A Message from the Director

(Continued from the newsletter)

During the Fall of 2001, New Jersey's disaster mental health system responded simultaneously to two of the most terrifying events of our times: the 9/11 attacks that claimed the lives of more that 900 New Jerseyeans and the anthrax postal crisis that further traumatized the country. New Jersey's crisis counselors rose to these historic and unprecedented challenges and wrote an important chapter in text books that will guide mental health professionals for years to come as they assist the victims and survivors of the powerful events that will define their time.

From New Jersey's Project Recovery in the wake of Hurricane Floyd through our 9/11 Project Phoenix, we have lived the "neighbor helping neighbor" philosophy of disaster mental health assistance. I am proud to have lead the Division through these challenging times, and I leave my post with a great sense of what we have accomplished together.

I can say with confidence that New Jersey's communities can  continue to look to the New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services for the compassion and care that is so instrumental in coping with the emotional consequences of disasters and terrorism. My best wishes to each of you in your efforts to help our neighbors. Your care for others during the darkest days of their lives will never be forgotten, not by the victims and survivors of disasters, terrorism and other traumatic events, and certainly not by me.