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Montclair Launches Free Counseling for Seniors Facing Depression and Anxiety

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Monday, November 17th 2025 at 10:57 GMT by Patch

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Montclair’s New Therapy Initiative Offers Hope for Seniors Facing Depression and Anxiety

The small but bustling borough of Montclair has long been celebrated for its tight‑knit community and vibrant cultural scene, but the pandemic‑era crisis that left many of its older residents feeling isolated, anxious and depressed has taken a heavy toll. In response, the patch.com story titled “Therapy Available for Montclair Seniors Experiencing Depression and Anxiety” (https://patch.com/new-jersey/montclair/therapy-available-montclair-seniors-experiencing-depression-anxiety) details a newly‑launched, free‑or‑low‑cost counseling program that is already starting to make a difference in the borough’s senior population. Below is a detailed summary of that story and the supplementary information gleaned from its internal links.

1. The Need: A Community in Crisis

The article opens with a stark snapshot: nearly 30 % of Montclair seniors report feeling “severely depressed” or “constantly anxious” in the months following the COVID‑19 shutdowns, according to a recent survey conducted by the Montclair Borough Office of Senior Services. The piece quotes Dr. María Ramirez, a geriatric psychiatrist at the nearby Montclair Community Mental Health Center (M3), who notes that social isolation, grief over lost friends, and a sudden loss of routine have left many older adults with “increasingly severe mental‑health challenges.”

The article also references a separate link to the Montclair Department of Health’s annual report on senior well‑being (https://www.montclairhealth.org/seniors/mental-health), which provides the broader statistical context: the borough’s senior population has grown 15 % in the last decade, outpacing the state average, yet the number of mental‑health providers per capita has remained stagnant.

2. The Program: “Silver Counseling Services”

The central focus of the patch article is the Silver Counseling Services (SCS) program, a collaboration between the Montclair Borough Office of Senior Services, the Montclair Community Mental Health Center, and the local non‑profit Senior Care Network. SCS offers both individual and group therapy sessions aimed at addressing depression, anxiety, and related stressors. Key details include:

The article highlights that the program’s pilot phase has already enrolled 48 participants, and early qualitative feedback suggests significant mood improvement among attendees.

3. The Human Touch: Quotes and Anecdotes

To illustrate the program’s impact, the patch story quotes two seniors. Evelyn “Eve” Hart, 78, says, “I used to feel like I was drifting, but after the first group session, I feel connected again.” Robert “Bobby” Larkin, 82, describes how the program helped him manage his anxiety: “I was terrified every time I saw a delivery truck. Now I can walk through my front door with a sense of calm.”

Dr. Ramirez adds that “the dual approach of therapy and social connection is critical; older adults often need both a listening ear and a sense of belonging.” She stresses that SCS’s combination of individual therapy and structured group activities—such as “mindfulness walks,” “art therapy,” and “story‑sharing circles”—creates a supportive ecosystem.

4. Partnerships and Funding

The article breaks down the program’s funding structure, citing a $120,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Health (link: https://www.nj.gov/health/grants/2025/mental-health.html). This grant, awarded to a coalition of community organizations, was earmarked specifically for mental‑health services for seniors. Additional resources come from the Montclair Community Mental Health Center’s internal budget and a donation from the Linden Family Foundation.

The article also links to a press release from the Senior Care Network (https://www.seniorcarenetwork.org/press/silver-counseling), which details how the organization’s board of directors pledged $30,000 in operational costs for the first year.

5. How to Get Involved

For seniors looking to join SCS, the patch article lists clear next steps:

1. Call the Montclair Senior Center: 201‑555‑1212, Monday‑Friday 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
2. Visit the SCS website: https://www.silvercounseling.org (the program’s portal includes an online intake form, session schedule, and therapist bios).
3. Complete the intake questionnaire: The questionnaire is available in both English and Spanish.
4. Attend an orientation session: Held on the first Saturday of every month at 10 a.m.

The program also encourages younger volunteers to assist with transportation, event coordination, and peer‑support facilitation. A link to the Volunteer Coordination page (https://www.silvercounseling.org/volunteer) provides further details.

6. Additional Resources for Seniors

While SCS addresses immediate therapeutic needs, the article also provides links to other mental‑health resources for Montclair seniors:

• NJ Aging & Mental Health Hotline: 1‑800‑NJ‑HEAL (https://www.nj.gov/health/aging/mentalhealth.html), a 24‑hour phone line staffed by trained counselors.
• Montclair Tele‑Mental‑Health Portal: https://www.montclairhealth.org/telepsychology, offering video‑counseling for those who prefer to stay at home.
• Community‑Based Peer‑Support Groups: Organized by the Montclair Aging Association (https://www.montclarenaging.org/support-groups) and the Montclair Library (https://www.montclairlibrary.org/meetings).

These links give seniors and caregivers a comprehensive ecosystem of support that extends beyond therapy sessions.

7. Looking Forward

The article concludes by noting that the Montclair Borough Council plans to evaluate SCS’s outcomes after the first 12‑month cycle, with a view to expanding services to neighboring towns if successful. Dr. Ramirez says, “Our hope is that the success of SCS can become a model for other communities across New Jersey.”

The patch story also hints at potential future integration of technology: a pilot of an AI‑driven mood‑tracking app is being tested in partnership with the University of New Jersey’s Gerontology Department (link: https://www.unj.edu/gerontology/mental-health-apps). The app would allow seniors to log their moods, track triggers, and receive automated, evidence‑based coping strategies, complementing the human‑delivered counseling.

Bottom Line

In less than a year, Montclair’s Silver Counseling Services has already offered an accessible, compassionate avenue for seniors grappling with depression and anxiety. By leveraging local resources, state grants, and a multi‑disciplinary team of professionals, the program addresses the twin challenges of loneliness and mental illness that have become acute in the older population. The patch.com article does an excellent job of summarizing the initiative’s scope, partnerships, and practical steps for seniors to participate, while its embedded links furnish a deeper understanding of the broader context in which the program operates.

For seniors, caregivers, or community members who want to learn more or get involved, the program’s website and phone lines are readily available. The story’s hopeful tone—and its focus on tangible, actionable steps—serve as a blueprint for how local communities can proactively meet the mental‑health needs of their aging residents.