“This work, which will empirically quantify the most common barriers and their impact on treatment seeking, is a first step in breaking down these systemic barriers and providing equitable treatment for everyone who suffers from these deadly illnesses.”

…Hurdles include limited health insurance access, out-of-pocket expenses, clinician shortages, fragmented care, and societal stigma that get in the way of adequate access to care.

“More than 13% of women and 3.6% of men on college campuses have an eating disorder of some kind, but fewer than 20% of those affected ever receive treatment due to lack of available clinicians and the stigma associated with seeking help. New research led by eating disorders experts at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates a phone app may help change that.”

“LGBTQ people experience stigma and discrimination, and stressors can definitely lead to disordered eating," Nagata said. "For bi men, they're not just facing stigma from the straight community but from the gay community, as well."

“Wisconsin eating disorder specialists have seen an influx of patients during the pandemic, along with a spike in people seeking other mental health services. They're seeing new clients, along with people in recovery who are suffering flare-ups because of factors linked to the pandemic.

Weight stigma threatens psychological and physical health, according to National Eating Disorder Association data. Worrying about how one looks compounds fears of losing a job, getting sick or a loved one catching the virus to conjure up a mixture of anxiety.”

“With the unemployment rate skyrocketing, the number of people being served by food banks is, anecdotally, surging. And hidden within that population, Becker and some others researchers believe, is a large and growing group of people who challenge every cliché about eating disorders.”

“While stereotypes might indicate that people with eating disorders are malnourished and skinny, the full spectrum of eating disorders goes far beyond these preconceived notions.”

The Academy for Eating Disorders has released a new document trying to bust the stigma and improve knowledge of this disease.

“Men and boys battling eating disorders often go under and un-diagnosed, and according to experts, that's due in part because of a double stigma men can face when it comes to getting treatment. First, men face stigma for having a disorder that's typically associated with women and can be described as feminine, and secondly because of the idea that "real men" don't talk about their emotions.”

“The stigma surrounding mental health, particularly in the Black community, has caused many to suffer in silence instead of seeking the help they need. Because the Black community has sought to portray itself as strong and resilient, the thought of seeking mental health resources is often viewed as a sign of weakness.

To start conversations about the forbidden topic, mental health is being approached through a spiritual lens to attract historically Black faith-based communities.”

Conley told CNA he has been open about his experience because he wants to encourage others to seek help when they need it. Such testimonies can be a helpful step in increasing awareness and advocacy for others with mental illness, the NCPD explained.

Conley told CNA this month he had initially been afraid that his mental illness would be seen as a sign of weakness. But he said that after he announced his mental health leave, people reached out to him, saying they were grateful for his willingness to share about his experience.

“The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood is using the Islami Mitali program to address the problem of substance abuse in the Muslim community — an issue often ignored by members of the Muslim community since any use of drugs or alcohol is forbidden in Islam.

To combat the stigma and normalize the conversation about addiction, the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood makes an announcement after Friday prayer about the program (provided Friday prayer is not canceled due to COVID-19).”

“We have a stigma against people who are struggling with mental health, we tend to push them away or tend to look at them some sort of way,” Roe said. “In our community, we can't afford to do that. We can't afford to have a stigma against our people that are sick, that are experiencing homelessness, because we're losing a whole generation. We're losing a whole generation to opioids.”

“Bell-Holter has dedicated his life to promoting mental wellness and youth mentorship. That's why he’s now leading a group of men on a cycling trip through Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico with the goal of breaking the silence surrounding the cycle and stigma of mental health for men of color. They've started Break the (BI)Cycle to open the conversation.”

Dumas said it's especially important to make mental health a top priority during the pandemic, and support people who are struggling.

"There is no room for stigmatization in our Nations," he said. "Be socially distant, but do not forget about each other. Wear a mask, but be sure to speak kind words, even a little louder if necessary. Wash your hands regularly, but be sure to virtually lend a hand and virtually reach out to those in need."

“Mental health issues affect everyone, but people of color — Black, Latinx, Asian and Native American people — have higher rates of some mental health disorders and face greater disparities in getting help than White people. Those issues are primarily due to lack of access to services resulting from institutional discrimination, interpersonal racism and stigma — which can all harm the psyche of people of color in places where they are not the majority.”

Asked about her fondest hopes for the film, Black added:

”It is my hope that community members will be inspired to reframe how they perceive and discuss addiction and overdose risk in this community. “

“It is my hope that those who are struggling with opioid use will seek medical care, resources and supports to confidently begin on their own healing journey.

“It is my hope that we can further normalize the conversation and experience of coping with substances/opioids and start focusing on solution-focused responses to the current opioid crisis.

“I’ve always been fortunate and blessed to have resources for my family. A lot of people can’t handle the stigma around mental health and needing to handle emotional and stressful situations. I see how my family needs that kind of help. And it breaks my heart thinking about people who may not have the strength to ask for help or the ability to find resources.”

“But until Indigenous and racialized people no longer face issues like poverty, inadequate housing and lower education and employment opportunities — the social determinants of health — and access to care is equitable, experts say anti-bias and anti-racism training is like putting a Band-Aid on a broken leg.”

“Researchers say members of the LGBTQ2+ community can face different levels of discrimination and stigma that manifests into poor mental health, which can in turn lead to differential outcomes in terms of chronic health.”

“For some queer and trans people of color, the pandemic has meant being unable to afford therapy or having to shelter in place with people who aren’t accepting or affirming of their gender or sexual orientation, he said. And that lack of acceptance is sometimes expressed through violence.”

“Our research confirms that a higher prevalence of substance use among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults can continue into later life. Similar to LGBTQ adolescents and young adults, such prevalence may be related to stressors like discrimination and stigma based on sexual orientation in addition to stressors related to aging, including social isolation and age-related stigma,” said Benjamin Han, MD, MPH, the study’s lead author and an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine’s Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care and the Department of Population Health at NYU Langone Health.

“What’s more, ethnic minority youth were more likely to report stigma experienced in their own cultures as a care access barrier, as well as challenges in finding a mental healthcare provider who understood their cultures or racial and ethnic identities.”

“One-third said that they didn’t want to ask permission from their parents — which many states require to provide medical care to a person under 18. The report suggested that for some youth, getting their parents involved would mean having to disclose their sexuality or gender identity. Nearly a quarter also said they were afraid of being outed.”

“The report is relevant to debates currently unfolding nationally about whether to ban discrimination or, alternatively, allow a “license to discriminate” through religious exemptions from discrimination law, Frank said. The data also offer guidance on what policies and practices can help mitigate the consequences of anti-LGBT discrimination, prejudice and stigma, he said.”

“Corktown’s therapists make sure that the younger people we treat embrace their identity and treat any mental and emotional issues they are facing. It’s critical to validate each person’s experiences and emotions, and make sure they know they are not alone. It’s also very important for medical professionals to work with the families of these young people to help cultivate a more positive relationship, especially in cases of transgender youths.”

“Thinking about how we address the needs of the LGBT population, it depends. Black LGBT youth are going to have certain struggles and issues they’re going to face. Latinx are going to have another set of unique challenges. We must take an intersectional approach when addressing mental health among this population” said Sherman-Wilkins.

“African Americans have historically faced stigma related to mental health… Events centered around racial injustices and even the COVID-19 pandemic continue to bring conversations around mental health access for African Americans to the forefront of national dialogue. This need is further perpetuated as African Americans continue to experience racism, discrimination, and inequity — all of which can significantly affect a person’s mental health,”

“Age-old disparities in mental health treatment, coupled with implicit bias among providers and die-hard myths among African Americans, had experts worried long before the shockwaves sent by the pandemic, job loss and images of Floyd begging for his life on a Minneapolis street. But the ongoing need for social distancing to prevent spreading the coronavirus – along with restrictions on important community spaces like barber shops, beauty parlors and churches – are making the crisis even worse.”

“When I was growing up in a predominantly Black community in Harlem, therapy was stigmatized as something for people who could not handle challenges. Even as an adult, I feared that if I went to a therapist, someone I knew would see me and tell my family and friends, so I hid in deep shame.”

“ As a result of increasing awareness and outrage regarding systemic racism and police brutality in the United States, there has been growing recognition of the pervasive influence of racism across a range of settings, including the medical and scientific communities. Although Black clinicians and researchers have long voiced the need for increased attention toward the effects of racism on the mental health of Black Americans, experts of other races have recently begun to recognize and champion this goal as well.”

“But that rage ignores what I learned at age 17: Black people are using opioids too. They’re also dying from them. As The Inquirer reported in 2019, as of that year, opioid overdoses were killing more black Philadelphians than homicides.”

“Black youth in the U.S. experience more illness, poverty, and discrimination than their White counterparts. These issues put them at higher risk for depression and other mental health problems. Yet Black youth are less likely to seek treatment. About 9 percent of them reported an episode of major depression in the past year, but less than half of those — about 40 percent — received treatment. By comparison, about 46 percent of White youth who reported an episode were treated for depressive symptoms.”

“Black women in particular endure unique challenges due to their intersectional cultural identities. Elyse Fox and Sad Girl’s Club continues to work and think of ways to not only increase knowledge and accessibility for women of color but also to reduce the existing stigma and barriers which prevent women – Black women, in particular – from seeking mental health treatment.”

“Calling racial bias protective is misguided and harmful for several reasons. There is widespread suffering and even death caused by the lack of pain treatment. There is also potential to further stigmatize racial minorities who do have opioid use disorder. Overshadowing all these factors is the persistent legacy of this nation’s history of deeply rooted, structural racism.”

“Mano said the idea for the nonprofit came after one of his friends committed suicide in 2019. As a way to grieve, he and others brought people from the tech community together to discuss mental health. As the conversations continued, Mano and his friends recognized that having a community of allies is essential in life.”

“Attitudes towards migrant workers were not generally positive even before the pandemic and have now only worsened. In ASEAN, there have been reports of increased verbal abuse against certain nationalities and migrants presumed to bring the virus to communities. Such stigmatization and discrimination are not only unacceptable but dangerous, and it can put in particular women migrant workers, their children and families at risk of both gender-based and xenophobic violence, harassment and trafficking.”

“According to Mental Health America, the food and beverage industry is among the top three “unhealthiest” workplace industries, as judged according to workplace environment, stress and employee engagement.”

Recognizing this growing need amidst the ongoing Coronavirus epidemic many restaurant chains are adding mental health benefits for their employees

Behavioral health stigma can impact any type of workplace, including professional athletes.

"The HBO film tackles the struggles Olympic athletes face after finding their purpose in a sport that will inevitably be taken over by someone who is faster and stronger in the end. Furthermore, it shows how this and other factors cause elite athletes to spiral into depression — and that they're given few resources to cope with it."

"As we navigate various transitions over the coming months and years, leaders are likely to see employees struggle with anxiety, depression, burnout, trauma, and PTSD. Those mental health experiences will differ according to race, economic opportunity, citizenship status, job type, parenting and caregiving responsibilities, and many other variables."

While we expect a continued increase in employees accessing mental health services, this guide serves to provide information to upper management on how to support their staff and reduce stigma in the workplace.

"Black and brown workers are overrepresented on the front lines as “essential” workers in low-status, low-wage service occupations in the U.S. Their greater exposure increases vulnerability of contracting and dying from the disease. This dynamic showcases the longstanding reality of occupational segmentation, as certain demographic segments have the privilege of “sheltering” in protected environments (i.e., working from home), while others remain exposed in more dangerous and lower paying roles."

Employees of color face additional race related stigma when it comes to labor rights and protections. Find out more about how this has worsened in the age of COVID-19.

"Employees are less and less likely to hide it at their jobs. A 2019 poll by the American Psychiatric Association found 62% of people ages 20 to 37 feel comfortable discussing their mental health at work, compared with about half as many people ages 54 to 72. And when they don’t feel supported by their jobs, many leave."

Millennial employees are talking more about behavioral health at work and advocating with their labor by choosing to prioritize a workplace that is supportive of that. Check out the full article to read more about the ways in which younger adults are challenging stigma and employment.

"Business can have a particularly strong role to play in preventing and combating stigma at this time. Company management and human resources departments need to understand the dangers of exclusion and stigmatisation, and double-check that their policies have no potentially negative impacts."

This article provides an in-depth understanding of what the role is of businesses in combating stigma and a plan on how to make it happen.

"Employees have seen a 64% increase in feelings of depression and a 47% increase in anxiety levels since February, according to a May mental health index ... The index also found that productivity and work performance have suffered since the start of the pandemic."

Despite the increase in mental distress across the nation, many employees still feel pressured to hide their mental health needs at work. This article addresses this ongoing trend and what can be done to improve conditions for all.

"Public health officials fear the pandemic could spark a wave of new addictions due to increased drug and alcohol use linked to historic unemployment, as well as isolation fostered by state shutdowns and stay-at-home orders."

Check out this guide on how companies can fight stigma in the workforce during this ongoing pandemic!

"Is COVID-19 widening the gender gap? New research showing that women are being disproportionately targeted by the COVID-19 economic downturn indicates this may be the case."

We know that the stigma surrounding unemployment can be debilitating, but how do these circumstances impact people based on gender? Read the full article to find out.

"It's time to crowdsource your job search. Enlist as many people as you could think of. This includes family, friends, college alumni, former co-workers, business associates, kids you grew up with, members of organizations you belong to and people you met at various functions. If they don’t have any solid leads, politely and persistently ask them to point you to someone that they know who may get you in front of the right person."

Read more to find out how COVID has changed stigma around unemployment and changed the ways we can go about job-hunting.

“Mano said the idea for the nonprofit came after one of his friends committed suicide in 2019. As a way to grieve, he and others brought people from the tech community together to discuss mental health. As the conversations continued, Mano and his friends recognized that having a community of allies is essential in life.”

“Attitudes towards migrant workers were not generally positive even before the pandemic and have now only worsened. In ASEAN, there have been reports of increased verbal abuse against certain nationalities and migrants presumed to bring the virus to communities. Such stigmatization and discrimination are not only unacceptable but dangerous, and it can put in particular women migrant workers, their children and families at risk of both gender-based and xenophobic violence, harassment and trafficking.”

“According to Mental Health America, the food and beverage industry is among the top three “unhealthiest” workplace industries, as judged according to workplace environment, stress and employee engagement.”

Recognizing this growing need amidst the ongoing Coronavirus epidemic many restaurant chains are adding mental health benefits for their employees

Behavioral health stigma can impact any type of workplace, including professional athletes.

"The HBO film tackles the struggles Olympic athletes face after finding their purpose in a sport that will inevitably be taken over by someone who is faster and stronger in the end. Furthermore, it shows how this and other factors cause elite athletes to spiral into depression — and that they're given few resources to cope with it."

"As we navigate various transitions over the coming months and years, leaders are likely to see employees struggle with anxiety, depression, burnout, trauma, and PTSD. Those mental health experiences will differ according to race, economic opportunity, citizenship status, job type, parenting and caregiving responsibilities, and many other variables."

While we expect a continued increase in employees accessing mental health services, this guide serves to provide information to upper management on how to support their staff and reduce stigma in the workplace.

"Black and brown workers are overrepresented on the front lines as “essential” workers in low-status, low-wage service occupations in the U.S. Their greater exposure increases vulnerability of contracting and dying from the disease. This dynamic showcases the longstanding reality of occupational segmentation, as certain demographic segments have the privilege of “sheltering” in protected environments (i.e., working from home), while others remain exposed in more dangerous and lower paying roles."

Employees of color face additional race related stigma when it comes to labor rights and protections. Find out more about how this has worsened in the age of COVID-19.

"Employees are less and less likely to hide it at their jobs. A 2019 poll by the American Psychiatric Association found 62% of people ages 20 to 37 feel comfortable discussing their mental health at work, compared with about half as many people ages 54 to 72. And when they don’t feel supported by their jobs, many leave."

Millennial employees are talking more about behavioral health at work and advocating with their labor by choosing to prioritize a workplace that is supportive of that. Check out the full article to read more about the ways in which younger adults are challenging stigma and employment.

"Business can have a particularly strong role to play in preventing and combating stigma at this time. Company management and human resources departments need to understand the dangers of exclusion and stigmatisation, and double-check that their policies have no potentially negative impacts."

This article provides an in-depth understanding of what the role is of businesses in combating stigma and a plan on how to make it happen.

"Employees have seen a 64% increase in feelings of depression and a 47% increase in anxiety levels since February, according to a May mental health index ... The index also found that productivity and work performance have suffered since the start of the pandemic."

Despite the increase in mental distress across the nation, many employees still feel pressured to hide their mental health needs at work. This article addresses this ongoing trend and what can be done to improve conditions for all.

"Public health officials fear the pandemic could spark a wave of new addictions due to increased drug and alcohol use linked to historic unemployment, as well as isolation fostered by state shutdowns and stay-at-home orders."

Check out this guide on how companies can fight stigma in the workforce during this ongoing pandemic!

"Is COVID-19 widening the gender gap? New research showing that women are being disproportionately targeted by the COVID-19 economic downturn indicates this may be the case."

We know that the stigma surrounding unemployment can be debilitating, but how do these circumstances impact people based on gender? Read the full article to find out.

"It's time to crowdsource your job search. Enlist as many people as you could think of. This includes family, friends, college alumni, former co-workers, business associates, kids you grew up with, members of organizations you belong to and people you met at various functions. If they don’t have any solid leads, politely and persistently ask them to point you to someone that they know who may get you in front of the right person."

Read more to find out how COVID has changed stigma around unemployment and changed the ways we can go about job-hunting.

People with lived experience of having COVID-19 share their stories to combat stigma and teach others what they have learned, including the importance of self-advocacy and gratitude.

“They tell us we are not able to achieve much or do much; we make them think we withhold too many barriers. I completely rebuke it. I can still get up to as much as everyone else. It's challenging, but it's stigma that limits us!”

“Don’t be afraid to talk about it. Don’t be afraid to seek help and don’t listen to people who guilt you and make you feel like you brought it on yourself.”

How are language and racism related to coronavirus impacting people, particularly those of Asian descent? "We must all do everything we can to avoid and reduce stigma; not associate COVID-19 with particular groups of people or places; and emphasize that viruses do not discriminate.”

Social isolation during the pandemic is increasing, which can lead to an increase in substance use. Stigma around COVID-19 is also impacting treatment and care. "What we need to do now is reach out more than ever to those who are struggling … so that they are not alone and forgotten during this dual crisis of coronavirus and addiction.”

“[If patients] feel responsible that they got COVID-19 through some fault of their own, then that’s when you start that cloud of people feeling shameful about it. And that can snowball into a place of stigma.”

People are stigmatized for many reasons, and it is common for people to experience double or triple stigmas. Many of the same stigmas that are barriers to people seeking mental health and substance use treatment are now impeding testing for COVID-19. It's the same story many of us have experienced, in a new setting.

As more people navigate the stresses of life during COVID-19, mental health is a new priority for many who hadn't previously given it much thought. That increased need for help, and the willingness and encouragement to seek it, is helping to lessen the existing stigmas associated with mental health.

What is the "just-world fallacy," and how does it trick us into stigmatizing, thus harming the mental and physical health of others?

Stigma surrounding harm reduction often stems from a lack of understanding or knowledge. Dr. Adi Jaffe highlights several key harm reduction strategies to break down what it all means and how it works.

Laura LeMoon, former sex worker and sex trafficking survivor, breaks down the stigma around sex work and mental health. The article does not make light of the lives of sex workers in the United States, but acknowledges that limited resources can lead to difficult choices.

Guy Felicella reflects on the six times he died and was brought back from overdose. Guy credits harm reduction for saving his life and getting him on the path to recovery.

Harvard Professor and Physician, Dr. Scott G. Weiner, compares substance use disorders to other chronic illness to highlight the unjust stigma placed on addiction. Dr. Weiner discusses safe injection sites and harm reduction as a possible way to reduce stigma and provide proper healthcare to those suffering.

On Our Own’s new training specialist, Nina Ovian, reflects on her changing relationship with substance use and stigma. Nina has been a long-time advocate for harm reduction and discusses how shifting away from abstinence-only recovery allowed her to heal from internalized stigma.

A harm reduction expert reflects on overcoming his own #DistortedPerceptions around sex workers who use drugs. This article serves to explain how he plans to address these failings moving forward and how including sex work into the conversation has made him a better harm reductionist.

Experts on Sex Worker rights and Harm Reduction weigh in on the similarities between the two movements and how they can best support each other in achieving shared goals. While not addressing stigma directly, this article serves to highlight how stigma has left many people out of the harm reduction conversation and why this topic of the month includes articles on both substance use and sex work.

Almost two decades ago, Portugal took the radical step of decriminalizing the usage of all drugs. TIME provides an in-depth look at how this change has impacted stigma for substance use disorders and highlights other solutions around the world. 

When school health curriculum fails to address behavioral health, it further contributes to the feeling that a student’s mental health is not as important as their physical health. This article looks at new legislation proposals that would require mental health to be included in the larger health curriculum. This is vital in reducing stigma for students who wish to discuss their emotional well-being or seek treatment, and ensuring that they have a right to health without restrictions or shame.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for ages 15-34 in the state of Maryland. In Maryland and across the nation, stigma around behavioral health has left many school policies lacking in how students are able to handle their emotional needs. This article from NPR highlights a proposed solution in Oregon extending excused absences for students that need to take sick days for mental health. Click the title for the full article from NPR.

In this video for Rooted in Rights, Johnny and Megan discuss their experiences with behavioral health human rights violations and how these experiences inspired them to become advocates. They challenge the distorted perceptions around mental health and criminalization, recognizing that a lack of available services often result in the incarceration of people experiencing behavioral health crises.

Buzzfeed news takes an in-depth look into the Missouri foster care system’s failures to provide well-managed psychiatric care to children within the system. The article states that “this mirrors a national trend: Children in foster care are at least twice as likely to be taking these powerful drugs than kids outside the system, according to an analysis of Medicaid data.” While many explanations are provided, the double stigma of trauma and behavioral health plays a major factor in these human rights violations.

The Huffington Post delves into the United States eugenics movement and how it targeted the so-called “mentally ill” or “mentally deficient” during the twentieth century. By forcibly sterilizing patients within psychiatric care the state sent the message that reproduction within this group was harmful and in need of control. The stigma of this movement remains today in the distorted perceptions of consumers of behavioral health and their parental abilities.

Leading patients’ rights advocate Judi Chamberlin reflects on her career as a crusader for changes within the behavioral health system. The interview takes place shortly after she entered hospice care for an incurable lung disease. In it, Chamberlin draws attention to the strengths of the hospice care system and how those principles can be carried over to the creation of patient-centered, self-directed behavioral healthcare system that acknowledges the respect and dignity of human life.

Facing a global human rights emergency in mental health, the World Health Organization (WHO) has outlined strategies for effective change, utilizing the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a framework. While this article is written for a global perspective, it can be a key starting point for individuals or organizations drafting a strategy for fighting the impact of stigma on human rights.

This article explores the global crisis of human rights violations within mental health care and the interdependence of mental health and human rights. Across the globe, stigma and discrimination are identified as major barriers to accessing treatment, quality of treatment, and funding mental health. Click “read more” to access some of our favorite quotes, or click the title to access the full article from the American Psychological Association for more information on these issues and the APA’s proposed solutions.

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…

In an article for the NAMI blog, Gretchen Grappone talks about her personal journey with depression, including 10 years on Social Security Disability, unhelpful attitudes from health professionals, and completing her MSW by rejecting stigma. In response to the seeing the harmful effects of stigma in her own life and the lives of her clients, Grappone has developed a stigma-reduction training curriculum for health care providers called “Overcoming Stigma.” Click the title to learn more about her personal story, the 7 types of stigma, and examples from the curriculum.

This Distorted Perceptions original article outlines one woman’s experience living with invisible physical and behavioral health conditions and it’s impact in the workplace, educational system, healthcare, and personal relationships. Check out the infographics for practical suggestions on combating stigma for loved ones, employers/ colleagues, educators, healthcare providers, and people experiencing invisible illness.

"Because we live in a visual society, we assume that people are ‘more disabled,’ if we can see their disabilities. What do we do with this information?” This article from Custom Mobility Inc. has 2 calls to action: 1) it challenges “able-bodied people” not to make assumptions about people and their conditions before getting to know them, and 2) it challenges people with disabilities to fight stigma both internally and externally by understanding the distorted perceptions that can come from society. Click the title to access the full article.

“This shadow world of stigma needs to be brought into the sunlight to effectively address our nation’s opioid crisis.” This article examines the different layers of stigma that affect the individuals, families, communities, and systems touched by the opioid crisis.

“With stigma being the biggest barrier to addiction treatment faced by patients, the language we use is as important as what we’re saying. Words like “relapse” work to reinforce the negative ideas associated with substance use disorder. By more carefully choosing language that is not stigmatizing, we can create more awareness and understanding of the disease of substance use disorders.”

Tessa Torgeson shares her personal experience as a member of the LGBT+ community who is also in recovery from addiction. “For myself, the intersections of addiction and LGBT identity are so complex… We weren't given the social or political power to have public space. So, bars and underground clubs were our space... so addiction can sometimes become a learned behavior. For me, it was alcohol. I used it to suppress my identity.”

“For years, geriatricians and researchers have sounded the alarm about the use of benzodiazepines among older adults… Now the opioid epidemic has generated fresh warnings, because pain relievers like Vicodin (hydrocodone with Tylenol) and OxyContin (oxycodone) are also frequently prescribed for older people. When patients take both, they’re at risk for overdosing… But fatal overdoses — which are a comparatively tiny number given the size of the older population — represent just one of many longtime concerns about these medications.”

“Unlike alcohol and drugs, where many people strive for total abstinence, individuals “addicted” to food cannot completely abstain from eating. They need to use food (their “drug of choice”) without over- or under-eating. But recovery is possible.”

Read along as Katie Horneshaw confronts an Australian media outlet’s portrayal of heroin addiction and challenges some of the distorted perceptions around addiction. This article may be rooted in Australia, but it’s message of empathy is inspiring no matter where in the world you’re located.

“Treatment for addiction, facilitated within or by the workplace, has been shown to be successful in increasing employees’ legal, mental, and social functioning, as well as decreasing absenteeism rates, workplace conflict, and productivity problems upon return from treatment… Taking steps to address addiction is truly an opportunity to humanize the workplace and help reduce suffering.” Click the title to access the entire article from Harvard Health Blog.

"A good first step toward successfully supporting a person in recovery is to honestly examine your own beliefs and feelings about addiction, and to make sure that your response to the colleague you are about to welcome back isn’t hampered by any hidden negative attitudes." Are you seeing clearly? Take some time to refocus and look again. Click the “Source” link for the full article from Harvard Health Blog.

“Rossi had just gotten a lesson in a hidden reality of the construction industry: In these physically demanding workplaces, painkillers are still a common way to get through the day, even as the opioid crisis has spiraled and workers have attended funeral after funeral. Workplace data on addiction is sparse, but recent research has indicated that construction workers are at higher risk for fatal overdoses — particularly heroin overdoses.” So the Allied Trades Assistance Program is bringing peer-support to construction sites. Follow the link for the full article from philly.com.

In 2016, Kid Cudi shared on Twitter that he was seeking treatment for his depression and anxiety. What began as a single post prompted black men across the internet to ask each other “#YouGoodMan” and share resources on mental health.

Preston talks about his personal experience living with Bipolar Disorder and the cultural influences that have affected him.

Fred and Don Mares talk about Fred’s experience with grief and depression, and how Don’s support as a brother was instrumental in Fred’s recovery.

Michael shares his personal story about overcoming substance abuse through therapy and counseling.

“Each society has its own rules about what's considered appropriate behavior for men and women. In Western societies, men have traditionally been expected to be self-reliant, not emotional (except with regard to the expression of anger), confident and strong. This is the traditional masculine gender role. Men differ in the extent to which they follow these rules. However, some of these rules go against basic and normal human responses to stress. So it's not surprising that a number of studies have shown that men who try to strictly adhere to these rules and who fear violating these rules may be at risk for a wide range of negative outcomes including PTSD.”

“Depression in dads is, in fact, a relatively common phenomenon―affecting anywhere between 2% and 25% of them during their partner's pregnancy or in the first year postpartum. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), this rate can increase to 50% when the mother also has perinatal/postpartum depression. And it can take a serious toll on the family's wellbeing, specifically their children's.” Check out the full article from HealthyChildren.org for the full article including risk factors, symptoms, screening, and information on getting help.

In this video, three men share their stories of eating disorder recovery along with with male eating disorder expert, Dr. Nicholas Farrell. The National Association of Eating Disorders (NEDA) says, “Despite the stereotype that eating disorders only occur in women, about one in three people struggling with an eating disorder is male… But due in large part to cultural bias, they are much less likely to seek treatment for their eating disorder. Several factors lead to men and boys being under- and undiagnosed for an eating disorder,” one of which is double stigma “for having a disorder characterized as feminine or gay and for seeking psychological help.” Click “Read More” for more from the National Association of Eating Disorders.

As an Iowa community discussed the construction of a new inpatient mental health hospital in 2018, Marty Parrish responded to their stigmatizing remarks by sharing his personal story with mental health and addiction issues and the importance of inpatient treatment for his recovery. "I was always afraid of being judged because of the stigma against people with mental health," he said in a recent interview. "But after that very hostile meeting in Clive, I had to tell my story. I had to talk."

“Depression is a serious but treatable medical condition -- a brain disease -- that can strike anyone, including men. In America alone, more than 6 million men have depression each year.” The National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH)’s Real Men, Real Depression campaign includes brochures and videos of a wide variety of men speaking candidly about their experiences with depression. Follow the “Source” link to access the full campaign archive from NIMH.

NHL hockey player Jim Dowd discusses his lifelong experience with depression and OCD and his family’s influence on his mental health. “I was mentally exhausted trying to fight the depression on my own. I also realized the effect it was having on my family, and that was making it worse.”

Sports Columnist, Reporter, and TV Personality Bob Kravitz speaks about how physical trauma from surgeries influenced his mental wellness, his decade-long journey to feel better, and the exceedingly positive response he’s received from sharing his story.

“Having a mental health problem doesn’t mean you’re a bad person or that you’re weak, not manly, or that you’re losing your masculinity. In fact, quite the opposite is true. We believe that admitting to yourself (and others, if necessary) that you have a problem, and getting the help you need is a sign of great strength.” This resource from The Men’s Health Network discusses the importance of mental wellness for a man’s overall health, identifying symptoms of a problem and practical interventions.

“Therapy drastically changed my life. So much shame can be internalized when you grow up believing who you are is wrong.” Huffington Post asked LGBTQ members of their Twitter and Facebook communities to share how therapy transformed their lives for the better. Click the title to access the full article.

This Distorted Perceptions original article discusses some of the common stigmas associated with behavioral health and the LGBTQ experience.

A shareable graphic for social media, websites, and beyond. “Many LGBT people—particularly youth and seniors—experience higher rates of rejection, bullying, harassment, general mistreatment and even violence from the people and institutions that should be protecting them,” says Delores A. Jacobs, chief executive officer of the San Diego LGBT Community Center. “The enormous effort of… hiding in order to avoid rejection from their families, employers, churches, schools, friends and neighbors can create an even greater sense of anxiety, fear and isolation.”

Tessa Torgeson shares her personal experience as a member of the LGBT+ community who is also in recovery from addiction. “For myself, the intersections of addiction and LGBT identity are so complex… We weren't given the social or political power to have public space. So, bars and underground clubs were our space... so addiction can sometimes become a learned behavior. For me, it was alcohol. I used it to suppress my identity.”

The Anti-Stigma Project defines Double Stigma as: how the stigma associated with race, religion, age, sexual orientation, etc. is compounded by an additional layer of stigma related to behavioral health challenges. This article from the New York Times illustrates how stigma associated with the LGBTQIA+ experience can affect behavioral health and access to behavioral health services, and the strong psycho-social impacts of removing that stigma. Click the title to access the full article from the New York Times.

“Transgender and non-binary individuals have higher rates of depression and thoughts about suicide. They are also significantly more likely to attempt suicide. These increased rates are not due to being transgender, but from dealing with stigma, lack of acceptance and abuse.” Click the title to access the full article from Medical Express.

This article from the Philly Voice discusses what stigma is, how it influences our understanding of mental wellness, and what we can do to challenge it’s impact and work toward a healthy dialogue about mental health with the older adults in our lives.

The Georgetown University School of Nursing shares a number of statistics on older adult mental health specifically around anxiety, depression, and suicide rates.

Ehud Bodner discusses how ageism affects behavioral health treatment for older adults, both historically and today. Click Read More to access the full video and read some of our favorite quotes from his TED Talk.

“For years, geriatricians and researchers have sounded the alarm about the use of benzodiazepines among older adults… Now the opioid epidemic has generated fresh warnings, because pain relievers like Vicodin (hydrocodone with Tylenol) and OxyContin (oxycodone) are also frequently prescribed for older people. When patients take both, they’re at risk for overdosing… But fatal overdoses — which are a comparatively tiny number given the size of the older population — represent just one of many longtime concerns about these medications.”

Research shows that the most effective way to combat stigma is through education and contact, making intergenerational relationships a strong tool for fighting ageism and behavioral health stigma. Plus, there are a number of mental and physical health benefits.

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.

This Distorted Perceptions original article explores the intersection of ageism and behavioral health stigmas, and the “double challenges” that can result for older adults with behavioral health conditions. In summary, both stigmas are alive and well, and although positive cultural changes are beginning to occur we must “address the stigma of being an older person in a culture that under-values aging, as well as the stigma of being someone with a behavioral health challenge in a culture that views those challenges with fear and contempt.”

“A 2014 study showed that negative self perceptions of ageing were associated not only with poorer physical health outcomes but also more severe depressive symptoms. This is supported by findings from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, which showed a higher risk of onset of depression and anxiety among those with negative ageing perceptions. Finally, several other studies have found that negative age beliefs can exacerbate stress.”

"'10,000 Americans turn 65 every day. Geriatricians are in increasingly short supply. So medical schools have begun teaching all students how to care for an aging population. Tackling ageism is a big part of it. ‘You need to make sure students basically like older patients. See them as individuals worthy of love and care.'"

“Contrary to conventional wisdom, an increase in age can lead to an increase in happiness. In fact, older adults tend to be more satisfied with their lives than their younger peers. But, for those who need it, limited supply of and access to proper geriatric psychiatric treatment leave many older adults' mental health issues underdiagnosed and thus undertreated.”

“One of our greatest challenges is in helping patients in minority communities live with serious mental illness. One in six U.S. adults has an illness like depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety disorder, but African Americans are 10 percent more likely, and Latinos 40 percent more likely, to experience serious psychological distress than non-Hispanic whites. And those minority populations are only half as likely to receive needed treatment or counseling as non-Hispanic whites. Statistics are even worse for American Indians and Alaska Natives… So how do we make a dent in these discouraging statistics? It will require a multi-pronged approach.” Click the title to access the full article from The Hill.

The Office of the Surgeon General, Center for Mental Health Services, National Institute of Mental Health, and SAMHSA have compiled a supplemental report to Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Check out some of our favorite quotes below, or click the title to access the whole report.

“Before the 60s, Ionia doctors viewed schizophrenia as an illness that afflicted nonviolent, white, petty criminals, including the hospital's considerable population of women from rural Michigan… By the mid- to late-1960s, however, schizophrenia was a diagnosis disproportionately applied to the hospital's growing population of African American men from urban Detroit. Perhaps the most shocking evidence I uncovered was that hospital charts "diagnosed" these men in part because of their symptoms, but also because of their connections to the civil rights movement.” Click the title for the entire article by Psychology Today.

The Confess Project is using the power of community to engage boys and men of color in conversations about mental wellness. Their community space of choice? Barbershops.

Click the title to check out this infographic on minority mental health by Mental Health America. It breaks down the U.S. population by race/ethnicity, the prevalence of mental health and substance use issues among minorities, barriers to getting help (hint: stigma), and some interesting trends in mental health screening.

The American Psychiatric Association has compiled 9 factsheets around mental health in diverse populations, which “provide a snapshot of the current state of mental health of minority populations and some factors that may contribute to mental health disparities among these groups.”

This DP Original article explores the stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors that have historically contributed to the disparities experienced by ethnic/minority populations in the mental health and substance use systems of care.

This piece explores suicide and depression in the Asian American population, identifying suicide “as the ninth leading cause of death among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the 10th leading cause of all deaths in the U.S.”

Shardé Smith studies the role of race-related stress and trauma in families and the strategies that people use to cope. In this interview with Illinois Public Media, she discusses how cultural norms and stigma associated with having a mental illness influence outcomes for African-Americans.

Kevin Hines is using his personal story to fight distorted perceptions around suicide and spread awareness of prevention. Check out his film, Suicide: The Ripple Effect at suicidetherippleeffect.com or share your story about how suicide has affected your life on their Facebook page, Facebook.com/suicidetherippleeffect. If you're contemplating suicide, please call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.

Find best practice recommendations for covering suicide in the press, explanation of common terms used when talking about suicide prevention, as well as Lifeline logos, brochures, and materials that can help you raise awareness online.

“Studies have shown that both news reports and fictional accounts of suicide in movies and television can lead to increases in suicide. In contrast, when depictions are done responsibly, the media can help to encourage help seeking, dispel myths, and reinforce hope – and ultimately save lives.”

The CDC identifies suicide as a leading cause of death in the United States, with “suicide rates increas[ing] in nearly every state from 1999 through 2016.” Click the title to access the complete CDC report with statistics on suicide in the United States, factors that contribute to suicide, the 12 warning signs of suicide and suggestions for working as a community to prevent it.

This Distorted Perceptions original article explores the history of stigma towards suicide, the connection between them today, and the far-reaching consequences it can cause for everyone involved.

“I understand, but I wish that more families would be open about suicide. I say this not only for the public at large, which would benefit from knowing the full truth about suicide. Not only for others who lost a loved one to suicide and who are further stigmatized when suicide is considered so shameful that it must not be named. Not only for those who have attempted or seriously considered suicide, and who are hurt by the notion that what they did is shameful. I say this also for the family itself.”

The Ruderman Family Foundation conducted a nationwide study that resulted in the troubling conclusion that first responders are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. ““The white paper also goes on to lay out several barriers that prevent first responders from accessing necessary mental health services to help them cope with trauma.”

This Distorted Perceptions original article explores the intersection of suicide prevention and young adult peer support, with a brief overview of Michael Hogan’s and David Covington’s 2012 research interviewing survivors who attempted suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, as well as survivors of an attempt which had been successfully intervened upon. The research concludes that suicide is preventable, with only 6% of the survivors going on to complete a suicide later on.