Calendar of Events

Many individuals on a daily basis experience a suicidal, mental health, or substance use crisis, and do not receive appropriate emergency care. Sadly, the recent pandemic has exasperated these incidents, leading to a more severe and serious mental health crisis nationally, but in New Jersey as well.

The new rollout of the 24/7 "988" emergency crisis line will be available nationwide by July 2022. Although 988 will serve individuals with mental health and substance use disabilities, this line will also be helpful for individuals with IDD who may also have co-occurring mental health and/or substance use diagnoses, and who are experiencing a crisis.

Carlean Ponder, Director of Disability Rights and Housing Policy at The Arc and Juan Guerrero, Policy Associate at The Arc, will be discussing the importance of 988 regarding disability justice, as well as both federal and State legislative implications of the rollout, including the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Implementation Act.