Advocating for Mental HealthA Community Awareness Effort

Theresa Kiernan

Goals

• Reduce public stigma associated with mental illness• Promote wellness in the community as a means to

improving overall community mental health

Stigma: what does it mean?

• Origins from a Greek word meaning a kind of tattoo cut or burned into the skin to identify slaves, traitors & criminals (http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3405700370.html)

• Stigma = “an attribute that is deeply discrediting” • “Often, when a person with a stigmatized trait is unable to

perform an action because of the condition, other people view the person as the problem rather than viewing the condition as the problem.”

*Source: http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/about_us/stigma-illness.html

Stigma and Mental Illness

stigma = “chief obstacle to effective treatment of persons with mental disorders,”

“In the 2006 HealthStyles survey, only one-quarter of young adults between the ages of 18–24 believed that a person with

mental illness can eventually recover,” Stigma causes needless suffering (shame), potentially

causing a person to deny symptoms, delay treatment, and refrain from daily activities.

Reduces compliance with treatment, increases likelihood of relapse, reduces access to education, employment and adequate health care leading to further environmental stressors*Sources: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3405700370.html, http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/about_us/stigma-illness.html

Most Stigmatized Disorders• Those popularly associated with violence or crime- i.e. schizophrenia &

substance abuse disorders• Those that may potentially embarrass family members in public- i.e.

dementia, borderline personality disorders and autism spectrum disorders• Those treated with medications that cause weight gain or other physical

side effects• Stigma associated with depression and anxiety has decreased since the

1950s while stigma associated with psychotic disorders has dramatically increased.

*Source: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3405700370.html

Systemic Attitudes that Perpetuate the Stigma

• Media- One-third of patients said that they felt more depressed or anxious as a result of news stories about the mentally ill, and 22% felt more withdrawn.

• The main complaint is that the media presented mentally ill people as "dangerous time bombs waiting to explode“

• Insurance Companies- require a disorder for reimbursement which leads to labeling clients as “disordered” when symptoms may be caused by environmental stressors rather than biological causes.

• Physicians- some have an attitude of moral superiority which “deters the detection of mental disorders, defers or pre-empts correct diagnosis and proper treatment and, by definition, prolongs suffering,” (encyclopedia)• Some tend to see substance abuse as a social problem rather than a health problem*Source: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3405700370.html

Stigma: how can we help?

• Educate Public• Support those in need

Educate• Posters, in doctor’s offices, businesses, libraries, banks, etc.• Distribute “toilet talk” to local businesses and schools• Ask to do quick presentations at local businesses and schools (team

up with school counselors?)- reducing stigma, what to do if you or someone you know needs help, preventing through wellness- simple relaxation/meditation techniques

• Team with local chamber of commerce to distribute information & advertise events like movie screenings- i.e. a beautiful mind and incorporate an educational discussion

Support• Plan & Participate in MH walks • Hold other activities listed for MH month (May) and week (October) on NAMI website:

Candlelight vigil, governor/mayor’s proclamation, newspaper write-up, facebook posts/pages dedicated to supporting MH awareness, poetry reading/art exhibits/concerts (team with chamber again)

• Do Depression/MH Screening at local pharmacy/hospitals at regular intervals- 10/9/14… mentalhealthscreening.org

• Talk with local dr.’s and pharmacists about distributing business cards or flyers on where to get help locally

• Wear a ribbon or bracelet- giving an opportunity to share information with those who ask about it.• Watch movies, read books, learn symptoms of mental illnesses, talk with others- make a point during

month of MAY to encourage others to be more aware.• Advocating for marginalized groups- people of color & women. Systems issues facing these

populations increase stress and therefore increase mental illness

Wellness: what is it?

Source: Source: Adapted from Swarbrick, M. (2006). A wellness approach. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 29(4), 311–314.

Wellness and Mental Health

• Evidence shows that people diagnosed with serious mental illnesses and served by the public mental health system die, on average, decades earlier than the general population.• Many of them die from preventable diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

• Wellness impacts our physical health and recovery process.• We must take care of our bodies and other components of our well-being to maintain

good physical health and stay on the path to recovery.

*Source: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. (2008). Measurement of Health Status for People with Serious Mental Illness.

Wellness: how can we promote it in our communities?

• Get involved with community events, chairs, etc. • Encourage/plan community cleanup events, advocate for equality in the workforce

(education on stigma related to: gender, race, mental status, sexual orientation, etc.), plan activities that encourage the community to come together

• Become certified in some form of exercise/fitness program and offer to the public

• Get involved with creative arts- offer to public• Create awareness about healthy eating habits and distribute information

regarding where to buy local, healthy food.• Promote mindfulness in the community- i.e. relaxation, meditation, yoga, etc.

ReferencesBargainnier, S. (2014, February 2). 8 Dimensions of Wellness. Oswego, NY, USA.CDC. (2011, July 1). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 24, 2014, from Stigma and Illness: http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/about_us/stigma-illness.htmFrey, Rebecca J.. "Stigma." Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders. 2003.

Retrieved March 24, 2014 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3405700370.html NAMI. (2013). National Alliance on Mental Health. Retrieved March 24, 2014, from Mental Illness Awareness Week: http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Mental_Illness_Awareness_Week&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=156160NAMI New York State (2012). National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved March 24, 2014, from Finding Help, Suicide Prevention: http://www.naminys.org/suicide-preventionNAMI New York State (2012). National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved from Finding Help, Where to Call: http://www.naminys.org/getting-supportNational Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. (2008). Measurement of Health Status for People with Serious Mental Illness.Palmo, A.J., Weikel, W.J., Borsos, D.P.(2011). Foundations of Mental Health Counseling (4th ed.). Springfield, Illinois: Charles C Thomas.SAMHSA-HRSA. (n.d.). Center for Integrated Health Solutions. Retrieved March 24, 2014, from Screening Tools:

http://www.integration.samhsa.gov/clinical-practice/screening-tools#depressionSMH. (n.d.). Screening for Mental Health. Retrieved March 24, 2014, from National Depression Screening Day:

http://mentalhealthscreening.org/events/national-depression-screening-day.aspxUSC School of Social Work. (2014, March 24). Mental Illness Infographic. Retrieved from Depression Facts : http://www.aboutdepressionfacts.com/mental-illness-infographic.html