TRENTON – Today, Senator Teresa Ruiz and Assemblyman Herb Conaway, along with other statehouse colleagues, hosted a roundtable exploring youth mental issues with community organizations, including Garden State Equality, and health experts.

“While New Jersey youth and students across the country are experiencing toxic stress and increased mental health challenges, our marginalized youth — specifically our LGBTQ students — are at greater risk of substance abuse, victimization, sexual abuse, homelessness and are attempting suicide at disproportionate rates in comparison to their cisgender and heterosexual peers,” said Interim Deputy Director of Garden State Equality Alisha De Lorenzo, MS, NCC, LPC, who attended the roundtable. “Garden State Equality is extremely grateful to Senator Ruiz and Assemblyman Conaway, not only for inviting us to the roundtable, but for putting their attention and resources behind this critical issue affecting our children in pursuit of life-saving solutions.”

The roundtable group explored the main challenges of mental health facing youth along with potential recommendations on actions to improve access to and the quality of mental health services for youth in New Jersey. Moreover, the roundtable discussed strategies to incorporate schools as effective partners in identifying and addressing the mental health needs of youth.