Brookdale Leads the Way to Mental Health Wellness!
Brookdale Community College DECLARES THE COLLEGE A STIGMA-FREE ZONE.
Brookdale’s goal is to raise awareness of the diseases of mental illness and substance use disorder, promote the use of inclusive language and encourage those who are affected to seek services and feel supported. Navigating life with a mental health condition can be tough, and the isolation, blame and secrecy that is often encouraged by stigma can create huge challenges to reaching out, getting needed support and living well. Brookdale will encourage the use of the many mental health resources available, so no student needs to feel hopeless or alone.
Fifty percent of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life, and half of those people will develop conditions by the age of 14. The Mental Health Association of Monmouth County and our national affiliate Mental Health America commend President Stout and the leadership of Brookdale College for becoming the first college to declare themselves a stigma-free zone, thereby supporting an environment where all faculty, students, and families are comfortable reaching out for help should they need it,” said Wendy S. DePedro, President/CEO of the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County.
MONMOUTH COUNTY STIGMA FREE PLEDGE
I/We Pledge to:
- Promise to self-educate about stigma in its various forms, and learn how it affects others as it pertains to mental health and substance use.
- Encourage others to seek assistance with any mental health or substance use disorders.
- Show respect for and be inclusive of all people with differences such as mental illness, substance use disorders, physical/developmental disabilities, race, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religion, etc.
- Stand up for me and others online, in-person, or anywhere who are targeted by bullies. Remember that bullying does not just take place in a school and that many adults deal with bullying and intimidation in their daily lives, and recognize that bullying can occur in any setting and that people of any age may be targeted.
- Avoid language that puts someone down because of differences such as mental illness, substance use disorders, physical/ developmental disabilities, race, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religion, etc.
- Be courageous and correct others when they use inappropriate language, slurs, or other derogatory languages about others. Silence shows agreement with this language.
- Think about personal responses to daily situations and “check” my attitudes and initial judgment of someone who faces stigma in their daily lives.
- Remember that when recognition is coupled with re-education and understanding, health-seeking action can be taken. Recognize that these actions can lead to recovery and that recovery is possible for everyone.
- Fully stamp out stigma and clear the path to health-seeking behavior. A stigma-free world begins with me.
“Together, we can encourage acceptance and understanding. Together, we can advocate for a better world. Together, we can turn Stigma-Free Me into Stigma-Free WE!”
JOIN US Thursdays 11:45 am – 1:15 pm for our Speaker Series
Brookdale Community College and the Psychology & Human Services Club are proud to be Stigma-Free!!
Join us in our series as we support the Stigma-Free Initiative. Stigma is the primary reason people fail to seek help for mental illness. Our goals are to disseminate information and foster a stigma-free environment where people are free from judgment and feel safe to get help, to inspire public interest, open dialogues about stigma, raise awareness of the local mental health & substance use resources available and encourage the community to break down barriers.
March 25th: Eating Disorder Recovery: A Personal Journey of Healing and Helping Others
April 8th: ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) & Trauma-Informed Care
April 22nd: SELF-CARE – Recharging Your Battery: Discovering Your Best Self
REGISTER HERE!
Counselors on Campus
Cathleen Goode, Ed.S.
Health Sciences & STEM Counselor
Phone: 732-224-2342
Email: cgoode@brookdalecc.edu
Office: MAS 120
Eleanor Horgan, M.A.
Humanities Department Chair
Counselor
732-224-2689
ehorgan@brookdalecc.edu
LAH 131
Don Nigro, Ed.D.
Social Science & Business
Counselor
732-224-2808
dnigro@brookdalecc.edu
MAN 122
Steve Curto, Ed.D.
Student Services
Counselor
732-224-2318
scurto@brookdalecc.edu
MAC 109
Brookdale has special arrangements for students with the following “24 hour/7 days a week/365 days per year” emergency resources to call if you are having thoughts of suicide or harming yourself or others.
- Monmouth Medical Center Psychiatric Emergency Services @ (732) 923-6999
- 2nd Floor Youth Helpline – Available to talk with you about any problem, distress, or hardship you are experiencing. Call or text @ 888-222-2228 or visit the website @ www.2ndfloor.org
LINKS To Outside Resources not affiliated with Brookdale Community College.
To Join the Psychology & Human Services Club Text @2020-club to 81010
Contact: Christine Greco-Covington, Faculty Advisor, cgreco@brookdalecc.edu
Liz Barone, Club President, Ebarone2@my.brookdalecc.edu
Brookdale urges anyone who would like more information on the Stigma-Free Initiative to contact Sara Barnett Burrill, EdM, MS, MA, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Brookdale Community College.sburrill@brookdalecc.edu, and to help us to eliminate stigma and promote wellness amongst the entire Brookdale Community. To join the Monmouth County Stigma-Free Committee, please email Pamela Major, Children’s Interagency Coordinating Councils (CIACC) Coordinator Monmouth County Office of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Stigma-Free Committee Coordinator at pamela.major@co.monmouth.nj.us.