>>> CUSTOMERS CAN GET MONTHLY ASSISTANCE TO HELP PREPAY BILLS IN INSTALLMENTS, ALSO GETTING A CHUNK OF MONEY TO HELP DRIVE DOWN THE OVERALL AMOUNT THEY OWE.

ONE PLAN IS CALLED THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND, ANOTHER IS THE LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

AS OF THE STATES VIDEO EXPLAINS.>> THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS RECENTLY LOWERED THE THRESHOLD ON INCOME LEVEL REQUIREMENTS TO ALLOW MORE RESIDENTS TO BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM.

>> UNDER EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY RULES, A FAMILY OF FOUR PEOPLE EARNING $106,000 QUALIFIES FOR USF AID, A FAMILY OF FOUR PEOPLE EARNING ABOUT $77,000 IS ELIGIBLE.

>> IT INDICATES OUR DESIRE TO HELP, BECAUSE AGAIN THERE MAY BE PEOPLE PROBABLY IN THIS SITUATION WHO HAVE NEVER, NEVER BEEN IN THIS SITUATION BEFORE IT GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR UTILITY IF YOU GET A SHUT OFF NOTICE.

THEY ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO COOPERATE WITH YOU TO SET UP A PAYMENT PLAN.>> ONE PLAN CALLED FRESH START AND WIPE YOUR BALANCE CLEAN IF YOU MAKE PAYMENTS FOR ONE YEAR.

BOTTOM LINE, DON'T WAIT.

>> CUSTOMERS HAVE TO REACH OUT TO SOMEBODY AND GET HELP AND THEY NEED TO DO IT BEFORE THEIR TRUCK COMES OUT THERE TO SHUT OFF UTILITIES.>> I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS >>> TENSIONS RISING BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CHINA AFTER REPORTS THAT RUSSIA ASKED FOR MILITARY AND ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FROM CHINA.

THE U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER MET WITH THE CHINESE DIPLOMAT TODAY, WARNING CHINA OF CONSEQUENCES IF IT ASSISTS RUSSIA.

MEANTIME, DIPLOMATS FROM RUSSIA AND UKRAINE PLANNED TO RESUME DISCUSSIONS TOMORROW AFTER A FOURTH ROUND OF TALKS TODAY ENDED WITHOUT ANY BREAKTHROUGHS.

RUSSIA CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS ASSAULT IN OVER THE WEEKEND A RUSSIAN AIRSTRIKE HITTING A UKRAINIAN MILITARY BASE NEAR THE POLISH BORDER KILLING 35 PEOPLE.

IT WAS THE CLOSEST ATTACK YET TO A NATO NATION.

NEW JERSEY AND SEE A ROLE FOR THE UNITED STATES IN THE CONFLICT BUT THEY ARE DIVIDED ON WHETHER THE U.S. SHOULD SEND MORE OF ITS TROOPS TO EASTERN EUROPE, ACCORDING TO A NEW RUTGERS POLE.

46% SAID THEY SUPPORT SENDING ADDITIONAL TROOPS DO DID HER RUSSIA, 43% OPPOSE SUCH A MOVE, 11% ARE NOT SURE.

THIS POLL WAS CONDUCTED DURING THE WEEK ENDING MARCH FOURTH.

AND AS RUSSIA CONTINUES ITS ATTACK ON UKRAINE, 2.8 MILLION UKRAINIANS HAVE NOW FLED THE COUNTRY.

ONE OF THOSE REFUGEES IS A NEW JERSEY NATIVE WHO MOVED TO THE UKRAINE LONG BEFORE THE WAR BEGAN, AND WHO FLED WITH HER DAUGHTER TO POLAND TO ESCAPE THE VIOLENCE.

SHE SPOKE TO JOANNA GAGIS FROM WARSAW .

>> Reporter: YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER HAVE JUST LEFT UKRAINE, TELL US ABOUT THE CONDITIONS IN UKRAINE WHEN YOU LEFT AND FLED TO POLAND.>> WE ARE IN A WESTERN UKRAINIAN CITY AND WHEN WE LEFT IT WAS FAIRLY QUIET.

THE BOMBING HAS STARTED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE UKRAINE, IT DID HIT OUR REGION, BUT NOT OUR CITY.

IT WAS QUIET.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM FRIENDS THAT ARE STILL IN UKRAINE?

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS RIGHT NOW?>> MUCH OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS IN THE BIG CITIES IN THE EAST, AND IN KEY HAVE, KEY HAVE KYIV HAVE BEEN HIT HARD, AND LIVING CONDITIONS ARE PRETTY GRIM.

I DO HAVE FAMILY THERE AND IT IS A FAIRLY BLEAK PICTURE WHERE THEY ARE, THEY ARE BOMBARDING THE BEJEEZUS OUT OF THAT CITY.

I HAVE FRIENDS IN MARIUPOL WHO HAVE BASICALLY BEEN BLOCKADING IN .

PEOPLE ARE DYING OF DEHYDRATION THERE AND IT IS THE 21st CENTURY.

SO THOSE AREAS WHERE THE RUSSIANS ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON DESTROYING EVERYTHING IN SIGHT, IT IS QUITE DIFFICULT.

>> RIGHT BEFORE WE STARTED YOU MENTIONED YOU HAD A FRIEND THAT WAS JUST HIT.

WHAT DID YOU MEAN?

>> HE WAS IN THE ARMED FORCES AND HIS UNIT WAS UNDER FIRE.>> DO YOU KNOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN UP ARMS TO FIGHT TO PROTECT THE UKRAINE?

>> JUST ABOUT EVERY MALE THAT I KNOW.

>> WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER AND YOU ARE IN WARSAW RIGHT NOW.

EXPLAIN WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE TO LEAVE UKRAINE AND WATCH THIS GOING ON.

>> IT IS PARTICULARLY FRUSTRATING, KNOWING WHAT I KNOW.

I GREW UP IN A FREE SOCIETY WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO ACCURATE HISTORY AND WE WERE ABLE TO LEARN THAT HISTORY.

WE LEARNED FAIRLY THOROUGHLY THE HISTORY OF WORLD WAR II, AS IT WAS THE LAST BIG CONFLICT THAT INVOLVED THE UNITED STATES.

WHEN I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL.

APPARENTLY WE DO NOT LEARN MUCH FROM OUR MISTAKES AND WE KEEP THINKING IF WE PUT THINGS AWAY SO WE CAN HAVE CHEAP BLUE JEANS AND CHEAP GASOLINE AND SHEEP GARBAGE WE FILL OUR HOUSES WITH THAT SOMEHOW WE CAN IGNORE BIG ISSUES THAT THREATEN OUR WAY OF LIFE.

EVERY TIME WE PUT IT OFF THE COST GETS MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE, JUST AS THE SANCTIONS, HAD THE SANCTIONS BEEN IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THE FIRST STRIKE THERE WOULD CERTAINLY BE A DIFFERENT STORY GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

THIS FEAR OF GETTING UKRAINE AIRPLANES, IT IS MUCH THE SAME THING AND WE ARE PUTTING OFF THE INEVITABLE.>> YOU ARE FROM NEW JERSEY AND YOU ENVISION YOURSELF RETURNING TO THE STATES, DO YOU ENVISION YOURSELF GOING BACK TO UKRAINE?>> NOT AT THIS POINT, I AM WAITING FOR VICTORY IN UKRAINE SO WE CAN GO BACK AND HELP REBUILD.

>> WE WISH YOU THE BEST.

>>> RUSSIA IS UNDER FIRE FOR SPREADING DISINFORMATION ABOUT THE UKRAINE INVASION.

I SPOKE TO RUTGERS LAW PROFESSOR, ELLEN GOODMAN, ABOUT THE IMPACT FROM THIS INFORMATION.

AND THE ATTEMPT TO SORT OUT THE TRUTH.

PROFESSOR GOODMAN THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> HOW WIDESPREAD IS DISINFORMATION REGARDING THE RUSSIA INVASION OF UKRAINE, NOT JUST IMPACTING RUSSIA, BUT PEOPLE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES GETTING NEWS FROM RUSSIAN OUTLETS?

>> WELL THE RUSSIAN OUTLETS HAVE PRETTY MUCH BEEN TAKEN OFF OF SOCIAL MEDIA, RT AND SPUTNIK, AND ALSO OFF CABLE, BUT STILL RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION COMING FROM AMERICAN OUTLETS.>> WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THAT DISINFORMATION?>> HARD TO SAY.

WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER AREAS THAT DISINFORMATION CAN BE VERY MOTIVATING AND CREATES ALL KINDS OF CIVIC STRIFE AND PINPOINTS.

WE HAVE YET TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THE SAME THING HAPPENS WITH RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION, WHETHER IT POLARIZES, DIVIDES, ANGERS OR WHETHER IT ENDS UP WASHING OUT.

WE DO NOT KNOW YET.

IT IS CLEAR THAT THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND LEGACY MEDIA ARE TAKING A MUCH TOUGHER STANCE WITH RESPECT TO RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION THIS TIME, THEN THEY DID IN 2016.

FIRST WE SAW A LOT OF RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION.

>> IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE TO CONTAIN DISINFORMATION.

WHEN IT IS OUT THERE IT IS OUT THERE.>> RIGHT.

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN DISINFORMATION.

AND MISINFORMATION.

SO THINGS ARE NOT TRUE THAT PEOPLE ARE INNOCENTLY SPREADING.

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN DISINFORMATION AND MISINFORMATION.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS THAT AMPLIFICATION AND PERSONALIZATION OF THE DISINFORMATION THAT CAN MAKE IT ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS.>> HOW CAN WE MAKE THE TRUTH GET OUT?

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READING SOMETHING TRUTHFUL, OR WATCHING SOMETHING TRUTHFUL?

>> MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS CAN VERIFY, THEY CAN USE THAT USING AI OR OTHER METHODS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE NEED A LOT MORE INVESTMENT IN JOURNALISM TO CREATE MORE, OR A GREATER VOLUME, TRUTHFUL INFORMATION.

THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT INFLUENCERS CAN SEEK OUT VERIFIED INFORMATION AND AMPLIFY IT.

IN A WAY EVERYONE IS IN A POSITION TO TAKE CARE WITH INFORMATION, PICTURE IT IS VERIFIED AND ACCURATE BEFORE SHARING IT.

>> PROFESSOR GOOD TO TALK TO YOU TODAY.>> THANK YOU.

>>> COVID CASES IN NEW JERSEY ARE CONTINUING THEIR STEADY DECLINE.

THE STATE REPORTED 359 NEW, CONFIRMED CASES TODAY, AND THREE MORE DEATHS.

THE STATES SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE FOR CONFIRMED CASES WAS 776 TODAY, MARKING THE LOWEST SEVEN- DAY AVERAGE SINCE LAST JULY AS OF TODAY, NEW JERSEY ENDED ITS MASK MANDATE FOR STATE WORKERS, AND VISITORS TO STATE OFFICES.

MASKS ARE STILL REQUIRED IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS AND ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

WHILE CASELOADS ARE DECLINING, THE CEO OF PFIZER SAID OVER THE WEEKEND THAT HE BELIEVES THAT A FORCE VACCINE DOSE WILL BE NEEDED TO FEND OFF ANOTHER WAVE OF COVID.

HE ALSO SAID COVID VACCINES FOR CHILDREN AGES SIX MONTHS TO FIVE YEARS COULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS MAY IF THE FDA APPROVES PFIZER'S TRIAL DATA.

>>> THE LATEST ATTEMPT BY CONGRESS TO CONTROL THE RISING COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS COMES BY WAY OF A BILL THAT WOULD CAP OUT-OF-POCKET COST FOR INSULIN AND $35 MONTH.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE PORTABLE INSULIN NOW ACT AND IT IS BELIEVED TO PASS THE SENATE WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND COULD PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS FOR THOSE NEW JERSEY AND DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES AND WHO RELY ON INSULIN TO STAY HEALTHY.

>> IT IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT HEALTH ISSUES FACING OUR NATION AND OUR STATE.

WE KNOW THAT DIABETES AFFECTS BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES AT EVEN HIGHER RATES.

UNFORTUNATELY, FOR MANY NEW JERSEYANS THE COST OF INSULIN, WHICH HELPS TO KEEP THEIR DIABETES UNDER CONTROL, IS SIMPLY NOT AFFORDABLE.

IT IS AN EXPENSIVE DISEASE.

DIABETIC AMERICANS NEED TESTING SUPPLIES AND INSULIN TO MANAGE THEIR CONDITION, AND ENSURE THAT IT DOESN'T WORSEN.

FAMILIES STRUGGLE TO AFFORD THE VERY MEDICINES, SUPPLIES, AND DEVICES THE DOCTORS PRESCRIBED AND THEY ARE LEFT TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES BETWEEN THEIR CARE, AND OTHER NECESSITIES.

>> PATTERSON'S FORMER MAYOR, JOEY TORRES, THAT A CRIMINAL ATTEMPT CHARGES FILED AGAINST HIM WILL NOT STOP HIM FROM RUNNING TO OFFICE.

THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WHILE THOSE CHARGES AGAINST TORRES LATE LAST WEEK FIGHTING HIS CANDIDACY FOR MAYOR AS THE REASON WHY.

THE AG'S OFFICE SAID THAT IS A VIOLATION OF A COURT ORDER THAT HE SIGNED AS PART OF HIS 2017 OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT CONVICTION.

UNDER THE COURT ORDER, TORRES WAS DISQUALIFIED FROM HOLDING FUTURE PUBLIC OFFICE, AND AGREED NOT TO APPLY FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

BUT TORRES TOLD NORTH JERSEY.COM THAT HE PREDICTS HE WILL BE CLEARED OF ANY CRIME AND HE WILL CONTINUE HIS CIVIL LAWSUIT, SEEKING TO FORCE THE CITY TO PLACE HIS NAME ON THE BALLOT IN THE UPCOMING MAYORAL ELECTION.

MEANTIME, THE AG'S OFFICE SAID THE CONTEMPT CHARGE FILED AGAINST TORRES COMES WITH A MAXIMUM 18 MONTH PRISON SENTENCE, AND A $10,000 FINE IF HE WERE CONVICTED.

>>> OVER THE WEEKEND MORE THAN 800 NEW JERSEY INMATES OR RELEASED EARLY UNDER A STATE LAW THAT ALLOWS FOR SHORTER SENTENCES FOR SOME PEOPLE INCARCERATED DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN RELEASED UNDER THE PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BOTH OF ITS SUPPORTERS AND CRITICS.

TED GOLDBERG REPORTS ON HOW EARLY RELEASE IS IMPACTING NEW JERSEY'S FORMERLY INCARCERATED INMATES.

>> Reporter: I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HOME.

>> DARRELL IS A FREE MAN AT FOUR MONTHS EARLIER THAN HE EXPECTED.

HE IS ONE OF ABOUT 850 INMATES FREED FROM NEW JERSEY PRISONS THIS PAST WEEKEND, THANKS TO PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY CREDITS.>> I APPRECIATE THE HEAD START.

IT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO HELP AND HELP ME GET ON MY FEET FASTER.

HELP ME ESTABLISH A JOB AND HOUSING.

>> UNDER A STATE LAW SIGNED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, INMATES WHO SERVE RING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, GET CREDITS THAT SHORTEN THEIR SENTENCES BY UP TO EIGHT MONTHS IF THEY HAVE LESS THAN ONE YEAR AGO.

INMATES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE IF THEY ARE CONVICTED OF MURDER OR AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR DEEMED A REPETITIVE SEX OFFENDER.

JACOB KING BROWN WORKS WITH THE VERA INSTITUTE, A NONPROFIT THAT STUDY NEW JERSEY PRISONS.

THEY REPORT THESE CREDITS HAVE LED TO AROUND 6000 INMATES GOING FREE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND HALF.>> SOME OF THE EARLY INDICATORS DO SHOW THAT RECIDIVISM FOR THIS GROUP WAS LOWER BY CERTAIN MEASURES.

I THINK THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT IT IS NO HIGHER THAN USUAL.

>> JACOB NOTED IT WAS TOO EARLY TO KNOW FOR SURE AND MORE STUDIES ARE NEEDED.

THE PROGRAM HAS ITS CRITICS, WILLIAM LENOZA IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS POLICE OFFICERS AND HE SAID I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO QUESTION IF THE RELEASE OF THE PRISONERS IS COVID RELATED OR SIMPLY A PART OF A PLAN TO REDUCE NEW JERSEY'S PRISON POPULATION TO CLOSE MORE STATE PRISONS.

STATE ASSEMBLYWOMAN KIMMELMAN ARE ADDED THE FACT THAT SOME PRISONERS COMMITTED VIOLENT CRIMES, OR SLIPPED BACK IN WHATEVER GOT THEM INTO PRISON IN THE FIRST PLACE, IS EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH EARLY RELEASE.

NOT EVERYONE IS A FIT TO REJOIN SOCIETY AND NOBODY IS SAFER BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM, AND IT UNDERMINES THE LEGAL SYSTEM.>> THERE IS ALWAYS CONCERNED THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY, HOW TO DO THESE PROGRAMS IN A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.

BUT YOU HAVE TO DEFINITELY WEIGH THAT AGAINST THIS ONGOING HARM AND PROBLEMS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE PRISON SYSTEM.

AND THE PROBLEMS THAT COME WITH HAVING TOO MANY PEOPLE BEHIND BARS.>> FORMER INMATES HAVE GOTTEN HELP FROM GROUPS LIKE THE NEW JERSEY REENTRY CORPORATION.

THEY HAVE TRIED TO CHANGE HOW PEOPLE ADJUSTED TO LIFE ON THE OUTSIDE.

>> OLD-SCHOOL REENTRY WHERE WE TRY TO GET YOU A JOB IMMEDIATELY, BUT NOW WE TRY TO STABILIZE THE PERSON, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE ASSETS THEY NEED AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN SAFE AND SECURE HOUSING AND THAT THEY HAVE FOOD, THAT THEY ARE ON THE PROPER MEDICATIONS.>> NEW JERSEY'S FOLLOWING THE NATIONAL TREND IN REDUCING ITS PRISON POPULATION, AND THANKS IN PART TO THESE CREDITS, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY PRISONS IS DOWN BY ONE THIRD OVER THE LAST YEAR, DRAWING LOUD CRITICISM FROM SOME CORNERS, AND PRAISE FROM OTHERS.>> THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT INCARCERATION DOES NOT REDUCE CRIME AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AS MUCH AS PEOPLE THINK THAT IT DOES.

IN GENERAL, IT CAN EVEN HARM PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE IT DESTABILIZES PEOPLE'S LIVES, AND IT BREAKS CONNECTIONS WITH FAMILIES AND JOBS.

>> SUNDAY MARKS THE LAST DAY OF RELEASES UNDER THIS PROGRAM ON A LARGE SCALE AND ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, RELEASES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH NOVEMBER EMMA UNLESS GOVERNOR MURPHY DECLARES ANOTHER PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

I AM TED OVER GOLDBERG NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> IN TONIGHT SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS, SOME COMMITTEES ARE SAYING ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND IT COMES TO WAREHOUSE DEVELOPMENT.

MANSFIELD TOWNSHIP IN BURLINGTON COUNTY RECENTLY PASSED AN ORDINANCE BANNING ANY ADDITIONAL WAREHOUSES BEYOND THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY APPROVED, OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THE MEASURE APPEARS TO BE THE STRONGEST AMONG NEW JERSEY'S MUNICIPALITIES.

ANOTHER BURLINGTON COUNTY COMMUNITY, BORDENTOWN, RECENTLY RECOMMENDED THAT WAREHOUSE APPLICATIONS BE DENIED ALONG ROUTE 130 AND ROUTE 206, PREFERRING TO SEEK COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT THERE INSTEAD.

FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE STORY, CHECK OUT JON HURDLE'S ARTICLE ON NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

NOW HERE IS A CHECK ON HOW THE STOCK MARKET CLOSED TODAY.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY.

WORKING FOR ECONOMIC DISPARITY BY UNITING BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS.

MEMBERSHIP AND EVENT INFORMATION IS ONLINE THROUGH CHAMBER@SMJ.COM.

>>> AS WE ENTER THE THIRD YEAR OF THIS PANDEMIC, WE'RE GETTING A CLEARER PICTURE ABOUT HOW THE ISOLATION AND CHANGES IMPACTED OUR MENTAL HEALTH, ESPECIALLY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS.

MANY ENTERED COLLEGE HOPING FOR THEIR TRADITIONAL EXPERIENCE, ONLY TO BE MET WITH ONLY QUARANTINES, VIRTUAL CLASSES, AND GROWING FINANCIAL CONCERNS.

AS PART OF OUR SERIES, LIVING WITH COVID, RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS ON A NEW STUDY SHOWS JUST HOW WIDE-RANGING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES HAVE BECOME FOR NEW JERSEY'S COLLEGE STUDENTS.

>> Reporter: I HAVE STRUGGLED THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PANDEMIC WITH MY OWN MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

IT WAS VERY HARD IN THE BEGINNING, A LOT OF ISOLATION AND I DID NOT SEE MY FRIENDS.

>> BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT, HALEY LITMAN NOT HOLDING BACK DESCRIBING WHAT IT HAS BEEN MY ATTENDING COLLEGE VIRTUALLY, AND THE 26-YEAR-OLD ISN'T ALONE IN HER CHALLENGES ECHOED BY ROWAN UNIVERSITY MUSIC MAJOR, RYAN CLAIRE.

>> IT WAS A BIT OF A ROUGH TIME FOR ME, PART OF ME WISHED I HAD TAKEN A GAP YEAR DURING THAT VIRTUAL SEMESTER AND I DID JUST NOT KNOW HOW IT WOULD AFFECT ME.

AND ESPECIALLY WHAT COMES ALONG WITH GOING TO SCHOOL, INCLUDING VIRTUAL SCHOOL, SINCE THERE WASN'T THAT MUCH OF A DISCOUNT.

>> ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY BY MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY, A MAJORITY OF STUDENTS IN THE SPRING 2020 WERE SEVERELY AFFECTED BY ACADEMIC, FINANCIAL, AND COVID RELATED STRESSORS.

THE CO-LEAD AUTHOR OF THIS STUDY, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ACADEMIC AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID ON COLLEGE STUDENTS IN THE EPICENTER OF THE PANDEMIC, THE STUDY THAT SURVEYED MORE THAN 4700 STUDENTS FROM COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK FOUND 74% OF STUDENTS REPORTED FEELING MORE DOWN OR DEPRESSED.

75% OF STUDENTS REPORTED FEELING MORE ANXIOUS AND UNCONTROLLABLE WORRY.

68% REPORTED SLEEP PROBLEMS, 60% FELT HOPELESS.>> THE COMBINATION OF THE INCREASE IN ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, AND THE SLEEP PROBLEMS, AND HOPELESSNESS, MADE US VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT ON THESE COLLEGE STUDENTS.

>> AND EVERYBODY WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO THEIR CHILDREN, THEY WERE HOME AND HOW THEY WERE ADJUSTING, THEY DON'T GET TO HAVE PLAY DATES ANYMORE, THEY CANNOT GO TO DANCE CLASS OR TO MUSIC CLASS AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

BUT WE WERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO COLLEGE STUDENTS.>> DR. REYES, ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS AT BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, SAID DEMAND FOR THERAPY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS EXPLODED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SHE SAID UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS STILL A STIGMA WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH IS WHY SOME STUDENTS STRUGGLE TO ASK FOR HELP.

>> THIS IS PRETTY COMMON SINCE WE HAVE BEEN BACK.

WE WROTE A NOTE ON THEIR SCIENCE PAPER, IT WAS A TEST, ABOUT HOW HOPELESS SHE WAS.

AND HOW SHE FELT NOT SMART AND WAS HAVING A HARD TIME RETAINING INFORMATION.

>> IN HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL, GOVERNOR MURPHY SAYS HE PLANS TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE DEVELOPING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUCCESS INITIATIVE AND THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN PLANTS HELP STUDENTS ON ALL AGES IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

CLAIRE AND LITMAN SAYS ANY STEP IN SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.>> I HOPE WE START TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY ON A LARGER, SYSTEMIC LEVEL.

>> I FEEL MENTAL HEALTH SHOULD BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I KNOW VIRTUALLY THEY WENT TO TREATMENT CENTERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IT REALLY OPENED THEIR EYES ON HOW MUCH THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL AS THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH.>> THE DOCTOR SAYS SHE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON A ONE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP REPORT SURVEY TO FURTHER RESEARCH WHAT LONG-TERM IMPACT THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS I AM RAVEN SANTANA.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT BUT GO OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT.ORG AND CHECK US OUT ON OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS WHERE WE KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS THAT IS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.>> MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION IS MAKING SCHOOLS FOR EVERY CHILD, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, AND WORSTED, A LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.