StigmaBusters

Contact Us

NAMI Minnesota
800 Transfer Road, #31
Saint Paul, MN 55114

phone: 651-645-2948
toll free: 1-888-NAMI-HELPS
fax: 651-645-7379

email: namihelps@namimn.org

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StigmaBusters

"Mental illness is a hidden illness; people often see the stigma not the person.  Fighting the stigma makes us stronger."

Join with others to respond to instances of harmful stigma in the media and entertainment industries.  The national NAMI has created NAMI StigmaBuster Alerts to help identify stigmatizing information and events and respond with others in a postive way to help create changed attitudes, debunk myths and correct misinformation. The StigmaBusters also respond to positive, accurate portrayls of mental illness and persons affected by it.

Want to help fight stigma?

Language, Stigma and Political Correctness, NAMI Blog 3-13-12

Patrick Kennedy Calls for an End to Stigma, YouTube 3-6-2012

Documents
Wrong Focus: Mental Health in the Gun Safety Debate - 4-17-13
Study: Mental Illness No Trigger for Violence
The Stigma of Mental Illness
Violent Crime Study: Standing Stigma on its Head
Famous People with Mental Illness
To Fight Stigmas, Start with Treatment - NY Times, May 2009

Websites
Reporting Fairly on Mental Health
Bring Change 2 Mind
No Kidding! Me Too!
The Stigma Within - Esperanza Magazine, 2011
The Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma (ADS Center)
Mayo Clinic Anti-Stigma Link

Example of Local StigmaBusting Effort
The following letter is feedback provided to 1280 am radio on its stigmatizing t-shirt distributed at the State Fair:

"I understand that your radio station is responsible for the T-shirt I saw at the fair with the caption that read, "Liberalism is a Mental Illness".  I'm writing to you today to express my disappointment in what your station finds humorous.  Unfortunately, the media is responsible for many of the misconceptions which persist about people with mental illnesses.  They often stress a history of mental illness in the backgrounds of people who commit crimes of violence.  Television news programs frequently sensationalize crimes where persons with mental illnesses are involved. Ironically, the media also offers our best hope for eradicating stigma because of its power to educate and influence public opinion. Regardless of your political opinions, persons with mental illness deserve your respect.  I am hoping that you will consider pulling these T-shirts as soon as possible."   - Mike Chevrette