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October's focus for NAMI on Campus Clubs is all about Reducing the Stigma surrounding Mental Health & Mental Illness
October's focus for NAMI on Campus Clubs is all about Reducing the Stigma surrounding Mental Health & Mental Illness
Club members work together on activities to reduce the stigma of mental illness in youth, and help students find help for themselves or others when symptoms of a mental health condition arise.
Club members work together on activities to reduce the stigma of mental illness in youth, and help students find help for themselves or others when symptoms of a mental health condition arise.
Join Us in Creating a StigmaFree Campus
Join Us in Creating a StigmaFree Campus
“There’s a virus spreading across America. It harms the 1 in 5 Americans affected by mental health conditions. It shames them into silence. It prevents them from seeking help. And in some cases, it takes lives. What virus are we talking about? It’s stigma. Stigma against people with mental health conditions. But there’s good news. Stigma is 100% curable. Compassion, empathy and understanding are the antidote. Your voice can spread the cure.”
“There’s a virus spreading across America. It harms the 1 in 5 Americans affected by mental health conditions. It shames them into silence. It prevents them from seeking help. And in some cases, it takes lives. What virus are we talking about? It’s stigma. Stigma against people with mental health conditions. But there’s good news. Stigma is 100% curable. Compassion, empathy and understanding are the antidote. Your voice can spread the cure.”
The StigmaFree Pledge is a commitment to:
The StigmaFree Pledge is a commitment to:
Be educated on mental illness
See the person, not the illness
To take action against stigma
The StigmaFree campaign is NAMI’s effort to end stigma and create hope for those affected by mental illness. Through powerful words and actions, we can shift the social and systemic barriers for those living with mental health conditions.
As many as 1 in 5 teens will experience a mental health challenge, and research indicates that only about half of even those will get the help they need. Stigma shames them into silence and prevents them from seeking help. Take the StigmaFree quiz to see if you might be affected.
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT:
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT:
A GRAPHIC GUIDE TO MENTAL HEALTH
A GRAPHIC GUIDE TO MENTAL HEALTH
“This warm, encouraging, engaging, and valuable resource by Cartoonist Cara Bean offers concrete tips for dealing with stress, getting adequate sleep, facing substance abuse, building resilience, facing depression, addressing suicidal ideation, and reducing stigma around mental health issues. That’s an awful lot to pack into a short comic so I encourage everyone to read it again and again!”
“This warm, encouraging, engaging, and valuable resource by Cartoonist Cara Bean offers concrete tips for dealing with stress, getting adequate sleep, facing substance abuse, building resilience, facing depression, addressing suicidal ideation, and reducing stigma around mental health issues. That’s an awful lot to pack into a short comic so I encourage everyone to read it again and again!”
ACTIVITY IDEA: break into smaller groups (2-3 students) and assign a section for each group to present to the larger group, then reflect what they learned by creating their own drawing / poster to share around campus or create an Instagram post highlighting the definition of stigma sharing it thru social media.
ACTIVITY IDEA: break into smaller groups (2-3 students) and assign a section for each group to present to the larger group, then reflect what they learned by creating their own drawing / poster to share around campus or create an Instagram post highlighting the definition of stigma sharing it thru social media.
OCTOBER 17–21, 2022
OCTOBER 17–21, 2022
Active Minds Spirit Week is a nationwide call-to-action to advance Active Minds’ mission: to change the conversation about mental health. Each day of the week is dedicated to one of our five pillars that achieve that change: awareness, education, advocacy, connection, community.
The guide addresses stigma around mental illness and equips club members with person-first language tools for discussing mental health concerns with their peers, and empower them to have meaningful conversations about mental health and lived experiences.
Address: 800 Scenic Dr. Bldg F/Office #7, Modesto, CA 95350
Phone: 209-558-4555 (Office)
Email: info@namistanislaus.org
"Ending the Silence" is designed to lessen stigma and raise awareness about mental illness among teenagers. The 50-minute program uses a video and personal stories of presenters with lived experience of mental illness, and is typically presented in the freshman/sophomore classes during the mental health portion of the curriculum. For more information or to schedule a virtual presentation, contact Lisa Jackson or Dar Thomas at NAMI Stanislaus.
A youth-run organization giving teens the outlet to creatively express their mental health journeys.
We advocate and destigmatize mental health by producing media.
Our magazines mix creative and informative writing
On our blog, we publish shorter articles relevant to current events
On social media, we collaborate with like-minded organizations and influencers
The Talk Tool
The Talk Tool
The Talk Tool is meant to show the many ways your students can talk about mental health with people in their life. Use the Talk Tool to practice talking about mental illness with others. Everyone's experience is different... these words as inspiration, but also feel free to find your own.
Climate Connection Toolkit
Climate Connection Toolkit
Thirteen activities designed to be used by school personnel seeking to improve school climate by defining, examining and building norms that nourish positive relationships on campus.
Break The Stigma
Break The Stigma
It’s not always easy to tell others when you have challenges managing your thoughts or feelings. Even though it is normal for people of any age to experience these challenges, our culture has told us we need to fear them. In this video, we ask why it is this way and what we can all do to give each other the support we need to get help.
Through this valuable lesson plan, club members will view Directing Change film submissions and understand stereotypes about people experiencing mental illness and how this can prevent people from seeking help. Members will be challenged to think about the way they talk about mental health
Bring Change 2 Mind
Bring Change 2 Mind
The BC2M high school program gives teens a platform to share their voices and raise awareness around mental health. Like NAMI on Campus, the activities empower students to educate each other, make better communities and create a safe and supportive culture on campus.
Activity Guide can be used to enhance your NAMI on Campus activities. The guidebook provides numerous activity resources and lesson plans that can focus the club members on their goal of ending stigma. The video activities below are examples:
This Is Your Brain Activity
This Is Your Brain Activity
(from BC2M)
QUESTIONS (after viewing the video)
QUESTIONS (after viewing the video)
1) In your own words how would you describe mental health or illness?
2) What does it mean to be a friend or a family member to someone with a mental illness?
3) Do you think many people know the facts about mental illness?
4) Has your school or community tried to address the topic?
Howie Mandel Talks About Living with OCD
Howie Mandel Talks About Living with OCD
(Adapted from BC2M)
QUESTIONS (after viewing the video)
QUESTIONS (after viewing the video)
1) Howie Mandel initially regretted speaking about his mental illness. Why do some people avoid talking about it?
2) Are certain types of people less likely to talk about mental illness eg. Old or young, male or female?
3) Who would you feel most comfortable talking to about mental illness?
4) Who would you feel least comfortable talking to about mental illness?
Mental Health Poster Ideas
Mental Health Poster Ideas
Use Canva templates to create posters and social media posts to promote awareness of Mental Health.
Promoting a Safe and Supportive Culture on Campus
Promoting a Safe and Supportive Culture on Campus
Stigma, the hidden burden of mental health conditions, can be as hard to deal with as the condition itself. It affects people's well-being, prevents them from seeking treatment and damages self-esteem. Review this infographic with your club, and challenge them to develop their own StigmaFree campaign.
Stories Change Lives
Stories Change Lives
Experiencing a mental health challenge deserves the opportunity to live a healthy, happy and meaningful life. View the stories of hope with your students.
Are you ready to examine your understanding of mental health? Some countries have specialized facilities to help people suffering from a mental illness whereas others view them as curses. Do you believe you understand the facts on mental health?
Take the QUIZ!
Take the QUIZ!
A fact sheet providing primary stigma reduction strategies focused on building knowledge and changing attitudes toward those with mental illness
This is a team project where team members research a specific mental health disorder, gather reliable health information and resources, and present their findings. Using the data gathered, teams will create and share utilizing their preferred virtual media.
Brain XP
Brain XP
Brain Expanded (Brain XP) is a community created by teen, Christine Marie (aka Christine XP). The inclusive community seeks to change the language of mental health by emphasizing the expanded, creative, insightful and intuitive functions of the brain for those with mental health challenges, especially teenagers!
Every single person living with a mental disorder has Brain XP because our brains ARE truly E X P A N D E D! Our brains function in a completely unique and special way that others people’s brains do not. We are especially creative, insightful, empathetic and the list goes on.
Download and print these posters for your NCHS Club's Stigma Reduction campaign.
Download and print these posters for your NCHS Club's Stigma Reduction campaign.
A collection of activities and conversation starters addressing the stigma of mental illness and the resulting reluctance to seek help.
Students will examine ways of overcoming stigma and promoting a realistic understanding of mental illness
Hundreds of resources, reports and publications designed to help teens learn about mental illness.
Could My Parents Be/Have A series designed to support adolescents with information and resources, should they have questions about their parent's illness.
Using the Right Words We all have mental health, and having the right words can help alleviate stigma to seek help when we need it.
Edutopia
Edutopia
For all students, especially those with mental health challenges, the language of empowerment and choice contributes significantly to an environment that helps them grow toward their goals.
An Educational Kit to Promote Awareness and Understanding of the Impact of Stigma on People Living with Concurrent Mental Health and Substance Use Problems
Provides numerous "Stigma Busting Activities" to address the social bias preventing people from seeking assistance, accessing services or, in many cases, continuing with the treatment programs that play a vital role in their recovery.
A guide for developing an awareness program for youth
A guide for developing an awareness program for youth
The resources and activities, though developed several decades ago ,can be adapted to stimulate conversation about stigma across cultures and generations. The tools and activities challenge students to examine their own biases and stigmatizing attitudes.
A 2016 blog relating stigma and advocacy to Knott’s Berry Farm’s Halloween exhibit, “5150 FearVR”. The author compares and contrasts the nationwide protests and other cultural issues that have found relief from stigma and why it matters.
NAMI on Campus Clubs can use this article to start a discussion about stigma, and how the effort to reduce stigma on campus can continue to move forward. Consider developing a panel discussion of peers as part of a campaign to change the climate on your campus.
Plan awareness activities to erase mental health stigma
Plan awareness activities to erase mental health stigma
We’ve compiled some great activity suggestions, educational resources, and social media images so you can plan an awareness event to celebrate National Day Without Stigma on October 9.
Complete the form HERE, and after you press “submit” you’ll see a download button. Clicking that will download a resource kit (PDF) to your device.
Good luck with your National Day Without Stigma activities!
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