Toolkit, Downloads and Resources to Raise Mental Health Awareness
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ABOUT THE NEW PROVIDENCE MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY & EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The mission of the New Providence Mental Health Advocacy & Education Committee is to reduce the stigma of mental health in New Providence by promoting understanding through education, advocacy, raising awareness, and connecting people to the right resources to give them hope and help. In May of 2023, the Committee embarked on an ambitious mission to “Paint the Town Green,” the national color of mental health awareness, and to engage all parts of the community in programming, events, and resources related to mental health.
MENTAL HEALTH MONTH 2024 IS ALMOST UPON US — PLEASE JOIN IN!
Below are descriptions of the initiatives and campaigns, along with details on execution and links to related files whenever available.
PAINT THE TOWN GREEN BUSINESS TOOLKIT
To embrace the message of mental health and make it visible in New Providence, the town’s mental health committee invited all local businesses to change their lights to the color green, hang student-designed posters, and have students paint their storefront windows green. See the attached PDF “Business Toolkit” for more details.
- 20+ Businesses participated in green painting, lights, and visible, uplifting, and fun promotions to support mental health awareness.
- Dozens more businesses posted Mental Health posters and signs.
- Volunteers from New Providence High School participated as part of the Mental Health Awareness and Education Committee Student Liaison team, the National Arts Honor Society, and the Community Service Club.
- NP Mental Health Awareness & Education Committee volunteers did business outreach, managed supplies, and supervised all painting events. Supplies were purchased with grant funds.
Click here for a downloadable PDF of the New Providence Paint the Town Green Business Toolkit.
MENTAL HEALTH BOOK COLLECTION AT THE NEW PROVIDENCE MEMORIAL LIBRARY
The town’s mental health committee partnered with the NP Memorial Library to create a mental health book collection. Citizens can borrow from the collection on the honor system without checking out books. The Committee funded the initial collection and set up a way for citizens to donate suggested mental health books to grow the collection. Read more about it in TapInto. https://www.tapinto.net/towns/new-providence/sections/health-and-wellness/articles/new-mental-health-collection-at-the-new-providence-memorial-library
MENTAL HEALTH BANNERS ON DISPLAY IN PUBLIC PARKS
New Providence High School students designed banners promoting mental health awareness. The mental health committee used grant funding to produce the vinyl banners. The designs were “evergreen” (did not contain dates), so the banners could be re-used. (See attached Vinyl Banner file). The Borough of New Providence also used the digital bulletin board in the town center to promote Mental Health Awareness Month.
Click here for a downloadable PDF of the banner, pictured below.
MENTAL HEALTH YARD SIGNS DISPLAYED AROUND TOWN AT HOMES, SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES
To promote mental health and make it visible in New Providence, the town’s mental health committee produced yard signs and made them available to citizens and institutions. The signs were purchased with grant funds and collected at the month’s end to re-use them the following year.
SIDEWALK CHALK CAMPAIGN
On May 10th, in partnership with the elementary school PTAs, students were encouraged to leave positive and encouraging chalk messages during their “Walk to School” events.
Sidewalk chalk was left along the sidewalk on Maple Avenue toward Salt Brook School and along Jones Drive toward Allen W. Roberts School. Parents, teachers, and kids participated in this simple and heartwarming event. Supplies were purchased with grant funds.
GREEN KINDNESS CAMPAIGN
The town’s Mental Health Committee tied green ribbons on the light poles and on the streets of downtown as another visible way to raise awareness. These ribbons also included a laminated card that had the “NP Be Kind to Your Mind” logo and a QR code directing participants to a random act of kindness to perform.
GREEN RIBBON DAY
The town’s Mental Health Committee donated green ribbons for all high school and middle school students, staff and administrators. Green ribbon stickers were given to all the elementary school students. The schools recognize mental health awareness on a chosen Green Ribbon Day in May, when they can distributing the ribbons with age-appropriate mental health messaging and programming. Additionally, the Committee partnered with the PTSA to hand out inspiring cards to our teachers in the district to show appreciation for them and their mental well-being.
Click here for a source to order green ribbons.
Click here for a source to order green ribbon stickers.
MENTAL HEALTH POSTER CONTEST
Elementary school students were invited to create posters on how they take care of their mental health. Posters were displayed at the Municipal Recreation Center throughout May, and winners received prizes/gift bags purchased with grant funds.
SOCIAL MEDIA HASHTAGS
All businesses, schools, and public services were invited to use the official hashtags #NPBeKindToYourMind and #NPMentalHealth and green ribbons on social media and in their email signature lines during May.
MENTAL HEALTH AT THE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE
To close out Mental Health Awareness Month in New Providence, members of the Mental Health Committee marched in the Memorial Day Parade, giving out green ribbons, candy, and stickers. A banner and supplies were purchased with grant funds.
IMPORTANT LINKS AND RESOURCES
Click here for Conversation Starters and Union County mental health resources.
Click here to access the Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s website home page and multiple resources. The Mental Health Association in New Jersey is a statewide non-profit organization that strives for children and adults to achieve victory over mental health and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training and services.
Click here for the downloadable 2024 Mental Health Month Toolkit from Mental Health
America.
Click here for downloadable 2024 Mental Health Month additional ideas for business.
Click here for Mental Health America’s online screening tools for mental health conditions.
