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Anti-Stigma: Do You Know the
Facts?
Stigma is not
just a matter of using the wrong word or action. Stigma is about
disrespect. It is the use of negative labels to identify a person
living with mental illness. Stigma is a barrier. Fear of stigma, and
the resulting discrimination, discourages individuals and their
families from getting the help they need. An estimated 22 to 23
percent of the U.S. population experience a mental disorder in any
given year, but almost half of these individuals do not seek
treatment (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2002; U.S.
Surgeon General, 2001).
The
educational information on this web site encourages the use of
positive images to refer to people with mental illness and
underscores the reality that mental illness can be successfully
treated.
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Do you
know that an estimated 44 million Americans experience a mental
disorder in any given year?
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Do you
know that stigma is not a matter of using the wrong word or
action?
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Do you
know that stigma is about disrespect and using negative labels
to identify a person living with mental illness?
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Do you
know that stigma is a barrier that discourages individuals and
their families from seeking help?
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Do you
know that many people would rather tell employers they committed
a petty crime and served time in jail, than admit to being in a
psychiatric hospital?
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Do you
know that stigma can result in inadequate insurance coverage for
mental health services?
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Do you
know that stigma leads to fear, mistrust, and violence against
people living with mental illness and their families?
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Do you
know that stigma can cause families and friends to turn their
backs on people with mental illness?
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Do you
know that stigma can prevent people from getting access to
needed mental health services?
DO'S
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Do use
respectful language
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Do
emphasize abilities, not limitations.
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Do tell
someone if they express a stigmatizing attitude.
DONT'S
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Don't
portray successful persons with disabilities as super human.
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Don't use
generic labels such as retarded, or the mentally ill.
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Don't use
terms like crazy, lunatic, manic depressive, or slow
functioning.
OEL99-0004
02/03 - Source
- SAMHSA'S online resource center
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