Monroe Township Creates Awareness Towards Addiction Recovery and Mental Health With A Community Event
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“It’s okay not to be okay. And, you know, we recognize that mental health is a serious issue, not just in our community, but all communities.” — Monroe Township Mayor Greg Wolfe
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was produced as part of the South Jersey Emerging Journalists Project (SJEJP), an independent initiative dedicated to supporting content creators and emerging journalists from underserved communities across Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, and Atlantic counties.
BY KADAYSHA LITTLE | South Jersey Emerging Journalists Project
MONROE TOWNSHIP — On Saturday, May 16, Monroe Township and Community Affairs in partnership with Mayor Greg Wolfe’s Committee on Addiction Awareness hosted a public event titled Moving for Mental Health Walk for Wellness.
The event gathered small businesses, community programmers and families all together to enjoy an eventful day of connection and resource sharing.
Moving for Mental Health Walk for Wellness took place at Owen’s Park, located in Williamstown. It was filled with different attractions for people of all ages such as bouquet making, animal petting zone, face painting, and bounce houses.
Also, the event had free food available such as water ice, ice cream and pretzels.
The colorful flower station that was free to attendees of the Moving for Mental Health, Walk for Wellness event. Photo from Kadaysha Little.
Despite all the attractions for attendees, the event focused on mental health support, education and awareness. One way this was displayed was through the variety of vendors that were mental and physical health resources from outpatient addiction treatment centers like Clear Direction Recovery Centers, to therapy offices like Harmony Counseling LLC.
“What’s not okay is not giving somebody the help that they need,” Wolfe said.
Mayor Greg Wolfe addressing the public at Owens Park for the Moving for Mental Health, Walk for Wellness event. Photo courtesy of the Monroe Township Community Affairs.
The Moving for Mental Health Walk for Wellness event helped to promote government resources and support programs to the public. Wolfe emphasized the importance of bringing attention to issues the community is facing and local facilities working toward the solution
“That’s why we’re doing this, to educate everybody, to make public awareness about mental health issues, which a lot of them stem from drug addiction, alcohol addiction,” Wolfe continued.
In the Gloucester County Substance Abuse Overview of 2022, Gloucester County resident admissions into substance use treatment care were reported at 1,534 for heroin, and 1,293 admissions for alcohol. Monroe township had the most substance abuse admissions out of all Gloucester County municipalities.
A map of Gloucester County representing the count of substance abuse admissions by municipalities of Residence. Graphic is courtesy of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in collaboration with the Office of Planning, Research, Evaluation, Prevention and Olmstead located in Trenton, New Jersey.
“We have a great team of people that support and help us. Our police department’s involved, our school district is involved,” Wolfe said. “We have religious leaders involved. So it’s a whole community atmosphere, and you need all those integral parts.”
Participating organizations and businesses included Gloucester County, 2nd floor Youth Helpline, Waves of Change Counseling and Healing LLC, Brilliant Behavioral Health LLC, Mendful Minds Wellness Center, LLC, Rowan Medicine Neuromusculoskeletal, New Jersey State Police, NJSP Operation RISE, Living Recovery Network, Services Empowering Rights of Victims Mindful, Moments/Echoes of Hope, Lori Baucom Blong – The Well for Women Shaun’s Story, GRIT, The Artemis Center for Guidance, LLC, Brenda Powers Ben Attou – Therapy Chickens, A New Dawn Therapeutic, Martial Arts Institute and Fitness Mainstay Center for Counseling New Jersey Growth Partners, Hampton Behavioral Health Center, Center For Family Services, Harmony Counseling Services LLC, Sweet Bliss Counseling, LLC, Premiere Behavioral Supports, CFG Health Network, Maryville Integrated Care, Revolution Recovery Center, United Advocacy Group, Clear Direction Recovery Centers, Gameday Men’s Health, NAMI Gloucester County, Inc., NJ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services,NJ DHS COG.
Passionate about storytelling and public engagement, Kadaysha Little has been in several roles involving communications since graduating from Thomas Jefferson University. She flourishes in the opportunity to combine voice, values, and vision to make an impact. She can be reached at kadaysha.sjejp@gmail.com
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