1. Fighting Stigma in Our Community Rachel Niemi, M. A
Fighting Stigma in Our Community Rachel Niemi, M.A. Pre-Doctoral Fellow for the Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute
“Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma & bias shame us all.”
- Bill Clinton

2. Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute
Goal: to overcome the stigma of mental illness.
Their income is used to promote educational programs and to support organizations engaged in mental illness research, education, self-help, anti- discrimination, and advocacy. (1)
Fellowships and Community Presentations

3. What is Mental Illness?
Mental Illness is the term that refers collectively to all diagnosable mental disorders.
They are health conditions characterized by alterations in mood, thinking, or behavior associated with distress and/ or impaired functioning.
Mental functions are carried out by the brain; mental disorders are reflected in physical changes in the brain. (2)

4. What is Mental Illness?
Mental health is just as important to protect as physical health. In fact mental disorders are physical disorders. The brain being the affected organ (3)
Mental illness does not discriminate against any gender, age, ethnicity or socioeconomic status. (4)

5. What is Stigma? Stigma is a mark or sign of shame
The effects are damaging to the community as well as the individual and his/ her family and friends
Discrimination and community misconceptions remain among the most significant barriers to people with a mental illness being able to actively participate in the community and gain access to the services they need. (5)

6. What is Stigma?
Stigma is an attempt to label a particular group of people as less worthy of respect than others.
It’s about disrespect!!!
While 1 in 5 Americans live with a mental disorder, estimates indicate that nearly 2/3rd’s of all people with a diagnosable mental illness do not seek treatment. (6)

7. Who Discriminates?
“Normal people don’t want to know us” (1st hand experiences with discrimination)
Primary groups that discriminate:
The mental health system: including service providers with psychiatrists cited most often
Family members
Legal system
Medical establishments
Attitudes/ behaviors exhibited:
Fear, disgust, and distrust
Abuse of authority
Disregard for clients goals and/ or choices (7)

8. (Retrieved on 1/23/2010 from http://delphinegrrl. googlepages

9. (Retrieved on 1/23/2010 from http://delphinegrrl. googlepages

10. Why is this important to our organization?
Stigma prevents treatment!!!!
It’s bad for business because it discourages help seeking behavior
It’s bad for those out there suffering in silence unable to get the help they need.
“Stigma has posed a steadfast obstacle to the treatment of many mental health illnesses. Negative perceptions of mental illness color the support and advice people get from their friends, family, and even their physicians and can create a reluctance to seek help.” (4)

11. What Effect Does It Have on the Community?
Many times the stigma and shame of mental illness discourages help seeking behaviors
As a result people
Hold it all in, instead of openly discussing their feelings leading to even worse symptoms repeating the vicious cycle of silence
Self-medicate using drugs and alcohol
Struggle to maintain their jobs and other obligations
As a result communities will
Continue to look the other way when it comes to mental health issues
Perpetuate “NIMBYISM” (Not in my back yard)
Lose valuable individuals in the local workforce
Shun individuals who do not quite fit in with their “ideal”
“As long as people subscribe to the notion that mental illness is someone else’s problem it will not be resolved.” (3)

12. You Are The “Agents of Change” Together We Can Fight Against the Stigma of Mental Illness “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” -Rita Mae Brown

13. References
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(1) Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Health Education (Retrieved of 1/23/10 from
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(2) Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. (1999). (Retrieved on 1/23/10 from
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(3) Murdock, R. (2006) Stigma stands in the way of mental health treatment. The Nations Health.
(4) James, T. (2009) Stigma surrounding mental illness remains despite abundant pharmaceutical ads. (Retrieved on 1/23/10 from /articles/ php)
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(5) Erasing the stigma of mental illness. (Retrieved on 1/23/10 from _stigma.htm)
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(6) The facts about stigma and mental illness in diverse communities. (Retrieved 1/23/10 from
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(7) Brody, D. Normal people don’t want to know us: first hand experiences and perspectives on stigma and discrimination. California Network of Mental Health Clients.(Retrieved on 1/23/2010 from
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Brody, D. Normal people don’t want to know us: first hand experiences and perspectives on stigma and discrimination. California Network of Mental Health Clients.(Retrieved on 1/23/2010 from
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(4) James, T. (2009) Stigma surrounding mental illness remains despite abundant pharmaceutical ads.(Retrieved on 1/23/10 from
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