Mercer County Confronting Stigma Surrounding Mental Health Issues

Following the death of a Mercer County Community College student who committed suicide last year, St. Gregory the Great Academy Principal Jason Briggs penned a powerful letter about mental health. In it, he criticized our culture for making jokes about schizophrenia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and bipolar disorder. There’s a stigma associated with mental illness and addiction, and Mercer County officials have announced the launch of a yearlong campaign to support those who are impacted.

Mercer County launched the “Stigma Free Mercer” campaign on May 1, the start of Mental Health Awareness Month. County employees gathered to sign a pledge calling for increased awareness and greater understanding of mental illness and addiction, with a promise to work to eliminate stigma and discrimination within the community.

“Mercer County recognizes the stigma associated with mental illness and addiction,” Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes said. “Stigma is a misperception about people that leads to discrimination and other negative consequences. We intend to raise awareness about the impact of stigma on those experiencing a mental illness, as well as the impact on their families and other people in their lives, with the goal of making Mercer County a stigma-free community.”

The public is invited to join the campaign by filling out the short pledge form posted on the Mercer County website. He also encourages the county’s 12 municipalities to adopt resolutions declaring their commitment to increasing awareness and understanding of mental illnesses and reducing stigma and discrimination.

Read more here: Principal Responds To Student’s Suicide. The Result Is Powerful.

Mental health disorders are the leading cause of disability in the United States, according to the World Health Organization. One in five adults in the United States experiences mental illness in a given year, and nearly one in 25 adults in the United States lives with a serious mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Additionally, approximately one in five teenagers ages 13 to 18 experiences a severe mental disorder at some point during their life.

“Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, but often people suffer in silence because the world responds negatively to those with a mental health issue,” Hughes said. “Our response to those experiencing a mental illness must be sensitive, informed and respectful. It must create an environment for hope and healing, and it must address blame and stigma.”

Mercer County, through the Department of Human Services and its Division of Mental Health, funds and supports numerous local mental health agencies to provide help for those with mental health challenges. For more information, call the Mercer County Division of Mental Health at 609-989-6529 or visit www.mercercounty.org/departments/human-services.

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