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One in 5 Americans is affected by mental health conditions. Stigma is toxic to their mental health because it creates an environment of shame, fear and silence that prevents many people from seeking help and treatment. The perception of mental illness won’t change unless we act to change it. (NAMI)
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Information and articles related to stigma are available on the NAMI website.
A short article describing the problem and concrete ways to counter stigma.
“Make It OK” is a campaign to reduce the stigma of mental illnesses. It is sponsored by a collaborative effort in Minnesota.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMHSA)
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
Mission: ADAA focuses on improving quality of life for those with these disorders. ADAA provides education about the disorders and helps people find treatment, resources, and support. More than 38 million people visit ADAA's website each year - from all across the globe. ADAA strives to improve patient care by promoting implementation of evidence-based treatments and best practices across disciplines through continuing education and trainings and accelerating dissemination of research into practice. ADAA promotes scientific innovation and engages a diverse network of basic and clinical anxiety and depression researchers and providers encouraging the implementation of new treatments to clinicians. These commitments drive ADAA’s promise to find new treatments and one day prevent and cure these disorders.
Five national and international organizations representing a full spectrum of healthcare make up the PTSD Alliance. These organizations are here to serve individuals with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. (Links to all organizations under “Partners”, including American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Anxiety Disorders Association of America, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Sidrin Institute, and Beachway Therapy Center)
Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA)
The Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America promotes improvement in lives affected by schizophrenia-related brain illnesses (mental illnesses involving psychosis). SARDAA promotes hope and recovery through support programs, education, collaboration, and advocacy.
Our vision is that every person living with a schizophrenia-related brain disorder receives respect, appropriate treatment and an opportunity to live a meaningful and satisfying life in a compassionate community free of discrimination.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
American Association of Suicidology
The mission of the AAS is to promote the understanding and prevention of suicide and support those who have been affected by it.
Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, Inc.
Community Health Centers promote a fully resourced system that delivers efficient, effective, and accountable behavioral healthcare accessible to all Kansans through locally governed Community Mental Health Centers, subsidiaries and strategic partners.
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Our Mission—Saving lives through the creation, development, and delivery of innovative training experiences that empower organizations, communities, and individuals to be safer from suicide.
The mission of Sources of Strength is to prevent suicide by increasing help seeking behaviors and promoting connections between peers and caring adults. Sources of Strength moves beyond a singular focus on risk factors by utilizing an upstream approach for youth suicide prevention. This upstream model strengthens multiple sources of support (protective factors) around young individuals so that when times get hard they have strengths to rely on.
Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.