Understanding & Overcoming Stigma
Let’s work together in Valley County and Adams County to CONNECT WITH OUR YOUTH on mental health stigma and substance use disorders.
Learn more about what stigma is and how it affects our youth. Take action to help overcome stigma and change lives for the better!
WHAT IS STIGMA?
Stigma is when someone, or even you yourself, views a person in a negative way just because they have a mental health condition. Stigma often comes from the lack of understanding or fear, inaccurate or misleading media representations of mental illness contribute to both those factors. Some people describe stigma as a feeling of shame or judgment from someone else. Stigma can even come from an internal place, confusing feeling bad with being bad.
Let’s change these outcomes, and save lives.
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
In 1999, the US Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health – the first and only one to date – identified stigma as a public health concern that leads people to “avoid living, socializing or working with, renting to, or employing” individuals with mental illness. Individuals with mental illness will often internalize the stigma perpetuated in our culture. Internalizing stigma decreases the odds for recovery and can lead to depression, decreased hope, worsening symptoms, lower likelihood to seek help, and increased odds of suicide attempt or death by suicide.
HOW DO WE GET RID OF STIGMA?
Talk Openly
Respond to misperceptions or negative comments by sharing facts and experiences.
Be Conscious
Remind others that words matter.
Be Honest
Speak the truth about experiences so others can relate.
Show Compassion
Listen with care and an open heart.
Resources
You are not alone, there are amazing resources in Valley County, Adams County, and surrounding areas that offer many types of services. Take a look at the different resources provided by our agency partners.
This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $2,000,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. Grant #22G28RH46297.