In January 2019, Paula Tedesco, a psychiatric nurse for over forty years and former President of the RDO, introduced a resolution to the Borough Council so Ringwood could join the growing number of communities in New Jersey to become “Stigma-Free.” This initiative aims to create an environment in which residents will feel free to seek treatment for the disease of mental illness without the fear of being stigmatized.

Tedesco stated: “Mental health issues are more common than heart disease, lung disease, and cancer combined. All of society is affected by these issues in some way, shape, or form. One in four Americans is affected with a diagnosable illness and many more do not seek help. We have all experienced mental health challenges at one time or another or have certainly encountered someone in our family, workplace, school, house of worship or in the community with these challenges. Shame and stigma prevent us from talking about these issues and prevent us from seeking help. Stigma is a series of negative attitudes and beliefs that affect how we view the world and people who are different from us.”

Thank you Paula Tedesco for tackling this important issue and taking the initiative to make Ringwood a Stigma-Free community!