At the STAR Program, we believe that caring for our mental health is just as important as caring for our physical health. This May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, we stand with our Brooklyn neighbors to honor stories of resilience, foster healing, and speak out against the stigma that too often prevents our communities from seeking the support they deserve.
Through our STOP Mental Health Stigma campaign, we’re reaching across cultures and generations—from Crown Heights to Canarsie—with one clear message: You are not alone. And your mental health matters.
Breaking the Silence: Understanding the Stigma
In African American, Latino, and Caribbean communities, mental health is often kept behind closed doors—seen as something to manage alone or push through in silence. But silence is not strength.
The STOP Mental Health Stigma initiative challenges these harmful norms. We elevate real voices from our neighborhoods and create judgment-free spaces where conversations about depression, anxiety, grief, and trauma can happen with dignity and cultural respect.
NAMI’s 2024 Theme: “Take the Moment”
This year, we echo the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in urging everyone to “Take the Moment”:
- 🧠 Check in on your mental and emotional well-being.
- 💬 Reach out to others with empathy and intention.
- 📚 Learn about mental health conditions and challenge misconceptions.
- 🛑 Stop the stigma by speaking up and showing support.
In Brooklyn, “taking the moment” can look like a grandmother opening up to her doctor, a teen writing about their struggles in a journal, or a community leader inviting a therapist to speak at a local church. These moments matter.
How the STAR Program Supports You
Our STOP Mental Health Stigma campaign is more than a message—it’s a movement.
Led by the STAR Program at SUNY Downstate, our team creates culturally relevant resources tailored for the communities we serve. That includes:
- 🎥 Original multilingual video content and storytelling campaigns
- 📱 Social media engagement in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and more
- 🎙️ Community roundtables, testimonials, and interactive tools
- 🧠 Suicide prevention training and workplace wellness initiatives
- 💡 Youth empowerment through partnerships with THEO Program
As Michelle Melendez, MS, LCSW, STAR’s Behavioral Health Director, puts it: “When we create safe, culturally relevant spaces, we make healing possible.”
Get Involved: Simple Ways to Support Mental Wellness
Here’s how you can join the movement this month—and every month:
💬 Talk About It
Start open conversations about mental health with your family, coworkers, or community group.
📚 Educate Yourself
Visit www.StopMentalHealthStigma.com or NAMI to learn more about mental health conditions and how to support others.
🖌️ Share Your Story
Write a blog, create a piece of art, post on social media—your voice can inspire others.
📞 Use the Support You Deserve
Call or text 988 to reach NYC Well, a 24/7 confidential mental health support line.
🤝 Be the Support Someone Needs
Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is show up with compassion.
Real Voices from Our Borough
We’ve heard powerful testimonies from Brooklyn neighbors:
- “Talking to someone saved my life,” said Janelle, a Caribbean-American mom who sought help after years of hidden grief.
- “I realized I didn’t have to be silent to be strong,” shared Andre, a Flatbush artist using his platform to speak on anxiety.
Their stories remind us that healing happens when we’re heard—and that no one should face mental health challenges alone.
Let’s Keep It Going, Brooklyn
Mental Health Awareness Month is a springboard—but the journey is year-round. At the STAR Program, we’re committed to continuing this work every single day, building a Brooklyn where mental health is supported, not silenced.
Join us. Share your truth. Support a friend. Visit www.STARProgram.nyc and www.StopMentalHealthStigma.com to learn more.
Because mental health is health—and in this borough, no one gets left behind.
Need help now? Call or text 988 or visit StopMentalHealthStigma.com for resources, support, and connection.
