Montclair State Is Now A 'Stigma-Free' Campus

Montclair, NJ – Montclair State University has declared itself to be “stigma free.”

On Tuesday, former New Jersey Governor Richard Codey joined university administrators to celebrate the designation of MSU as a “Stigma-Free” campus.

During his morning visit, Codey unveiled the first of two stigma-free signs that will stand on campus and raise a flag to honor May as Mental Health Awareness month.

According to a university news release, MSU is the second institution of higher education in the Garden State to join the Codey Fund for Mental Health’s Stigma-Free campaign. Established by the former governor and his wife in 2012, the fund’s mission is to ensure that “compassionate, quality mental healthcare is accessible to everyone and that the stigma associated with mental illness is overcome through public awareness and education.”

“Montclair State University has a longstanding commitment to the well-being of our students,” said Karen Pennington, Vice President for Student Development and Campus Life. “We have established programs and staff in place to support the mental health needs of our community. We believe that having the stigma free signs standing on campus will spark awareness and remind students that they’re not alone. The Montclair State University culture is a compassionate one, and there is always judgment-free help available.”

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Photo courtesy of Jennifer Brown/Montclair State University