As Glenn Close, actress and co-founder of Bring Change to Mind, said, “What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor and more unashamed conversation.” Stigma-Free Zones are essential for encouraging such discussions, and they are clearly impactful.

Now more than ever, our communities need healing by engaging and committing to a stigma free space for mental health and wellness. The Governor’s Council on Mental Health Stigma invites you to participate in the Stigma-Free Zone Learning Collaborative for Ambassadors of Stigma-Free Zones across our state. The Council seeks your participation to establish and support this Learning Collaborative of current Stigma-Free Zone Ambassadors and those seeking resources to develop Stigma Free Zones.

The purpose of the Learning Collaborative is also to acknowledge and showcase ambassadors and communities that have successfully established Stigma-Free Zones in their communities. Participation in the group will provide access to resources, toolkits, and community organizing strategies for successfully implementing and sustaining a stigma free zone. Your success stories are important to us and can serve to inspire others!

To learn more about the Stigma-Free Zone Learning Collaborative and express interest in getting involved, please contact Cynthia Chazen, Coordinator of Community Outreach and Partnerships, at cchazen@njamhaa.org.