Mental Health Stigma
“Stigma refers to negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes people may hold toward those who experience mental health conditions.”
-Center for Disease Control & Prevention
Stigma reduction saves lives
“Reducing stigma and discrimination in mental health can help people feel more accepted in their communities, more capable at work and more optimistic about the future. Stigma reduction can benefit families, societies and economies. It can encourage people to get help to recover, and can reduce social exclusion and isolation. Lessening stigma can also improve access to physical health care, reducing premature mortality.”
-World Health Organization.
Language Matters! Here are some ways you can adapt your vocabulary to reduce stigma
Person First Language: focus on the person, not the condition
Person experiencing suicidal ideation instead of suicidal person
Person with bipolar disorder instead of bipolar person
Emphasis on Recovery:
Recovery is about a person gaining control of their identity and life, having hope for their life, and living a life that has meaning
It is NOT about “being cured” or “being normal” again
Suicidality is Not a Crime
When we say the words “commit suicide” it hints that something illegal has been done. For this reason we say “die by suicide” or suicide loss”
Suicide attempts are never “unsuccessful” or “successful” We can use words like “suicide attempt survivor”
Other ways you can reduce mental health stigma
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TALK
By talking openly about mental health, we contribute the normalcy of taking care our our mental wellness. Normalize resource utilization, check in on neighbors, and recognize the mental health IS health.
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Facts vs Myths
Learn the myths associated with the stigma of mental health. By understanding the facts, you can contribute to the notion that recover IS possible.
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Be Kind
Show compassion and empathy for everyone, including those with mental health issues and/or conditions. Offer support and encouragement. Remember that people are more than their diagnosis.
Learn more about stigma reduction
Mosaic toolkit to end stigma and discrimination in mental health
-World Health Organization (European Region)
StigmaFree
-National Alliance on Mental Illness
Strategies to Reduce Mental Illness Stigma: Perspectives of People with Lived Experience and Caregivers
-National Institute of Health
How does La Plata County Suicide Prevention Collaborative reduce stigma?
We talk about mental health! In both our professional and personal lives we share messages of kindness, resource utilization, and awareness. Below, you can find some stickers disseminated to the community
