Nonprofits Launch Mental Health Partnership To Support Hundreds of New Jersey Veterans

Two nonprofits have launched a mental health partnership they hope will support around 250 veterans’ mental health in New Jersey.

The nonprofits New Jersey Reentry Corporation (NJRC) and the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Easterseals launched the initiative on Oct. 1 at an event at Carteret Veterans Center. The JRC helps individuals transition back into civilian life after leaving the military or prison, while Easterseals is a specialized facility that provides health care services to veterans, active-duty service members and their families.

Together, the two organizations said they will provide mental health counseling and other pastoral support for veterans in the state.

“This is understanding the importance of preventative care, the importance of reaching out to the veteran at the earliest possible time,” said former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey, executive director of NJRC, in a press conference announcing the initiative last month.

“Our commitment is to serve every veteran,” he added.

Veterans’ Mental Health

There are 338,012 military veterans in New Jersey. While many have successfully transitioned back to civilian life, many carry the invisible wounds of war.

In 2023, 6,398 U.S. veterans died by suicide, while 61% had not received VA health care during the preceding year, according to the most recent data from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The average number of daily veteran suicides fell from 17.6 in 2022 to 17.5 in 2023. On a single night in January 2025, more than 32,000 veterans were experiencing homelessness, the NJRC said.

Roughly 7 out of every 100 veterans will have PTSD at some point in their life, according to VA research. Of the general population, 6 out of every 100 adults, or 6%, will have PTSD in their lifetime.

Statistically, approximately 25% of all veterans meet the criteria for a mental health disorder, according to data, suggesting over 84,000 New Jersey residents are impacted.

What the Partnership Will Provide

The nonprofits will provide veterans with 12 sessions of care for free, which licensed mental health professionals will deliver.

They said that veterans will not face a waitlist to access care, and can access the program regardless of their branch, era of service, or discharge status.

The partnership will also help connect veterans with resources involving housing, employment, benefits, legal needs, addiction treatment and other challenges, the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Easterseals wrote on Facebook on Oct. 3.

“Mental health care is an important part of supporting the whole veteran, and we’re grateful to work alongside NJ Reentry and its partners to connect veterans with both behavioral health care and the additional resources they may need to move forward,” the clinic said.