submitted by: Mayor Bruce Packer
One in four adults experiences a diagnosable mental illness every year, but many individuals do not seek help because of fear of shame or judgment from friends, family and coworkers. To combat this, Glen Rock has formed a Stigma-Free Task Force, which is dedicated to raising awareness of the disease of mental illness and create a culture wherein residents feel supported by their community and neighbors, and feel free to seek treatment for the disease without fear of stigma.
The Glen Rock Stigma-Free Task Force has organized its first event in a series, a panel discussion titled “Taking the Stigma Out of … Anxiety.” Led by Relational and Cognitive Behavioral psychologist Dr. Kevin Brennan, the panel will explore what causes anxiety, how anxiety manifests in different individuals, and who Glen Rock residents can turn to for help. Panelists are experts from the community, including certified school counselor Dana Pavese, Ed.S., LPC, local resident Holly Goshin, neurodevelopmental pediatrician Dr. Hugh Bases, Father Mark Collins of All Saints Episcopal Church, and Rabbi Jennifer Schlosberg of the Glen Rock Jewish Center. The event is scheduled for Thursday, October 25 at 7:30 PM at Borough Hall.
“I’m thrilled to have Glen Rock join other towns in Bergen County on this essential initiative,” said Mayor Bruce Packer. “No one in our community should live in isolation because of mental health concerns.”
Earlier this year, Glen Rock made the first steps towards eliminating the stigma associated with mental illness. Glen Rock representatives passed a resolution (Resolution #73-18, passed on February 14, 2018) designating the municipality a Stigma-Free Zone in order to create an environment in which residents will feel free to seek treatment for the disease of mental illness without the fear of being stigmatized.
Committee members include Mayor Bruce Packer, Councilmember Dr. Arati Kreibich, Board of Education member and psychologist Dr. Kevin Brennan, and community representatives Holly Goshin and Jennifer Russo.
Information on the Glen Rock Stigma-Free Task Force is available at: https://bit.ly/2RCQnHE and the Facebook event
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