Stigma Free Walk and Talk a Thon Returns to In-Person Status as Mental Health Awareness is More Important Than Ever
Hosted by Ramsey School District and West Bergen Mental Health
Ramsey, N.J. – Ramsey School District and West Bergen Mental Health are teaming up to revive the in-person status of a mental health awareness event. The 5th annual Stigma Free Walk and Talk a Thon will take place on Saturday, May 7th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Ramsey High School, 256 E. Main St. The free event encourages community participation to raise awareness for mental health while eliminating societal stigmas that often surround it.
Scaled back and socially distant activities in 2020 and 2021 were successful because of an involved community and a creative effort by the school district to connect people across digital media. While bringing everyone together virtually exceeded expectations last year, Ramsey and surrounding communities are anxiously awaiting the in-person event this year.
“In the midst of a pandemic, we still came together as a community virtually and remained strong in our mission,” said Ramsey Superintendent Matthew J. Murphy. “We are excited to have the community back in person, leaning on one another during this time of mental health awareness.”
The Walk and Talk a Thon will be structured similar to an “open house,” and anyone is welcome to join at any point during the three-hour opportunity. There will be information to pursue, freebies to collect, and friends to meet. Those seeking to participate by other means can show support by placing a printed sign in a window or by using a branded social media profile picture.
According to The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 people will be affected by mental illness in their lifetime. Only half the people affected typically seek treatment, and stigma is often cited as the reason. The Walk and Talk a Thon sits at the heart of Ramsey School District’s goal to create and nurture a Stigma Free Zone in their schools and in the community. The district’s proactive stance on mental health advocacy provides resources and educational services to students, staff and the surrounding community year-round. West Bergen Mental Health has joined to #endthestigma and co-present the Walk and Talk a Thon; one of Ramsey School District’s largest initiatives of the year.
For more information, visit sites.google.com/ramsey.k12.nj.us/stigmafree2021/home and follow @RNJStigmaFree on Facebook or Twitter.
