What is Stigma?
Stigma Leads To:
Fighting StigmaUse respectful language. Put the person before the illness – use phrases such as “a person with schizophrenia”. Never use terms like crazy, lunatic, psycho, retarded and correct people who do so.
Provide professional development opportunities for staff, regarding diversity, mental health issues, and fostering an inclusive work environment. Include mental illness in discussions about acceptance of diversity, just as you would discuss cultural diversity, religious beliefs, physical disability, and sexual orientation. Become an advocate. Create awareness by writing letters to newspapers and lawmakers. Speak out and challenge stereotypes portrayed in the media. Take it upon yourself to inform your community about the truth of mental illness. Teach others about mental illness. Spread understanding that these are illnesses like any other. |
Take the pledge to be stigma freeJoin the campaign to turn stigma into hope.Promote acceptance and actively challenge social stereotypes. Through powerful words and actions, we will shift the social and systemic barriers for those living with mental health conditions and encourage acceptance and understanding.
Individuals, companies, organizations and others can all take the pledge to learn more about mental illness, to see a person for who they are and take action on mental health issues. Take the pledge and raise awareness. CLICK HERE for to sign the pledge! Resources
ADS Center – www.samhsa.gov/stigma
Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma (Associated with Mental Illness) – provides practical assistance to indivuals, States, and public and private organziations in the design, implementation, and operation of programs and initatives to reduce discrimination and stigma. NAMI Multicultural Action Center - www.nami.org This Center works to focus attention on system reform to ensure access to culturally competent services and treatment for all Americans and to help and support families of color who are dealing with mental illness. STAR Center – www.consumerstar.org (Support Technical Assistance Resource Center) - funded by CMHS, this center provides support, technical assistance, and resources to help improve and increase the capacity of consumer operated programs to meet the needs of persons living with mental illnesses from diverse communities. Sources Anti-Stigma: Do You Know the Facts? SAMHSA Mental Health Information Center. 2003 Challenging Stereotypes: An Action Guide. SAMHSA. 2001 Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity. A Report of the Surgeon General. 2001 |