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The NJ Mental Health Players (NJMHP) is the longest-running community education program of its type in New Jersey. The mission of the NJMHP players is to increase education and awareness, decrease stigma and break the silence often associated with mental health. The Players are volunteers throughout the state of New Jersey. These volunteers are culturally diverse and include teens, adults and seniors. Fifty percent of the volunteers have a disclosed mental illness and empathize with the challenging gauntlet in seeking support. The NJMHP program combines performance art and advocacy. Since the COVID 19 pandemic we have transitioned our live performances to a virtual platform using ZOOM. We have incorporated and advanced scripts demonstrating the impact of COVID 19 and Racism on individual’s mental health and wellness. Our virtual performance is 45 minutes and mimics the live show with a few new added features. There is music, videos, live chat, polling and a curtain call. The flow of a performance consist of a trained mental health professional as a moderator who shares facts ,data, and information followed by a scenario performed by the players, then a talk back with the players, who remain in character soliciting interactive engagement, discussion and collective solutions from the audience. The performance ends with the moderator framing the discussion and providing additional information, resources, links, and contact info. Our audience’s include community and corporate conferences, seminars, elementary, high school, colleges/universities, social service agencies, hospitals, state and federal agencies. For virtual bookings and information contact the Director -Lynette Sheard @ [email protected] or call 973-571-4100 ext.104

 

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Lynette Sheard – is a Community Education Coordinator and Director of the NJ Mental Health Players which is a highly successful, interactive community education program. It is the longest-running program of its type in the state. Volunteers are trained to depict realistic scenarios involving mental health and addiction issues. These presentations provide audiences with a dynamic way to receive basic education about mental illness, addiction and other relevant challenges. The mission is to increase awareness, decrease stigma and break the silence. She has worked with the Mental Health Association for over 15 years as a senior employment specialist, job coach a Career Connections Employment Research Institute trainer. She was awarded APSE’s Employment Professional of the year for her work with individuals with disabilities and staff development training's. She is certified by Mental Health America as a trainer of Mental Health First Aid for adults, older adults and youth. She also trains community service providers in Wellness Recovery Action Planning, and Hearing Distressing Voices

The NJ Mental Health Players (NJMHP) is the longest-running community education program of its type in New Jersey. The mission of the NJMHP players is to increase education and awareness, decrease stigma and break the silence often associated with mental health. The Players are volunteers throughout the state of New Jersey. These volunteers are culturally diverse and include teens, adults and seniors. Fifty percent of the volunteers have a disclosed mental illness and empathize with the challenging gauntlet in seeking support. The NJMHP program combines performance art and advocacy. Since the COVID 19 pandemic we have transitioned our live performances to a virtual platform using ZOOM. We have incorporated and advanced scripts demonstrating the impact of COVID 19 and Racism on individual’s mental health and wellness. Our virtual performance is 45 minutes and mimics the live show with a few new added features. There is music, videos, live chat, polling and a curtain call. The flow of a performance consist of a trained mental health professional as a moderator who shares facts ,data, and information followed by a scenario performed by the players, then a talk back with the players, who remain in character soliciting interactive engagement, discussion and collective solutions from the audience. The performance ends with the moderator framing the discussion and providing additional information, resources, links, and contact info. Our audience’s include community and corporate conferences, seminars, elementary, high school, colleges/universities, social service agencies, hospitals, state and federal agencies. For virtual bookings and information contact the Director -Lynette Sheard @ [email protected] or call 973-571-4100 ext.104

 

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Lynette Sheard – is a Community Education Coordinator and Director of the NJ Mental Health Players which is a highly successful, interactive community education program. It is the longest-running program of its type in the state. Volunteers are trained to depict realistic scenarios involving mental health and addiction issues. These presentations provide audiences with a dynamic way to receive basic education about mental illness, addiction and other relevant challenges. The mission is to increase awareness, decrease stigma and break the silence. She has worked with the Mental Health Association for over 15 years as a senior employment specialist, job coach a Career Connections Employment Research Institute trainer. She was awarded APSE’s Employment Professional of the year for her work with individuals with disabilities and staff development training's. She is certified by Mental Health America as a trainer of Mental Health First Aid for adults, older adults and youth. She also trains community service providers in Wellness Recovery Action Planning, and Hearing Distressing Voices

tional information, resources, links, and contact info. Our audience’s include community and corporate conferences, seminars, elementary, high school, colleges/universities, social service agencies, hospitals, state and federal agencies. For virtual bookings and information contact the Director -Lynette Sheard @ [email protected] or call 973-571-4100 ext.104

 

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Lynette Sheard – is a Community Education Coordinator and Director of the NJ Mental Health Players which is a highly successful, interactive community education program. It is the longest-running program of its type in the state. Volunteers are trained to depict realistic scenarios involving mental health and addiction issues. These presentations provide audiences with a dynamic way to receive basic education about mental illness, addiction and other relevant challenges. The mission is to increase awareness, decrease stigma and break the silence. She has worked with the Mental Health Association for over 15 years as a senior employment specialist, job coach a Career Connections Employment Research Institute trainer. She was awarded APSE’s Employment Professional of the year for her work with individuals with disabilities and staff development training's. She is certified by Mental Health America as a trainer of Mental Health First Aid for adults, older adults and youth. She also trains community service providers in Wellness Recovery Action Planning, and Hearing Distressing Voices