Commissioners Declare Burlington County 'Stigma Free'

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Burlington County has been designated as “stigma-free” by county officials. Sunday was World Mental Health Awareness Day.

Stigma is a problem with many health conditions, but has been identified as being particularly troublesome with mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders, officials said.

These conditions are often misunderstood, and people suffering from them frequently report feeling shame or blame for their conditions, officials said. This kind of social stigma is a primary reason why many individuals fail to seek treatment.

The resolution approved by the Burlington County Board of Commissioners last month makes it clear that Burlington County recognizes the importance of education and awareness.

It also states that the county supports local resources that are available to treat mental illness and substance abuse disorders, so residents will not suffer alone or feel hopeless. Burlington County joins a few other counties in New Jersey that have approved similar resolutions.

“Conditions like depression, anxiety and substance abuse are illnesses and should be treated as such,” Burlington County Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson, liaison to the Department of Human Services, said. “Our resolution makes that clear and says our County will support those suffering from these conditions by raising awareness about the available resources and opening discussions to make others feel comfortable coming forward with their illnesses.”

The county also created a Stigma-Free Task Force to develop actions Burlington County and other local governments can consider taking to better engage and educate residents.

“By designating the county as Stigma-free, we are declaring that there can be no health without mental health, and we will break down barriers our residents may face either before seeking treatment or in recovery,” Burlington County Commissioner Linda Hynes, liaison to the Stigma-Free Task Force, said. “We want to create a culture where residents who suffer from mental illness or substance use disorder feel supported by their community and neighbors and feel free to seek treatment for a disease without fear of stigma.”

One in four adults experience mental illness in a given year, and 1 in 17 adults live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

While almost 21 million Americans suffer from at least one addiction, only 10 percent receive treatment, according to estimates from the Addiction Center.

In 2018, Burlington County reopened the Post House treatment center in Pemberton to provide services to patients struggling with substance abuse and other co-occurring disorders. Last month, the commissioners approved a contract extension with Maryville Inc. to continue to provide services there. Read more here: Drug Treatment Center In Burlington County Opens Friday

In 2019, Burlington County launched a Hope One Mobile Outreach Unit that travels to various locations in the county to help link residents with recovery specialists and treatment facilities.

They also train people on how to administer overdose antidote, known as Narcan. The unit is run by the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department, the Burlington County Human Services and the Burlington County Health Department, along with staff from Virtua, Maryville and the Deborah Heart and Lung Center. Read more here: Mobile Unit To Aid Burlington County Drug Addicts

In 2020, Burlington County opened a Recovery Center in the Burlington County Human Services Building in Westampton. The center serves as a “one-stop” destination where individuals can obtain peer support and information about treatment programs, recovery support services and community resources. It also helps organize wellness activities and classes, and hosts recovery groups like Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous. Read more here: Recovery Center Opens Amid Uptick In Burlington County OD Deaths

“Our board has promised to govern responsibly but with compassion and empathy for the struggles our residents face,” Hopson said. “Our Stigma-Free County resolution is an extension of that promise, and we remain committed to do everything we can to help our residents access treatment and the help they need.”