Kick-off Picnic Celebrates Patients, Staff, and Commitment to Excellence in Mental Health Care

MORRIS PLAINS, NJ — The New Jersey Department of Health today kicked off Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital's 150th year of service with a picnic for patients, staff, and community members. The event launches a year-long commemoration of the service Greystone has provided to Garden State residents, recognizing progress and reflecting on the shifting attitudes towards psychiatric care over this long period.

Originally established in 1876 as the New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum at Morristown through the advocacy of reformer Dorothea Dix, Greystone has witnessed the full arc of American psychiatric care – from 19th-century institutionalization through mid-20th-century overcrowding to today's research-backed, recovery-focused treatment model. At its peak in the 1950s, the hospital housed over 7,600 patients, far exceeding its intended capacity and highlighting systemic challenges that would later drive significant reforms.

“Although much has changed since the hospital opened its doors 150 years ago, what remains is its unique role in providing behavioral health care to New Jersey's most vulnerable residents,” said Acting Health Commissioner Jeff Brown. “Today, Greystone Park and New Jersey’s three other state-run psychiatric hospitals are unwavering in their focus on providing best practice patient care. I am continually and deeply impressed by the commitment and compassion that the staff demonstrate every day.”

The anniversary commemoration acknowledges both Greystone's contributions to mental health care and the difficult periods in its history, including the legal challenges of the 1970s and 1980s that led to landmark reforms. The 1974 Doe v. Klein case catalyzed the development of community-based alternatives to institutionalization, while more recent advocacy efforts have continued to drive improvements in patient safety, staffing, and care standards.

Today's Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital operates under a mission centered on providing trauma- and evidence-informed mental health treatment within a culture of safety, wellness, and recovery. The facility's vision emphasizes dignity, rights, participation, environment, and empowerment—values that guide its commitment to delivering excellent inpatient psychiatric care.

“This anniversary is an opportunity to honor the resilience of the thousands of patients and families who have been part of Greystone's story,” said Deborah Hartel, Deputy Commissioner for Integrated Health. “We also celebrate the dedicated staff who work tirelessly to uphold the highest standards of care and to ensure that every individual who comes through our doors is treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve.”

Greystone Park is one of four state psychiatric facilities operated by the New Jersey Department of Health, collectively serving approximately 1,200 patients with a workforce of roughly 4,500 dedicated employees. Each of the State-run psychiatric facilities remains committed to continuous improvement.

NJDOH has focused on developing partnerships with major universities to bring academic medicine to bedsides and create pathways for student training and faculty exchange that enhance both recruitment efforts and patient care through access to cutting-edge research and evidence-based practices. The Department’s Behavioral Health Services division is undertaking work to better knit together operations in the four hospitals to drive efficiency, standardize care, and deliver measurable improvements to operations and patient outcomes.

“As we look back on 150 years, we're reminded that good mental health care is fundamentally about seeing each person as a whole human being with inherent worth and potential,” said Josh Belsky, CEO of Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital. “Our focus today is on creating an environment where healing can flourish and where patients feel safe, respected, and empowered in their recovery journey.”

The year-long commemoration of Greystone Park’s 150th anniversary will feature educational programs, historical exhibits, and community engagement events that explore both the evolution of psychiatric care and the ongoing work to eliminate stigma surrounding mental illness. These activities will complement existing initiatives such as the Greystone Oral History Project, which preserves firsthand accounts from those who lived and worked at the hospital throughout its history.

Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital Timeline

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The New Jersey Department of Health is a nationally accredited health department working to ensure that all New Jerseyans live long, healthy lives and reach their fullest potential. With more than 5,500 employees, the Department serves to protect the public’s health, promote healthy communities, and continue to improve the quality of health care in New Jersey.