Bridge Interfaith Services partners with Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of Atlantic and Cape May County to provide a unique mentoring program for young adults struggling with mental health challenges. This program, known as Marina’s Mentors, was named after a young woman who died tragically due to a lack of appropriate intervention to address her symptoms of trauma and depression. In hopes that others might not suffer the same tragedy, Marina’s Mentors was designed to link struggling youth with an adult mentor to provide support and guidance in managing the symptoms of various mental health conditions.

Research shows that young adults with at least one stable and consistent adult relationship are more likely to show resilience when facing life challenges. Adults who volunteer to be a part of Marina’s Mentors receive specialized training to understand the signs and symptoms of mental illness. Once trained, mentors are matched with a young adult receiving mental health treatment. Mentors will receive ongoing supervision by a licensed therapist to support the child’s unique needs outside of the office setting. Mentors help youth to find support, encouragement, and guidance in developing life skills that will follow them into adulthood.

For more information about how to get involved, please visit Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Atlantic and Cape May Counties: