A Regional Priority: Fourteen Towns Unite in Summit to “Paint the Town Green” for Mental Health Awareness Month

SUMMIT, NJ — May is officially recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Summit Village Green was filled with municipal leaders, first responders, mental health advocates, local organizations, residents and green ribbons, as the City of Summit hosted the regional kickoff event for the “Paint the Town Green” campaign.Led by the NJ Cross-Town Mental Health Coalition, the campaign brought together fourteen neighboring towns across Union, Morris and Essex counties to raise awareness, reduce stigma, expand access to resources and remind residents that mental health matters. This year marks the largest collaboration yet.The participating towns include New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Chatham, Fanwood, Florham Park, Livingston, Long Hill Township, Madison, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Summit and Westfield.The event featured remarks from elected officials and coalition leaders, local resource tables, mental health awareness materials, a banner ceremony with representatives from participating towns, and a collective mindfulness reset designed to give attendees a practical stress-reduction tool.Summit Hosts Regional KickoffSummit Mayor Elizabeth Fagan, M.D., welcomed the crowd and said the city was proud to host the regional kickoff.“As a former physician, I’ve seen firsthand how profoundly mental health shapes a person’s overall well-being,” Fagan said. “It affects how we think, feel, connect, and cope with life’s challenges.”Fagan said events like Paint the Town Green help move mental health out of silence and into open community conversation.“For far too long, it has been surrounded by silence, misunderstanding, and stigma,” Fagan said. “Events like this help change that. They remind us that talking openly about mental health is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of courage.”Fagan also thanked David Guida of Summit’s Department of Community Programs and Summit volunteer Annette Dwyer for helping organize the event. She said Summit first became involved after New Providence invited the city to help extend the campaign along Springfield Avenue.“Each year since, it’s gotten bigger and bigger,” Fagan said. “We’re really proud to be part of this initiative.”A statement was also read on behalf of New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, recognizing the coalition’s work to reduce stigma and expand access to mental health resources. In the statement, Sherrill noted that mental health is an essential part of overall health and well-being and praised Paint the Town Green for bringing together residents, schools, businesses and local leaders to normalize conversations around mental health.A Campaign That Grew Beyond One TownThe campaign began five years ago in New Providence, where local leaders wanted to make mental health awareness more visible, accessible and community-driven. Debbie Merrick, Chairwoman of the NJ Cross Town Mental Health Coalition, said the growth of Paint the Town Green reflects what can happen when residents and municipal leaders work together across town lines.“What started as a small idea has grown far beyond any one town,” Merrick said.Merrick credited New Providence Council President Nadine Geoffroy, Councilwoman Lisa McKnight and Colleen Larouque Green with helping shape the early effort. Geoffroy and McKnight were founding members of the New Providence Mental Health Committee, while Larouque Green developed the Paint the Town Green concept, which began with green ribbons and later expanded to storefronts, public spaces and regional participation.“Paint the Town Green is more than a campaign — it’s a commitment,” Merrick said. “A commitment to unity. A commitment to understanding. And a commitment to making sure every person — every child, every parent, every neighbor — knows what good mental health looks like and knows that help is out there.”Geoffroy said the goal has always been simple but important: to start conversations that reduce stigma and help residents better understand how mental health affects everyone.“We’re not doing anything earth-changing with this,” Geoffroy said. “It’s just starting a conversation to reduce the stigma, to make people aware and educated about mental health and how it impacts everybody.”McKnight said it has been meaningful to see the local effort grow into a broader coalition.“As a founding member of the Mental Health Committee in New Providence, it is heartwarming to see the outpouring of support,” McKnight said. “The growth of this committee and the coalition in support of mental health is just amazing.”New Providence Mayor Al Morgan said the committee formed during a time when communities were seeing the effects of isolation, especially following COVID, when children, families and residents of all ages were struggling with reduced socialization and increased stress.Morgan credited local leaders with recognizing the need for a formal committee and said the regional growth has been remarkable.“This is the only committee that has gotten fourteen different towns involved,” Morgan said. “It’s incredible.”A Shared Message Across Town LinesThe regional message was visible throughout the event, from the green clothing worn by attendees to the large Paint the Town Green banner displayed on the Summit Showmobile. Mayors and representatives from participating towns stood together on stage to unfurl the banner as a symbol of shared commitment.Ray Franey, a founding member of the NJ Cross-Town Mental Health Coalition and a member of the Rotary Club of Mental Health Advocates, said watching the campaign expand has been meaningful because it shows what can happen when communities come together around a shared purpose.“This is four years in the making, and it’s been a great experience — the expansion, the communities coming together and the bonding,” Franey said. “When someone drives from one town to the next and sees the same messaging from town to town, they realize they are not alone. Others have some of the same struggles. They’re not alone.”Mountainside Joins the MovementMountainside Mayor Paul Mirabelli said the campaign’s message is especially important because mental health challenges are often hidden, even when people are struggling.“People are hurting right now,” Mirabelli said. “It’s a growing problem, but it’s sort of a hidden problem. By having events like this and putting green ribbons out, we’re telling people it’s okay not to be okay — you're not alone, and that the best thing you can do is reach out to get help.”Green ribbons placed around Mountainside by council members are more than decoration. They are a visible reminder to check in on neighbors, start conversations and let residents of all ages — including seniors and children — know that support is available.Focus on Youth, Families and Crisis SupportFlorham Park Mayor Mark Taylor pointed to the importance of making sure residents know practical help is available, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which can be reached 24 hours a day.“We all need to come together to help our kids,” Taylor said.Long Hill Township Mayor Guy Piserchia said his commitment to mental health awareness was shaped by seeing the pressures young people face, including expectations and social media pressures that can be difficult for adults to fully understand.“Mental health, especially with the younger generation, needs to be paid attention to,” Piserchia said.Resources and a Mindfulness ResetThroughout the Village Green, organizations shared information about wellness and support services, including resources related to meditation, learning differences, behavioral health, community programming and crisis support. First responders from several communities also attended, underscoring the connection between public safety, community care and mental health awareness.At the end of the program, attendees were invited to take part in a brief mindfulness and stretching exercise led by Shereen Bernaz, a YogaSix instructor and Lululemon ambassador. The “Collective Reset” offered a simple technique residents could use to pause, breathe and reduce stress in daily life.For organizers, that was part of the larger purpose of the evening: to make mental health awareness practical, visible and connected to everyday life.As green ribbons appear across participating towns throughout May, the coalition hopes residents will see them as more than decorations. They are intended as reminders to check in, start conversations, seek help when needed and support one another.“There is no shame,” Merrick said. “You are not alone. And there is always help.”Residents experiencing a mental health crisis can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. More information about Mental Health Awareness Month resources and events is available through the NJ Cross Town Mental Health Coalition and the City of Summit’s Mental Health Awareness Month page.