20230530 - Stigma Free Meeting Minutes

Stigma-Free Committee Meeting 5.30.23

Attendees – Danielle Pagani, Surbhi Kapadia, Gabrielle Milani, Mary Davey, Jan Bottcher, Corinne Scarpa, and John Judge

Notes:

• In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, each member of the committee was asked to share events they attended during May and provide feedback on the events.
• Jan started by stating she attended the Mental Health Comedy Show – What’s So Funny with Matt Bellace, Joe Materese, and Rodney Ianey.  The program was well attended, laugh out loud funny, and it would be wonderful to repeat this program in the future.  Roughly 80-90 people were in attendance. Most of the feedback the Health Department received was very positive as well.
• Jan gave an update on the Citizens for Swimming program which will run Tues, Wed, and Thurs in summer first week of August.
• Jan also shared the Minister of the of the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood will be out on maternity leave and then sabbatical.  During the time, multiple ministers and individuals will be filling in. Jan is planning a sermon that will be a call to action for mental health services.

·       Jan shared a resource related to helping congregations more welcoming for trans/queer from Transforming Hearts Collective. It was a workshop that she attended (it does have a fee) but found it very impactful. (Transgender Inclusion in Congregations | Transforming Hearts (teachable.com))

• Mary noted that on Monday nights, West Bergen Mental Health runs a trans support group.  Mary also talked about the mental health events that West Bergen was part of this month.  This included the Bergen County Mental Health Symposium along with their big event that was held on May 13 with Valley Health System in Mahwah. 
• Corrine – New Bridge Medical Center held a stress management class for First Responders also a yoga and meal event for them as well.  Corinne also shared details for upcoming June events that New Bridge is hosting.
• Mary, Jan, Danielle, Surbhi and Dawn all attended the Bergen County Mental Health Symposium on 5/3.  Symposium was well attended, approximately 300 attendees, and the program of speakers was excellent.  Danielle shared that prior to Covid, RHD had reached out to Carly Bushoven to do a program in Ridgewood.  As her presentation was so compelling, it may be time to try to pick that up again. The exhibit tables at symposium provided an excellent opportunity for Stigma Free committees to mingle and share ideas/experiences. 
• John Judge – Ridgewood Fire has been busy conducting educational workshops to students relating to fire prevention. Ridgewood fire had coordinated the Mental Health First Aid Trainings with Care Plus and CPR for Village staff. 

·       Surbhi attended the BFMS Mental Health Awareness fair on 5/19 and had a table.  She had lots of short one on one interactions with students. Each student was asked to spin a question wheel, was asked age appropriate questions regarding mental health, and received a prize (t-shirt, water bottle, magnet, stress ball, lanyard or pencil). Other community partners that had a tables at the fair included Ridgewood Police, Valley Hospital, Ridgewood YMCA, Lukin Center for Psychotherapy, Home School Association and more.  All students in Grades 6-8 were allowed to visit the gym and chose to spend time with the tables/vendors as they liked. The school did an excellent job of making the whole day about mental health, by having an assembly (Surbhi could not recall name of organization that spoke), wellness walks, aforementioned wellness fair and other fun filled activities for students in their homeroom and advisory classes.   

·       Danielle shared the Lukin Center for Psychotherapy and the Ridgewood Health Department, as part of the Spring into Health Wellness Series, participated in a recorded Zoom event title Therapy 101 on 5/30 morning.  The recording will be posted to the Health Department website and/or Stigma Free Facebook page. 

• Danielle shared the Lukin Center for Psychotherapy and the Ridgewood Health Department, as part of the Spring into Health Wellness Series, participated in a recorded Zoom event title Therapy 101 on 5/30 morning.  The recording will be posted to the Health Department website and/or Stigma Free Facebook page. 
• June 20^th meeting will be cancelled due to COVID booster clinic that day. Next meeting will be held July 18 at 3 PM.

Upcoming events:

*Danielle announced Deer Overpopulation Forum being held tomorrow at Ridgewood Library from 7-8:45 PM. Dawn is one of the panelist along with Bergen County Entomologist and Animal Control Services.

*Danielle announced the 6/1 DEIB Training for residents was canceled due to low registration.  Only one person registered.

*6/3 – Senior Day Graydon Pool 11:30 AM

*6/6 - Delicious Nutrition Made Simple Workshop –6-7:30 PM at HealthBarn

*6/8 - Pride Flag Raising on Thursday June 8th 5 PM at New Bridge Medical Center. New Bridge has a new Medical Director of our LGBTQ+  Wellness Center who will be attending.  Appointments can be made at 551.207.0386.

*6/10 Ridgewood Pride Day from 1-2pm in Van Neste Square, mostly like Dawn will attend on behalf of Health Department as no one else is able to attend.

*6/15 – Luncheon for Women Veterans Appreciation Day 11 AM – 2 PM for any veteran or family member, friend or caregiver.

*6/20 - Pfizer Bivalent Booster Clinic –official announcement will likely come next week or early the week after.

*6/22 – Long COVID Workshop facilitated by Valley Health System.  More information to come.

*6/24 - Youth Mental Health Course from 9 AM to 3 PM for first responders and summer coaching staff at New Bridge Medical Center.

*6/27 – Medicare 101 hosted by Age Friendly at Ridgewood Library 6:30-7:30 PM. Registration required email askridgewoodlibrary.org

*Music Under the Stars – Danielle to ask partners if they can table again this year.  Dates we are considering to organize all the community partners for tabling include 6/27 and 7/20.