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Your behavioral health benefits

Behavioral health is made up of the emotions and behaviors that affect a person’s overall well-being. We offer behavioral health services for members who have mental health or substance use needs.

Questions? 

Call us at 1-855-232-3596 (TTY: 711). We’re here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

 

You can also check out your member handbook on our materials and forms page for more info. 

Get help in a crisis

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

If you have thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, call 988. This is the number for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Their trained counselors can help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you have a behavioral health emergency. You can also chat online with a counselor through their Lifeline Chat service. 

 

Our crisis line

Call our crisis line at 1-855-232-3596 (TTY: 711). Then, choose option 9. 

 

You can use any hospital for emergency care, even if it isn’t in our network. Just show your member ID card.

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We’ve got you covered

You're covered for certain behavioral health benefits. This includes mental health services as well as substance use disorder treatment services. Some services are covered for you by Aetna Better Health® of New Jersey, while others are paid for directly by Medicaid Fee-for-Service (FFS). You can check out your member handbook on our materials and forms page to learn more.

 

Behavioral health services 

 

These services are for our members who struggle with certain habits that affect their overall well-being. We offer a wide variety of treatment options to help you feel better.

 

Behavioral health services must be:

 

  • Medically necessary 

  • Prescribed by a physician or psychologist

  • Approved by the plan

  • Provided in a way that follows the approved treatment plan

 

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Peer support

Peer support services can help you if you: 

 

  • Are struggling with mental health or substance misuse

  • Want to have a caring, non-judgmental specialist to support your recovery

 

Who are peer support specialists?

They're members of your care team who have firsthand experience in recovery. This includes challenges related to mental illness and substance use. They can help you meet your mental health, wellness and recovery goals with in-person visits or phone calls. They can also help you:

 

  • Improve coping skills

  • Make connections to the local recovery community 

  • Put your health first with encouragement to attend doctor appointments

  • Stay out of the emergency room and hospital

  • Talk with your doctor as your advocate, so you and your care team can better understand your needs

 

How to request peer support services

To request peer support, you can get a referral from care management or Member Services. You can also self-refer. You don’t need a referral, prescription or prior authorization from a provider to request services.

More about mental and behavioral health

  • If you’re feeling depressed, you’re not alone. Depression is common and affects many people. 

     

    And different people have different symptoms, including:

     

    • Feeling sad, empty or hopeless

    • Losing interest in favorite activities

    • Not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much

    • Overeating, or not wanting to eat at all

    • Having thoughts about suicide or suicide attempts

    You can read this article to learn more.

    Or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website for more info.

     

    Get help in a crisis

     

    If you have thoughts of harming yourself or others, get help right away. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Or call our crisis line at 1-855-232-3596 (TTY: 711) and choose option 9.  

     

    Learn to manage stress

     

    Did you know that stress can affect your health? It’s common during times of stress to pick up some unhealthy habits. Don’t be too hard on yourself. 

     

    Get tips on healthy habits:

     

  • Are you wondering if you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol? You can take this self-test to help you decide if you or someone else needs support for alcoholism. 

     

    You can read this article to learn more about substance abuse.

     

    Or find more info from the:

     

     

     

  • Mental health disorders can be serious. They can change a person’s thinking, feeling, mood and daily functioning. They affect 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 10 children per year.

     

    Mental health disorders include:

     

    • Depression

    • Schizophrenia

    • Bipolar disorder

    • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

    • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

    • Anxiety

    • Borderline personality disorder

     

    For more info, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website.

     

    There, you can learn about the different support programs NAMI offers, including:

     

    • Peer-to-Peer
      A free, 10-week course for anyone living with mental illness. Mentors who have achieved recovery lead the course. Those who join can learn about coping skills and self-care.

    • Family-to-Family
      A free, 12-week course for family caregivers of adults living with mental illness. It teaches communication and problem-solving skills to help them deal with the impact on the family. 

    • StrengthOfUs.org
      An online social community for teens and young adults living with mental illness. It’s a place for them to connect and learn about services.

Also of interest:

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