Stigma Free Spartanburg is a campaign that aims to reduce the stigma around mental illness. By signing NAMI Spartanburg’s pledge to be stigma free, you are joining the Spartanburg community to stop the stigma against mental health challenges and allowing those that need assistance to come forward and get the help that they need.
About stigma and mental illness
Being part of Stigma Free Spartanburg will:
- Educate residents that mental illness and substance use disorder are diseases and must be treated as such
- Raise awareness of the prevalence of mental illness and substance use in our community
- Provoke public interest in learning what is “Stigma-Free”
- Provide residents an opportunity to become involved in their community
- Allow people living with the disease to feel supported by their community and thus decrease feelings of isolation and shame
- Link people in need to local mental health and substance use resources
- Use inclusive, accepting, and judgement-free language and choices
- Raise awareness that care is accessible regardless of income
How to become Stigma Free:
- Host a mental health presentation
- Post positive mental health messages
- Put mental health information in your newsletter
- Encourage people to talk about their mental health challenges and ask for support
- Provide mental health wellness resources
- Form a Peer or Family Support group
- Hold an awareness event supporting NAMI Spartanburg
- Make a donation to NAMI Spartanburg
- Create a team for the local NAMIWalk