Welcome to the
The Bergen County STIGMA-FREE Initiative
is a county-wide program which aims to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. We are dedicated to raising awareness of the disease of mental illness and create a culture wherein residents who have the disease feel supported by their community and neighbors and feel free to seek treatment for the disease without fear of stigma.
Joining the Stigma-Free Initiative will:
Educate residents that mental illness is a disease and must be treated as such
Raise awareness of the prevalence of mental illness in our community
Provoke public interest in learning what is “STIGMA-FREE”
Providing residents an opportunity to become involved in their community
Allow people living with the disease to feel supported by their community and thus decrease feelings of isolation and shame
Link people in need to local mental health resources
Raise awareness that care is accessible regardless of income
