Shame and stigma still make it hard for people struggling with mental illness to get help. Lowering those barriers is NewBridge Services’ goal during Mental Illness Awareness Week.

“The more we talk openly about mental illness and try to understand what people dealing with it cope with, the more likely those individuals will feel comfortable to reach out for help if they need it,” said Beth Jacobson, NewBridge’s Director of Community Response and Education.

Less than half of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in 2021, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

MHFA

Mental Health First Aid training has made strides nationwide in teaching people to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders, trauma and psychosis, as well as substance abuse. The eight-hour training has had the added benefit of boosting empathy for people with mental illness, reducing the stigma that can alienate them, Jacobson said.

NewBridge trained 205 people in MHFA or Youth MHFA in 2022, and so far this year, 174 adults have learned how to respond to a mental health crisis affecting children and adults. “A lay person can be effective in intervening in a crisis, and helping the person seek professional treatment,” Jacobson said.

This month, NewBridge will train emergency medical technicians and firefighters in Pequannock Township in a special MHFA training designed for first responders. The evidence-based program will provide them knowledge, resources and skills in treating people with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. MHFA training addresses ways first responders can de-escalate incidents and respond to mental health-related situations appropriately, without compromising safety.

“First responders often see people at their worst, and may make assumptions about them based on what they witness in a crisis situation,” Jacobson said. Individuals living with serious mental illness are more likely to have chronic medical conditions.

Overcoming Stigma

“Taking the time to understand people, treating them with respect and dignity, can make big strides in overcoming stigma.” It’s estimated that more than one in five adults and one in six children ages 6 to 17 in the U.S. live with a mental illness, while one in 20 experience serious mental illness.

Everyone can help reduce stigma and improve access to treatment:

Educate yourself about mental illness
See the person, not the illness
Push for legislation and policies that improve access to treatment
Take the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Stigma-Free Pledge
Urge your community to become a Stigma-Free Zone

Morris County is a Stigma-Free Community, and the county Department of Human Services has created a Stigma-Free website that provides information to the public and resources to anyone dealing with mental illness.

If you or someone you know struggles with mental illness, contact NewBridge Services at (973) 316-9333 or on the NewBridge website.