Take the Pledge: Eliminate Stigma

Stigma is when someone, or even you yourself, negatively views a person just because they have an illness (NAMI, 2020). Those who are stigmatized describe feelings of shame and embarrassment, or judgment from someone else. Living with mental illness should not be something that someone is ashamed of or embarrassed about. We need to think of wellness as not only physical well- being, but emotional well-being too. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean that someone isn’t struggling. The town of Ramsey is pledging to be stigma-free, and we, as a school community, need to be stigma-free too.

In an effort to acknowledge our Stigma-Free initiative during remote learning, students at Smith Middle School will be shown a video and PowerPoint explaining what stigma is, and how they can positively impact the perception and attitudes surrounding mental illness. We want to highlight the role that empathy plays in trying to understand someone’s experiences and how we can support others. There will be information on activities that students can engage in that promote psychological and emotional health.