They’re lonely and afraid in N.J. Can this old-school service help?

An addict struggling with dangerous temptations. A young adult overwhelmed by a controlling relationship. A suicide attempt survivor working to overcome their gambling habit.

Each needs help with a significant problem. None have someone in their lives they can trust to listen.

So all three pick up the phone to share their troubles with a stranger.

These stories are among the dozens of calls received each month by the CONTACT Listening Line, a free phone service that organizers are revamping to tackle one of modern society’s greatest health threats: loneliness.

“People feel like they’re not connected to anyone,” said Eleanor Letcher, executive director for CONTACT of Mercer County, the group behind the phone line. “There has to be a place where someone can call and just talk to someone in confidence about whatever is bothering them.”

The concept of a listening line is far from new. But this line’s mission may be more important than ever during a loneliness crisis U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy has declared a public health epidemic.
Nearly 2.4 million New Jerseyans — about 26.4% of the population — are socially isolated, according to a 2023 estimate by the state Department of Human Services. And the consequences for mental and physical health are dire.

“The mental health crisis is consistently top of people’s minds,” said U.S. Congressman Andy Kim, who represents parts of Mercer County. “We have to recognize there are significant gaps in our country that we need to address to get people the help they need.”

That’s where the listening line comes in.

CONTACT’s service first started during the hotline frenzy of the mid-’70s, when two local pastors organized volunteers to help strangers with their problems. Typical callers in those early days were feeling overwhelmed by family arguments, raising children and dealing with their in-laws, said Letcher, who has been involved with the program since its inception.

The line evolved over the decades with the needs of its callers, eventually focusing more on crisis resolution and suicide prevention. In 2022, Contact’s hotline joined the nationwide 988 program to assist people in suicidal crisis and began responding to 988 calls, texts and chats.

Its original phone line needed a new mission.

Organizers decided to revamp it with a new number (609-737-3300), consistent hours (11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays) and an emphasis on combating the underlying theme of so many calls they receive. Some people feel so lonely they think “nobody would care if they lived or they died,” Letcher said.

Depression. Hopelessness. Suicidal thoughts. A heightened likelihood of heart disease and dementia. The staggering toll of loneliness increases the risk of premature death by more than 60% — about as dangerous as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day — Murthy said last year.

Loneliness isn’t always obvious to recognize, according to Ashley Ermer, a professor of human development at Montclair State University. It can affect people who spend considerable time with their spouse or are surrounded by thousands of peers on a college campus.

“As humans, we have this need to connect with others,” said Ermer, who studies loneliness, especially in adults. “Knowing that there’s someone listening, trying to understand what you’re going through … that’s a really powerful feeling.”

The listening line is averaging about 85 calls per month, a substantial increase over last year, according to CONTACT. Callers do not need to be in imminent crisis or feeling suicidal. The line is open to anyone who just needs to talk.

Those on the other end of the line are a mix of volunteers and paid staff. Some are college students. Others have been working on the hotline for decades. Beyond listening, their goal is to help connect the callers with local services for whatever ongoing support they need, according to Jesse Swzed, the CONTACT Listening Line Coordinator.

The caller with a controlling relationship was referred to a counselor in their area. The one battling addiction and temptation was told of local programs for learning healthy coping skills. The individual trying to stop gambling was given a list of several support groups.

“There is a severe need for the sort of support that we’re offering here,” Swzed said.

CONTACT has seen a surge in demand from younger callers, including people in their 20s struggling to cope with online harassment, addiction to sports betting, overexposure to negative news and fear about the future.

Moving forward, CONTACT is hoping to add text and chat options and expand its hours for the listening line.

“We’re more connected than ever, but we’re also feeling so lonely, right?” Ermer said. “What move do we make next? Because, clearly, there is a move that needs to be made.”

Adam Clark, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Source: https://www.nj.com/healthfit/2024/09/theyre-lonely-and-afraid-in-nj-can-this-old-school-service-help.html

They’re lonely and afraid in N.J. Can this old-school service help?

An addict struggling with dangerous temptations. A young adult overwhelmed by a controlling relationship. A suicide attempt survivor working to overcome their gambling habit.

Each needs help with a significant problem. None have someone in their lives they can trust to listen.

So all three pick up the phone to share their troubles with a stranger.

These stories are among the dozens of calls received each month by the CONTACT Listening Line, a free phone service that organizers are revamping to tackle one of modern society’s greatest health threats: loneliness.

“People feel like they’re not connected to anyone,” said Eleanor Letcher, executive director for CONTACT of Mercer County, the group behind the phone line. “There has to be a place where someone can call and just talk to someone in confidence about whatever is bothering them.”

The concept of a listening line is far from new. But this line’s mission may be more important than ever during a loneliness crisis U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy has declared a public health epidemic.
Nearly 2.4 million New Jerseyans — about 26.4% of the population — are socially isolated, according to a 2023 estimate by the state Department of Human Services. And the consequences for mental and physical health are dire.

“The mental health crisis is consistently top of people’s minds,” said U.S. Congressman Andy Kim, who represents parts of Mercer County. “We have to recognize there are significant gaps in our country that we need to address to get people the help they need.”

That’s where the listening line comes in.

CONTACT’s service first started during the hotline frenzy of the mid-’70s, when two local pastors organized volunteers to help strangers with their problems. Typical callers in those early days were feeling overwhelmed by family arguments, raising children and dealing with their in-laws, said Letcher, who has been involved with the program since its inception.

The line evolved over the decades with the needs of its callers, eventually focusing more on crisis resolution and suicide prevention. In 2022, Contact’s hotline joined the nationwide 988 program to assist people in suicidal crisis and began responding to 988 calls, texts and chats.

Its original phone line needed a new mission.

Organizers decided to revamp it with a new number (609-737-3300), consistent hours (11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays) and an emphasis on combating the underlying theme of so many calls they receive. Some people feel so lonely they think “nobody would care if they lived or they died,” Letcher said.

Depression. Hopelessness. Suicidal thoughts. A heightened likelihood of heart disease and dementia. The staggering toll of loneliness increases the risk of premature death by more than 60% — about as dangerous as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day — Murthy said last year.

Loneliness isn’t always obvious to recognize, according to Ashley Ermer, a professor of human development at Montclair State University. It can affect people who spend considerable time with their spouse or are surrounded by thousands of peers on a college campus.

“As humans, we have this need to connect with others,” said Ermer, who studies loneliness, especially in adults. “Knowing that there’s someone listening, trying to understand what you’re going through … that’s a really powerful feeling.”

The listening line is averaging about 85 calls per month, a substantial increase over last year, according to CONTACT. Callers do not need to be in imminent crisis or feeling suicidal. The line is open to anyone who just needs to talk.

Those on the other end of the line are a mix of volunteers and paid staff. Some are college students. Others have been working on the hotline for decades. Beyond listening, their goal is to help connect the callers with local services for whatever ongoing support they need, according to Jesse Swzed, the CONTACT Listening Line Coordinator.

The caller with a controlling relationship was referred to a counselor in their area. The one battling addiction and temptation was told of local programs for learning healthy coping skills. The individual trying to stop gambling was given a list of several support groups.

“There is a severe need for the sort of support that we’re offering here,” Swzed said.

CONTACT has seen a surge in demand from younger callers, including people in their 20s struggling to cope with online harassment, addiction to sports betting, overexposure to negative news and fear about the future.

Moving forward, CONTACT is hoping to add text and chat options and expand its hours for the listening line.

“We’re more connected than ever, but we’re also feeling so lonely, right?” Ermer said. “What move do we make next? Because, clearly, there is a move that needs to be made.”

Adam Clark, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Source: https://www.nj.com/healthfit/2024/09/theyre-lonely-and-afraid-in-nj-can-this-old-school-service-help.html