38A:13-11 Establishment of helpline.

2. a. The Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs shall establish, in coordination with University Behavioral HealthCare of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, a toll free veteran to veteran peer support helpline.

b. The helpline shall be accessible 24 hours a day seven days per week and shall respond to calls from veterans, servicemembers and their families. The operators of the helpline shall seek to identify the veterans, servicemembers and their families who should be referred to further peer support and counseling services, and provide referrals.

c. The operators of the helpline shall be trained by University Behavioral Healthcare of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and, to the greatest extent possible, shall be trained veterans or mental health professionals with military service expertise and (1) familiar with post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and the emotional and psychological tensions, depressions, and anxieties unique to veterans, servicemembers, and their families or (2) trained to provide counseling services involving marriage and family life, substance abuse, personal stress management and other emotional or psychological disorders or conditions which may be likely to adversely affect the personal and service related well-being of veterans, servicemembers, and their families.

d. The Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey shall provide for the confidentiality of the names of the persons calling, the information discussed, and any referrals for further peer support or counseling; provided, however, the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey may establish guidelines providing for the tracking of any person who exhibits a severe emotional or psychological disorder or condition which the operator handling the call reasonably believes might result in harm to the veteran or servicemember or any other person.

L.2011, c.116, s.2; amended 2012, c.45, s.121.