20230418 - Stigma Free Meeting Minutes
Stigma Free Meeting Minutes 4.18.23
Attendees:
· Robin Ritter (Ridgewood Library), Mary Davey (West Bergen Mental Healthcare), Mayor Paul Paul Vagianos, Jan Bottcher (Resident), Surbhi Kapadia (Health), Danielle Pagani (Health), Sheila Brogan (Age Friendly Ridgewood, Board of Education, Ridgewood Municipal Alliance), Corinne Scarpa (Bergen New Bridge Medical Center)
Minutes:
· No introductions today as everyone knows each other
· Reviewed new format of meeting. All announcements about upcoming events and their details will be included in the agenda. The new format allows for more discussion of committee issues and action items, without getting caught up in announcement details. Several committee members agreed the new format was a welcome change.
· May is Mental Health Awareness Month:
o Can we make lights green?
o Name a street after stigma free?
o Turn Signs green?
o Post on Social Media: https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month
· Bergen County Mental Health Symposium is Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at Biagios Restaurant in Paramus from 9am-12pm. Ridgewood Stigma Free was invited to exhibit as well as Bergen New Bridge. Jan asked for more information about the agenda and speakers. The event will begin with a breakfast and Danielle noted it the event is geared to the student population. Mary shared the focus is on networking and keynote speaker.
· Danielle shared that the Health Department is exploring the possibility of bringing the program Angst about school based anxiety to the Ridgewood Public School with the funds received through Strengthening Local Public Health Infrastructure Grant. The program was previously done in 2019 and was well received in the community. Angst involves an hour long movie and follow up discussions and lessons for both students and parents. The company offers pricing packages based months of usages, with a maximum of one year. Many advocated for purchasing the yearly packaged and making the program available for high school and middle school students.
· In recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness month, the Health Department (with funds again obtained through the Strengthening Local Public Health Infrastructure Grant), Stigma Free Ridgewood, Ridgewood Library, and other community partners are hosting “What’s So Funny?” comedian show on 5/19 evening at the Library Auditorium. As community hosts many educational programs, the idea was to do something different and host an event that was fun and entertaining in hopes that discussions about mental health can be normalized. Sheila recommended having the Stigma Free logo up on the projector screen at Library while people arrive. She also suggested having someone speak about the Stigma Free Committee prior to event starting. Surbhi shared someone from the Health Department will speak about Stigma Free, hopefully Dawn.
· In May of 2022, the Health Department and the Lukin Center for Psychotherapy tabled during at RHS lunch periods to raise awareness of Mental Health Awareness month. Danielle and Marianny had a table with prizes/giveaways for students who answered age appropriate questions on mental health. Gabrielle from Lukin Center provided a yoga/ meditation activity. Danielle has reached out to Dan Kilday with RPS to ask if a similar program can be replicated this year.
· Sheila noted the new superintendent of schools who will be starting over the summer of 2023 was very excited about Stigma Free. She suggested that it may be worthwhile to invite him to a future meeting.
· Danielle asked for other ideas of things that can be done to push Mental Health Awareness month. Jan agreed to reach out to Jeanie Johnson to ask if she would be willing to interview Stigma Free Committee members for a podcast.
· Danielle recommended wearing Stigma Free shirts throughout the month. The Health Department has plenty and we can distribute to anyone who need one. At the next meeting on 5/16, please wear your Stigma Free shirt or green.
· May is also Older American’s Month. Health Department, Parks and Rec, Age Friendly and other community partners are pulling together the Aging Unbound Program schedule for 5/11.
· Health will be exhibiting:
· April 23rd at Earth Day
· May 3 at the Mental Health Stigma Free Symposium
· May 11 – Aging Unbound event
· May 17 - Ridgecrest
· BFMS May 19th
For the full calendar of wellness series events visit www.RidgewoodNJ.net/Wellness. Reminder- all of these events are FREE!
Mental Health Resources:
- NAMI Greater Bergen - https://namigreaterbergen.org/
- If you or a family member are experiencing the signs or symptoms of a mental illness and feel you are in crisis, call 201-262-HELP (4357). Crisis counselors are available 24/7 to guide you through the next steps of getting help.
- NJ Parent Link Older Siblings, Teens & Young Adults: https://www.nj.gov/njparentlink/developmental/older/
- NJ Parent Link Special Situations: https://www.nj.gov/njparentlink/services/special/
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.
Notes added post meeting:
May 3- Bergen County Mental Health Stigma Free Symposium:
· Event starts with networking and resource tables and then going into the agenda. Some of the things on the agenda are as follows:
o -County Executive speaking
o -Our keynote speaker (destructive perfectionism)
o -trends and services for youth at NBMC
o -Resources
o -And the stigma free sticker contest
Jan B.:
· Reached out to Jeanne Johnson of Ridgewood Walks, Ridgewood Talks about doing a podcast to promote Stigma Free/Mental Health Awareness Month. She was on board--and asked Jan to do the interview! More info to follow.
· In the meantime, you can listen to past podcasts, including the episode Jeanne did in January with West Bergen Mental Health Care CEO Michael Tizzoli. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ridgewood-talks/id1480647474?i=1000591005818
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