ROI-NJ shared an article as part of the Mental Health Champions series: “The biggest contributor to stigma is a lack of education about the nature of mental illnesses.” featuring CarePlus President/CEO Joe Masciandaro:
“The biggest contributor to stigma is a lack of education about the nature of mental illnesses. Often, there are not physiological signs that explain the condition, which results in blaming the individual and/or their family for their problems. For many years, there was no effective treatment, which led to massive institutionalization of those with mental illness. That has changed, but the social perception is still there. Media also plays a role in the perpetuation of stigma, as mental illness is commonly used as a scapegoat for acts of violence.
CarePlus NJ, INC. is dedicated to excellence in mental healthcare and has a commitment to life-long support needed by individuals and their families to ensure that they achieve their full potential and improve the quality of their lives.