Borough Council members in Freehold Borough have passed a resolution designating the municipality to be a stigma-free community.
According to the resolution, a stigma-free community seeks to inspire public interest and to open dialogue about stigma, raise awareness of the disease of mental illness and substance use disorders, and create a culture where residents who have mental illness and/or substance use disorders feel supported by their community and feel free to seek treatment without fear of stigma.
The council’s resolution states that establishing stigma-free communities will raise awareness of resources, have inclusive language and encourage residents to engage in care so recovery can begin and tragedies are avoided.
In 2020, Monmouth County officials, in collaboration with the Division of Behavioral Health, announced the launch of the Stigma-Free Monmouth website at https://www.stigmafree-monmouth.org/
The Monmouth County Stigma-Free Action Committee believes every individual deserves to be treated with respect and that everyone should be able to get help without fear, according to a press release.
Older adults gathered on May 26 at the Freehold Family YMCA and virtually to celebrate National Senior Health and Fitness Day.
Hosted in partnership with the Senior Citizens Activities Network (SCAN) and the Ocean County YMCA, the daylong event featured free activities to foster physical and mental wellness, and camaraderie, according to a press release.
After enduring a long and isolating year in the coronavirus pandemic, scores of seniors got moving in a chair yoga class, discovered ways to prevent common falls and to manage stress, took a walk together and enjoyed a healthy grab-and-go lunch provided by Fulfill.
More than 100 seniors participated in the event at the Freehold Family YMCA and at three other YMCA facilities in Monmouth, Middlesex and Ocean counties, according to the press release.