Monmouth Medical Center Opens LBPD Resiliency Room

LONG BRANCH, NJ – City officials and Monmouth Medical Center (MMC) have recently announced a new partnership between the Long Branch Police Department (LBPD) and the hospital’s Behavioral Health Services.

Police officers who have responded to a critical incident can privately and confidentially receive psychological support from MMC’s outpatient behavioral health team through the Long Branch Police Department Resiliency Room,

The first of its kind in New Jersey, the Resiliency Room is a specially designed space located near the Police Department to promote the mental health of police officers. The room is designed to help officers manage and cope with the daily stress of their jobs, providing a place for them to decompress and process, and share their thoughts.

Long Branch Mayor John Pallone noted that the stressful nature of police work makes these resources for the men and women who put their lives on the line every day so crucial. He expressed his thanks to Monmouth Medical Center for supporting the Resiliency Room, the hospital's behavioral health resources.

“Through this new partnership, we are so pleased to share the expertise of our amazing mental health professionals in support of the Long Branch Police, our courageous frontline partners,” he said, adding that the hospital is proud to offer the largest and most comprehensive behavioral health program in Monmouth County,” Eric Carney, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus President and CEO said.

“Long Branch is such a fantastic host town for our hospital, and we can never thank the city enough, particularly over the last 18 months of our COVID journey together and witnessing the incredible work of all the frontline heroes.”

LBPD Sergeant Antonia Gonzalez, the program’s founder, noted that she reached out to MMC a year ago with her idea about creating a wellness program for her fellow officers. Gonzalez said she understood the need from her own experience in the field and listening to her fellow officers talk about their need for support.

“Thank you, Eric Carney, for listening and wanting to help our law enforcement officers in Long Branch,” Gonzalez said. “I look forward to watching this program grow; I am forever grateful to you, Mr. Carney, and Monmouth Medical Center.”