Breaking stigma

Jaylene Arvizu
Young leader rise summer academy program
Full disclosure
Lets Recap!

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 Most common mental disorders
1. Anxiety
2. Depression
3. Attention
Deficit-Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD)
4. Eating Disorders
5. Suicide
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Breaking mental health
stigma
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What is stigma?

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 “
Stigma is the disapproval of, or
discrimination against, a
person based on perceivable
social characteristics that
serve to distinguish them from
other members of a society.

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How is Stigma related to mental
health?

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 MEntal Health Stigma

1. Social Stigma
a. Prejudicial attitudes and
discriminating behavior due to
psychiatric label
2. Perceived Stigma
a. Internalizing their perceptions of
discrimination

(Davey, 2013) 11
 What factors
cause
stigma?
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How to fight mental health
stigma

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 Talk openly about mental health

“I fight stigma by talking about what it is like to have

bipolar disorder and PTSD on Facebook. Even if this
helps just one person, it is worth it for me.”

- Angela Christie Roach Taylor

(Greenstein, 2017) 14
 Educate yourself and others
Vestibulum congue Vestibulum congue Vestibulum congue Vestibulum congue

(Greenstein, 2017) 15
 Be conscious of language
Instead of saying “I’m depressed” when you’re
sad say:
- I’m sad
- Unhappy
- Down
- Gloomy
- Blue

(Greenstein, 2017) 16
 Encourage Equality Between physical
and mental illness
- Understand that mental illness is a disease

- You wouldn’t make fun of someone with

diabetes, heart disease, or cancer.

(Greenstein, 2017) 17
 Do not equate yourself with your illness
You are NOT an illness

● Instead of saying “I’m bipolar” say

○ I have bipolar disorder

● Instead of calling yourself “a schizophrenic” say

○ I have schizophrenia

(Mayo Clinic, 2017) 18

 Speak out against stigma

(Mayo Clinic, 2017) 19

 Activity time: The thought
Cloud ~15 min
Share your thoughts on the issues of mental health
- Inspiring statements
- Things you wish you could say to someone struggling with
mental health issues
- Maybe even things you have struggled with
- How has this presentation changed your mind about mental
health
- Coping strategies
- How you will break stigma
Mindfulness
 “
Mindfulness is a mental state
achieved by focusing one’s
awareness on the present
moment, while calmly
acknowledging and accepting
one’s feelings, thought, and
bodily sensations.
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Time to breath

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 Mindfulness increases stigma resistance
- Improves life satisfaction
- Mediated by self compassion and psychological
flexibility

- Individual resistance is not a solution but is

a start

(Janze, 2018) 24
Stop stigma survey
~20 min

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 THANK you!
Any questions?

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 Works Cited

Davey, G. (2013, August 20). Mental Health & Stigma. Retrieved from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-we-worry/201308/mental-health-stigma

Greenstein, L. (2017, October 11). 9 Ways To Fight Mental Health Stigma. Retrieved from
https://www.nami.org/blogs/nami-blog/october-2017/9-ways-to-fight-mental-health-stigma

Janze, J. (2018, October 24). The Impact of Mindfulness on Mental Health Stigma Resistance. Retrieved from
https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/10/the-impact-of-mindfulness-on-mental-health-stigma-resistance/

Mayo Clinic. (2017, May 24). Mental health: Overcoming the stigma of mental illness. Retrieved from
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/in-depth/mental-health/art-20046477

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