Gift of Hope | Preferred Behavioral Health

Be The Change in Another’s Life -
Give the Gift of Hope

At Preferred Behavioral Health Group (PBHG), our mission is simple yet powerful: to change lives and save lives across New Jersey by ensuring that everyone has access to the behavioral healthcare and essential nutrition they need, no matter their circumstances.

With 1 in 6 youth facing mental health challenges and more than 272,000 children struggling with food insecurity, our mission has never been more urgent. With over 1.2 million individuals still without essential care, we need your partnership now more than ever to bring hope and healing to our neighbors in need

Every day, PBHG delivers the clinical care and critical mental health services our neighbors depend on. But to bring hope where most feel it is lost, we need the support of our community. Together, we can surround every individual not only with the care they need, but with the compassion, dignity, and hope they deserve.

This holiday season, we’ve set a goal to raise $50,000 — funds that will directly support the programs that heal those who need it most.

Together, we can make sure hope reaches every person who walks through our doors.

Their Stories Tell Our Story

What helped you decide to start services?

An old partner set me down the path to getting help by helping me into a mental hospital. I spent that week of my life sitting by myself and recollecting my thoughts as if I really wanted to leave this world and take my life. I sought out help later on, trying to get proper help to be ok with who I am and change the way I think of myself. With this help, it later got me issued into the preferred SAIL program, leading me to where I am now, stable and happy.

What would you tell a friend who is scared to ask for help?

I would help them the same way I was; try to figure out why they feel this way, and what they want to do about it. If it comes to the point where they’d like to take their own life or hurt themselves/others, I’d help them gain the courage, or even be there to help them ask for help from an adult or a mental health professional. Hopefully, by the end of me helping them, they’d find a trusted place to tell their story and get professional help so they don’t go down the wrong path.

How do you feel now compared to before starting treatment?

Since starting treatment, I’ve found a lot more ways to cope and sit with my emotions. With my 10 months at Sail, I’ve figured art and writing helps best with my coping skills. These help distract me from any anxious feelings or mental issues I’d have during a time of depression. I feel a lot happier with myself from before treatment, wanting to do something more with my life rather than just rot in my room and do nothing.

What was going on in your life that made you think it was time to get help?

I had masked a lot of my emotions from the outside world, fighting my own thoughts about whether I should even get out of bed that day. I had been living with my brother’s father, going through a lot of mental abuse with the environment around me. This later led to me going to extreme measures, like cutting myself till i wanted to pass out, or trying to commit suicide. I felt lost, like I was lying to myself and everyone else around me, wanting to end the pain with a permanent solution.

What’s the biggest change you’ve noticed in yourself since starting services?

I’ve noticed I’ve seemed not only mentally older, but physically. I’ve grown taller, gained a healthy amount of height, and found people that supported me and my mental health journey. I’ve also been more open about my emotions with the people that need to hear them, becoming more comfortable with the environments around me.

How has being in treatment affected your relationships with friends or family?

With my treatment, I’ve been more trusted with my family, being less prone to lying about where I’m going and what I’m doing. As for my friends, I’ve found ways to talk to them that keep us safe, still doing whatever crazy stuff we choose to do that day, but that doesn’t make me regret it for missing out on something else. I’m grateful for the time I have with my family and friends, and the way that our relationships have evolved into a better and closer outcome.

What’s one tool or coping skill you’ve learned here that you use the most?

My all time favorite coping skill will always be writing. I learned how to write when i was 3, but barely even talked until the age of 7, so I always use writing as a way to communicate and cope with whatever I am sad about. Even now, I struggle sometimes with speaking and publicly talking, still working through my anxiety related to it. I’ve even used this coping skill to start writing a few online web stories about my characters, their stories having some traits related to mine. I will carry this skill and coping skill with me throughout my life, now and forever.

How Your Gifts Can Make an Impact

✨ Every gift, no matter the amount, helps someone take one step closer to healing.

Featured Donors

A heartfelt thank you to these companies for helping Give the Gift of Hope to residents across New Jersey

The Stories of Hope Behind Every Dollar You Give

Dr. Tara Chalakani

Meet Deidre & Shannon

In this inspiring video, Dr. Tara Chalakani, Preferred Behavioral Health Group CEO, highlights the organization’s transformative impact on individuals and families across New Jersey. As we continue to change and save lives, Dr. Chalakani shares how PBHG’s trauma-informed care model is reshaping mental health services in our communities.

Deidre and Shannon bravely share their journeys of overcoming mental health challenges. Inspired by PBHG’s support, Shannon found hope and a brighter future. Join our “Give the Gift of Hope” campaign and be the spark for someone in need.