Official Site of The State of New Jersey
What’s New from the Council
• Stigma Council Mourns the Passing of Gov. Richard Codey and Honors his Legacy, click here
• The Council encourages everyone to participate in the Sing! for Mental Health Project! Click here for details!
“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor and more unashamed conversation.”
— Glenn Close
“We know that mental illness is not something that happens to other people. It touches us all. Why then is mental illness met with so much misunderstanding and fear.”
— Tipper Gore
“Mental health problems don’t define who you are . They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain but you are not the rain.”
— Matt Haig
Stories Inspiring Progress
The best way to eliminate stigma is to educate individuals about mental health and mental illnesses, especially the fact that mental illnesses are real, just like physical health conditions, and should not incite any judgment or discrimination. Such education should include individuals’ success stories.
The New Jersey Governor’s Council on Mental Health Stigma invites individuals to share their inspiring stories.
Here is one of many examples:
Kris
In 2022 I had a manic episode which landed me in the hospital. My whole life until that moment had been difficult, but I was now engaged to be married........
Upcoming Events
January / February NAMI NJ Online or In-Person Support Groups
01/26/2026
NAMI Family Support Group is a 60-90 minute support group for adult friends and family members (18+) of people with mental health conditions. Participants gain the support of peers who understand their experience and gain insight into others’ challenges and successes.
NAMI In Our Own Voice-Virtual Training in Spanish
12/13/2025
NAMI's In Our Own Voice is an interactive presentation that gives an authentic look at what it means to live with a mental health condition. This presentation is led by two adults with first-person experience and includes videos and dialog spaces.
Enhancing Care for Individuals with Mental Health Disorders and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
12/04/2025
Please join us for an essential virtual discussion, Enhancing Care for Individuals with Mental Health Disorders and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, on December 4, 2025, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Click here for details and to register.
Council News
Stigma Council Mourns the Passing of Gov. Richard Codey and Honors his Legacy
01/20/2026
Richard J. Codey, the 53rd governor of New Jersey and a lifelong public servant who had a remarkable gift for making complete strangers feel like the most important people in the world, died Sunday, January 11, 2026, at his home in Roseland, surrounded by family, after a brief illness. He was 79.
Stopping Stigma with Expert and Personal Insights in Time for Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 5-11, 2025)
10/03/2025
Council Publishes Stopping Stigma with Expert and Personal Insights in Time for Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 5-11, 2025) – Click here to read this publication.
Behavioral Healthcare Leaders Share Strategies and Inspire Collaboration at the Council’s 20th Anniversary Celebration – Click here for event highlights and photos, and here to watch the event video. highlights
07/16/2025
Behavioral Healthcare Leaders Share Strategies and Inspire Collaboration at the Council’s 20th Anniversary Celebration – Click here for event highlights and photos, and here to watch the event video.