Mental health is one of the most urgent and complex issues facing New Jersey families today. From the rise in teen anxiety to the lingering effects of the pandemic, many parents, children, and young adults are struggling to find timely, affordable support.
As the 2025 gubernatorial race unfolds, both candidates — Mikie Sherrill (Democrat) and Jack Ciattarelli (Republican) — are being asked how they would address the growing mental-health crisis. While they differ in focus and approach, both recognize that access, affordability, and community well-being must be priorities.
The State of Mental Health in New Jersey
According to data from Mental Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and the New Jersey Hospital Association:
Over 1.1 million adults in New Jersey experience some form of mental illness each year — about 16 % of the adult population.
Nearly 250,000 adults live with a serious mental-health condition.
More than 70,000 adolescents (ages 12–17) report experiencing major depression annually, with anxiety rates even higher.
Roughly 42 % of NJ adults have recently reported symptoms of anxiety or depression.
57 % of adults with a mental-health condition receive no treatment, largely due to cost, availability, or stigma.
Workforce shortages are growing — too few psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists to meet demand, especially in coastal and suburban areas like Monmouth County.
These statistics underscore a critical reality: New Jersey residents need more affordable, accessible, and coordinated mental-health care — both in schools and in the community.
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Candidate Views on Mental Health
Mikie Sherrill (Democrat)
Congresswoman Sherrill has spoken about mental health throughout her public service career, framing it as both a public-health and family-wellness priority.
Her stated and legislative positions include:
Youth & Technology: Sherrill highlights the connection between social-media use and teen anxiety. Her “Online Safety Agenda” promotes digital wellness, parental tools, and limits on harmful online content targeting minors.
Behavioral-Health Access: She views mental health as part of her “Affordability Agenda,” focusing on lowering costs and expanding access to care for families.
Addiction & Re-Entry: Sherrill co-chairs the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force and reintroduced the Improving Mental Healthcare in the Re-Entry System Act, designed to expand mental-health screenings and services for those re-entering communities after incarceration.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1392/text
Public Safety & Prevention: She has said that better access to counseling and treatment can reduce crime, strengthen communities, and improve outcomes for youth.
Community-Based Support: Her “SAFE NJ” initiative includes expanding local prevention programs, early intervention, and resource coordination.
https://www.stopitsolutions.com/safenj
In short:
Sherrill tends to view mental health as a systemic issue — connected to affordability, safety, and youth well-being — requiring a coordinated state response with funding for schools, families, and community-based services.
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Jack Ciattarelli (Republican)
Jack Ciattarelli’s campaign is primarily centered on affordability, tax reform, and government efficiency. Mental health has not been a headline focus, but his broader health and cost-reduction policies could indirectly affect access to care.
His stated or implied positions include:
Affordability & Access: Ciattarelli argues that reducing the overall cost of living and health care will make services (including mental health) more attainable.
https://www.insidernj.com/ciattarelli-outlines-10-point-garden-state-affordability-agenda/
Government Efficiency: He has proposed creating a “Department of Government Efficiency” to cut bureaucratic waste — which could, if applied effectively, streamline access to public mental-health programs.
Public Safety & Stability: Ciattarelli emphasizes safe communities and strong local governance, which may influence how behavioral-health crises are managed at the community level.
Healthcare Funding: While he has expressed commitment to keeping New Jerseyans insured, he has not detailed specific funding or expansion plans for mental-health initiatives, school counseling, or addiction recovery programs.
In short:
Ciattarelli views mental health largely through the lens of fiscal and structural reform — with the idea that a more efficient, affordable system could support better care, but without explicit new programs or mandates.
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What the Differences Mean for Families & Young Adults
While both candidates acknowledge mental-health challenges, they differ in how they would address them:
Mikie Sherrill (S) / Jack Ciattarelli (C)
Youth Focus: (S) Direct emphasis on adolescent anxiety, online safety, and prevention. (C) Limited youth-specific discussion
Access to Care: (S) Seeks to expand access and affordability through healthcare reform, )C) Focuses on reducing costs broadly, not specifically mental health
Addiction / Recovery: (S) Supports re-entry mental-health services and addiction treatment. (C) Has not released detailed addiction or recovery policy.
Funding & Infrastructure: (S) Proposes coordinated state action and partnerships. (C) Emphasizes budget efficiency and private-sector balance.
Public Safety: (S) Connects mental-health access to crime prevention. (C) Links public safety to law enforcement and stability.
For New Jersey families, especially those raising children or teens, these contrasts matter.
A more health-driven approach could increase funding for school and community programs, while a fiscal-efficiency approach could shift resources toward private or insurance-based care.
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Advocacy & Action: What Families Can Do
Regardless of the election outcome, advocacy remains essential. Families and providers can help shape the state’s mental-health future by:
1. Staying informed: Follow updates from reputable outlets and the New Jersey Department of Human Services.
2. Asking questions: Candidates and policymakers should hear directly from parents, educators, and clinicians about what’s missing.
3. Supporting schools: Engage with PTA groups, school boards, and youth organizations to push for on-campus counseling and early-intervention programs.
4. Normalizing care: Talk openly about therapy, stress, and emotional wellness at home — reduce stigma early.
5. Partnering with providers: Mental-health professionals, like Dynamic Counseling Solutions, can bridge policy and practice by supporting families while policymakers work on system-level change.
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The Path Forward
Mental health is not a fringe issue, it’s central to family stability, academic success, and community well-being.
Whether New Jersey’s next governor approaches the issue through affordability and prevention or efficiency and reform, families deserve consistent, compassionate access to care.
At Dynamic Counseling Solutions, we’re committed to being part of that solution, supporting children, teens, and young adults as they navigate stress, anxiety, and life’s transitions.
We’ll continue to advocate for a state where mental-health care is affordable, accessible, and free of stigma.
S.Pace's PsychoHealth Blog 