For more information, contact: Sylvia Axelrod at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 732-940- 0991

North Brunswick, NJ - NAMI NEW JERSEY is proud to announce that Henry Acosta, the executive director of the National Resource Center for Hispanic Mental Health and the deputy director of the New Jersey Mental Health Institute, Inc. has been elected to the NAMI Board of Directors. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness is America's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Henry Acosta has had a long standing affiliation with NAMI NEW JERSEY and with the NAMI NJ en Español program, which provides support, education and advocacy for New Jersey's Hispanic community. Henry Acosta is a nationally known expert on Hispanic mental health issues, and has been a tremendous force in addressing the nationwide lack of availability of, access to and the provision of quality mental health services for Hispanics. He has worked hard to heighten awareness, acceptance and understanding of mental illness within the Hispanic population. He currently serves on the New Jersey Governor's Council on Mental Health Stigma and on the State of New Jersey Board of Social Work Examiners, where he serves as the board's vice chairman. "Henry Acosta is the first NAMI board member from New Jersey, and we are proud to have someone with his vision and leadership representing our state on the national level." said Sylvia Axelrod, Executive Director of NAMI NEW JERSEY. NAMI NEW JERSEY (National Alliance on Mental Illness of New Jersey) is the state affiliate of NAMI, and has been working for 24 years to improve the lives of those affected by mental illness in New Jersey. NAMI NEW JERSEY is the leading mental health advocacy organization in the state, and provides support, education and advocacy statewide. For more information, visit www.naminj.org.