Community Mental Health Walk Returns To Mendham For Second Year

MENDHAM, NJ — This spring, the Mendham community can lace up their sneakers once more for an important cause.

For the second year, the Mendhams Stigma-Free Task Force is commemorating May as Mental Health Awareness Month by hosting its second annual "Stomp Out the Stigma Walk." The walk is scheduled for Sunday, May 7, and will begin between 1 and 1:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Grace Lutheran Church.

The goal of the walk this year is to raise money for college scholarships for Mendham High School graduates who are considering careers in the fields of mental health and substance use disorders more broadly.

Additionally, funds will be used to support grants to local organizations as well as ongoing activities, workshops, and educational events for parents, teens and seniors.

"The whole idea is to raise awareness about mental health issues and substance abuse disorders. May is mental health awareness month and so we are hoping to get a good turnout, like we did last year," said Amalia Duarte, Mendham Township Committeewoman.

The 2022 walk raised funds to purchase two People's Picnic Tables for installation in Mendham Township and Mendham Borough parks.

Task Force members also painted those two tables in a bright, bold "Optimistic Yellow," with the goal of using these eye-catching tables to raise mental health awareness and provide a space for connection. The two tables also have plaques with their mission statement and a QR code that will take anyone in need of more information and resources.

The tables were part of a larger Morris County-wide project coordinated by the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris (MHA) and Team Destig.

Registration for this year's walk is currently open. Adults pay $20 per participant, and students pay $10 per participant. Visit www.mendhamtownship.org to register for the walk on Community Pass.

Walk-in registration begins at 1 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church. The walk begins at 1:30 p.m., proceeds up Main Street, and concludes at the Hilltop House with a resource fair, kids' activities, music and more.

The Mendhams Stigma-Free Task Force has been working to educate the community about mental health and substance use through parent workshops, social media, message lawn signs, videos and other means since 2018.

The task force is composed entirely of volunteers from the townships and boroughs, including mental health professionals, who collaborate with school officials, police, clergy and other professional and nonprofit organizations.