevention services, medication evaluation and management. 

In Case of a Psychiatric Emergency
Please contact Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (PESS) at 908-526-4100.
This service can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Project Outreach provides case management services to people who live with a mental illness and who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness.  Project Outreach is also referred to as Somerset County PATH, which stands for Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness.  The program works with Somerset County residents and links them to mental health, Substance use services, entitlements, and housing. 

The program staff will customize services to meet the needs of individuals.  A tailored plan is developed which may include linkages to mental health services, substance use services, physical health and dental services, and community resources, as well as permanent housing.  The program assists with applying for entitlements such as temporary housing, Food Stamps, Welfare and SSI/SSDI.  Once immediate mental health/ substance use needs are stabilized, the program helps people to apply for permanent housing.  Case management services are continued for up to twelve months to assist individuals in maintaining their housing. 

In Case of a Psychiatric Emergency
Please contact Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (PESS) at 908-526-4100.
This service can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Reach for Recovery is a cost effective, fully integrated, community focused wellness and recovery support program designed to support individuals in recovering from co-occurring and/or substance use disorders for individuals that are residents of Somerset County. We provide supportive services based on each participant’s recovery needs to support them in achieving and maintaining long-term recovery.

R4R embraces the Eight Dimensions of Wellness to inform recovery planning and delivery of services.  Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center is able to provide these valuable services due to the STAR Grant and the Division of Mental Health & Addiction (DMHAS) Chapter 51 Grant to provide Wellness and recovery coordination services. 

The STAR Grant is targeted specifically to those struggling with an Opiate use disorders and the goal is to reduce the use of opiates over the course of one year.  The Star Grant aims to increasing linkage to co-occurring and MAT (Medicated Assisted Treatment) and access to recovery support services to Somerset County residents.  This program utilizes the strength of Peer Recovery specialists with lived experience to assist those in the process of recovery.

R4R has been an pivotal community partner in the Operation Helping Hand (OHH) initiative run by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s office. The OHH Initiative is a program where law enforcement plays an integral part in identifying individuals with substance use disorders and together with community partners serves as a point of entry into treatment and/or recovery support services.  By conducting door-to-door outreach or by deploying the NEW mobile van, Somerset County’s OHH’s goal during each encounter is to have law enforcement, accompanied by recovery support specialists, engage residents in need by providing on-the-spot referrals to treatment and other resources.”

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

EMPLOYMENT WORKS IS A SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM to assist individuals who have been unemployed or underemployed due to mental health challenges. The program provides one-on-one job coaching and job development assistance for participants to choose, get, and keep employment. The Job Coach is an additional support added to the individuals treatment team, family, friends, co-workers, and other community resources to help increase the likelihood of maintaining success at work.

Possible types of support that may be provided, if desired, include:

• Help managing time, pacing, and prioritizing at work
• Benefit Planning – SSDI/SSI, Medicare, Medicaid, GA, etc.
• Providing feedback on performance and problem solving for improvement
• Support to cope with personal problems, to decrease the impact on work performance, and to help to work through a bad day
• Assistance dealing with personnel, workspace, or environment issues
• Helping address special needs related to job modifications and/or reasonable accommodations
• Problem solving assistance for maintaining a job
• Encouragement and emotional support to maintain a job
• Support can be offered at the worksite, in the community or in the office
• On site visits and contact with an employer or supervisor, if desired
• Orientation and Training support
• Transportation Training
• Help in learning the expectations of the employer and worksite culture

In Case of a Psychiatric Emergency
Please contact Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (PESS) at 908-526-4100. 
This service can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Touchstone Intensive Support Service is a structured therapeutic environment which meets 3 times a week for 3 hours each day and typically runs for 6 to 8 months. It is a good treatment option for individuals needing more support than once-a-week counseling or those who have recently completed a hospitalization.

Touchstone will help individuals build on foundational mental health skills that will help them to successfully identify and manage their stressors and triggers.

BENEFITS OF TOUCHSTONE INTENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICE PARTICIPATION:

• Stabilization and reduction of psychiatric symptoms
• Adherence to medications and treatment goals
• Education to support the recovery process
• Guidance and support to participate in community-based services, including self-help groups
• Decreased disruptive effects related to psychiatric symptoms and behaviors
• Improved relationships with family and supports
• Return to daily life

EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE SERVICES WE OFFER IN TOUCHSTONE:

• 9 hours of group therapy
• Case Management
• Participation in Wellness Activities
• Individual Therapy as indicated
• Medication Monitoring
• Group meets Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday in-person from either 9:00 AM - 12:15 PM or 10:45 AM - 2:00 PM. 

In Case of a Psychiatric Emergency
Please contact Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (PESS) at 908-526-4100.
This service can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.