There is a very good chance that you know someone who has an invisible illness, whether physical, mental, or both. This person may be a friend, partner, colleague, employer, teacher, or healthcare provider. Regardless of your relationship or their diagnosis, people with invisible illnesses need your support and respect. To help end the stigma, consider the following…
Understanding and Addressing the Stigma Experienced by People with First Episode Psychosis
This issue brief from the Illinois Institute of Technology examines research on how stigma impacts adults with serious mental illness and how these experiences are different for individuals who are experiencing first episode psychosis. Click Read More to see some of our favorite quotes or click the title to access the full report from SAMHSA.
Beyond the Label - Canada
Beyond the Label is a free resource developed by Canadian stigma researchers with activities “that emphasize the impact of attitudes and beliefs on people with concurrent mental health and substance use problems; highlight facts and dispel myths; present positive stories and solution-focused approaches; and support addiction and mental health workers in their efforts to reduce stigma, prejudice and discrimination.” Click the title to access the full pdf.
Time to Change - United Kingdom
Based in the UK, Time to Change is a “growing movement of people changing how we all think and act about mental health problems.” Since 2007 they’ve worked to get people talking about mental health in schools, workplaces, and communities. This year, they launched a new program “to help tackle mental health stigma and discrimination in other countries - by training local campaigners and setting up pilot campaigns.” Click the title to learn more about their work.
Mental Health Challenges for Older Americans (Infographic)
Mental Health in Later Life: A Guidebook
The Mental Health Association of Maryland is fighting distorted perceptions around mental health and aging with this educational guidebook. It covers a wide array of topics for older adults and caregivers alike, offering great information about brain health and some of the challenges that may come later in life.
Click the title to access the full PDF version or head to www.mdaging.org for more information on aging, behavioral health, or how to start a "Guidebook Study Group" to help bring this important information to your community. Click Read More to access some of our favorite Guidebook quotes, formatted perfectly for sharing on social media and beyond.
Website: WorkplaceMentalHealth.org
The American Psychiatric Association’s Center for Workplace Mental Health has developed a website full of educational information, case studies, and resources to help employers fight distorted perceptions and behavioral health stigma in the workplace. Follow the “Sources” link for their Employee Resources page, which features a calculator for calculating the monetary importance of prioritizing mental health in your workplace, an awareness campaign designed to reduce stigma around mental health, tools for addressing depression in the workplace, and the opportunity to sign up for their monthly Mental Health Works newsletter. Addictions materials are available in the tabs near the top of the page.
Time to Change: Get Your Workplace Involved
This England-based nonprofit is working to fight Distorted Perceptions around mental health in the workplace by engaging employers directly by helping them create a plan of action and holding them accountable through the Employer Pledge. “When you sign the Employer Pledge you demonstrate your commitment to change how we think and act about mental health in the workplace and make sure that employees who are facing these problems feel supported.” Time to Change also offers employers a Communications Pack filled with workplace anti-stigma activities, campaigns and engagement ideas: useful things no matter where you are in the world! Click the title to check them out.
#MyYoungerSelf Toolkit for Educators
“As part of our mission to decrease stigma and fear surrounding mental health and learning disorders, the Child Mind Institute asked more than 30 prominent people — from actors to athletes to business leaders — to make videos sharing their personal experiences about growing up with these challenges.”