FAQs

What is Stigma?

Stigma is defined by the Merriman Webster Dictionary as “a mark, brand,: a mark of shame or discredit : an identifying mark or characteristic. Stigma as it relates to mental illness is the commonly held beliefs about mental illness that are not based on fact but on opinion and misinformation. The stigma surrounding mental illness is the number one reason that people with a mental illness do not receive treatment. This can be because they are too ashamed of their mental illness to ask for help, or because as a result of the stigma surrounding the subject, there is a lack of knowledge of what signs and symptoms to look for and where to go for help. Stigma can be broken down and stomped out through education, outreach, and spreading hope and compassion to those who need it.

Where do you present and to what kinds of audiences?

We have presented everywhere from national conferences to local clubhouses. We customize our presentation to fit the needs of the audience, so there is no audience we can’t reach. The locations of presentations are varied and our audiences have been diverse. We have talked to law enforcement officials, teenagers, members of faith communities, local business people, and social service care providers, just to name a few. Do not hesitate to inquire about our presentation. Even if you think your audience might not fit us, we will do all we can to work together to make it happen!

What is mental illness?

Mental illness is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual as: “A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern that occurs in an individual and is thought to cause distress or disability that is not expected as part of normal development or culture.” This technical definition doesn’t necessarily cover the depth and scope of mental illness. Mental illness is a spectrum with complete health on one end and illness on the other. Most of us fall somewhere in between the ends of the spectrum on any given day, or any given moment! One out of every five adults in the United States deals with a mental health issue, and an estimated 5.2 million adults have co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders.

How can I help?

There are so many ways to help! You can start by spreading the word about stigma and the importance of education about it. You can make a donation to our program to help us continue educating and empowering people across the country. You can also participate in or donate to our annual Stomp Out Stigma 5K run/walk. And, of course, you can help by joining the fight and bringing us to your business, school, or community so that we can begin working together to Stomp Out Stigma.

How do I contact you or book a presentation?

You can book a presentation by clicking here or the button at the bottom of the page. You can also click here to get our contact information.