Brooklyn, NY, October 28, 2025 — On Wednesday, October 22, Maimonides Health celebrated its designation by the National Alliance on Mental Health as New York’s first Stigma-Free Zone with a special event, Stigma-Free Day. The community-wide event helped to raise awareness about mental health, reduce stigma, and foster a culture of openness, support, and compassion.

Held at Maimonides Medical Center, the free event welcomed community members, staff, mental health advocates and community-based organizations to honor this milestone with music, activities, giveaways, and resource booths. The event also featured stories from patients who bravely shared their mental health journeys, highlighting how compassionate care from Maimonides’ psychiatry clinicians and staff made a meaningful difference in their lives. The day served as a vibrant reminder that mental health is health—and that everyone deserves support without judgment.

“This designation reflects Maimonides’ long-standing commitment to expanding access to high-quality mental healthcare for everyone in our community,” said Ken Gibbs, President and CEO of Maimonides Health. “Being New York’s first Stigma-Free Zone is both an honor and a call to action. It reflects our deep commitment to creating an environment where mental health support is met with compassion, not judgment.”

Nearly one in four adult New Yorkers experiences a mental health disorder in a given year according to the NYS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health. As New York’s first Stigma-Free Zone, Maimonides Health is building upon a long commitment to improving mental healthcare across Brooklyn. Its Department of Psychiatry offers a full continuum of services, including inpatient and outpatient treatment, emergency psychiatric care, substance use programs, and child and adolescent services. Maimonides also partners with community-based organizations to provide education, support, and education.

“At Maimonides, we believe that mental healthcare should be accessible, compassionate, and stigma-free. Thank you to the National Alliance on Mental Health for this powerful affirmation of our mission,” said Dr. Abraham M. Taub, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Maimonides Health.

“Too many people in our community still struggle with the stigma of seeking mental healthcare,” said Desserie Morgan, Vice President of Nursing, Psychiatry, at Maimonides Health. “This initiative is about breaking down those barriers and reminding everyone that asking for help is a sign of strength. I’m incredibly proud of our team and the work we’ve done to make Maimonides a safe, supportive space for all.”

Stigma-Free Zones are places or communities that have made the commitment to being a supportive and inclusive environment where people with mental health or substance use disorders can seek help without fear of ridicule or judgment. The designation also raises awareness about mental health, works to reduce misconceptions, and highlights local resources, while encouraging people to ask for help so they can begin their journey to recovery.

Over the coming months Maimonides Medical Center is expanding its mental health services with the introduction of a new Psychiatric Emergency Department and the launch of an Adolescent Inpatient Unit. With the introduction of these resources and its designation as a Stigma-Free Zone, Maimonides Health reinforces its role as a leader in creating a culture where every individual feels empowered to seek the mental healthcare they deserve.

View photos of the event here. To download photos, use PIN 8822.

Read more about our plans for a new Adolescent Inpatient Unit from Crain’s New York Business Health Pulse.