The City of Orange Township
African American Mental Health in Our Diverse Society
Thursday, February 28, 6pm
The Dora Stern Gallery at Arts Unbound
544 Freeman St, Orange NJ 07050
Hosted by Arts Unbound
Presented by NAMI NJ’s AACT-NOW
Diverse communities face many barriers such as higher levels of stigma, misinformation about mental health and language that prevent them from receiving care. A person’s beliefs, norms, values, and language affects how they perceive and experience mental health conditions. Cultural differences can influence whether or not we seek help.
Join NAMI New Jersey and Arts Unbound for a panel discussion on African American mental health.
Panelists include NAMI’s African American Community Mental Health Outreach members Mark T. Williams, BSN, RN-BC, Jacquese Armstrong, BA, Journalsism, and Shanee Frazier, BA, Journalism/Public Relations. Topics will include how mental illness, treatment, and stigma are experienced by various cultural groups with a specific focus on African American communities.
Speakers will share their expertise, personal stories, and creative work to inform the attendees about the challenges mental health stigma can create for individuals seeking services when cultural need are not take into account. They will share personal stories of strength, perseverance, and success. They will also share poetry that reflects the passion, disappointments, and triumphs of a life spent navigating life with a mental illness.
All are welcome. On view in the gallery is “No Shame in My Game,” an exhibition of art by African American and African Diaspora artists living with disabilities. The gallery will be open before the panel discussion starting at 5pm, Presentations will begin at 6:30pm.
AACT-NOW (African American Community Takes New Outreach Worldwide) is an exciting initiative of NAMI New Jersey to connect with NJ’s African-American families affected by mental illness, mental health consumers, the faith community and mental health professional to provide culturally competent support, education and advocacy. AACT-NOW goals are to dispel the misconceptions surrounding mental illness and to create an anti-stigma environment for those seeking treatment.
NAMI New Jersey (National Alliance on Mental Illness, New Jersey) is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Through education, support, advocacy and public awareness programs NAMI NJ fosters understanding about mental illness, confronts stigma often associated with mental disorders, advocates for public policies that benefit those affected by mental illness, and promotes research into the causes, treatment and recovery of mental health disorders.
