Last month I attended a very inspirational conference, the 28th Annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy. Former U.S. First Lady and Carter Center Co-Founder Rosalynn Carter brought together more than 200 mental health leaders, stakeholders, and providers to discuss steps communities can take to build social inclusion of people living with mental illnesses.

According to Mrs. Carter, “Although we know much more about mental illnesses and how to treat them than ever before, stigma against these disorders remains. One of the best ways to fight stigma and discrimination in the long run is to take action and develop public policies that provide communities with the foundations and tools to include and support people living with mental illnesses. We hope this year’s symposium will give many communities throughout the country the information they need to support all of their citizens and help improve life for everyone.”

What really struck me about the conference as an animated advocate was the power in the CONSUMER voice. We have not incorporated that voice in much of our advocacy. When we take the time to listen we have a greater understanding of what we have to do. There is still too much myth, too much social isolation, media has a responsibility to put a real face on people, families, communities. We can become aware of the ‘othering’ of people with mental illness, and instead stories of people thriving can dispel the stereotypes.

The conference also got me really thinking about that old standby – stigma. That handy scapegoat. The one ‘out there’. You know, in the media, in our culture. The one that makes it so easy to sigh and shrug our shoulders, really what can we do to really battle stigma anyway?….

Allow me to pose some questions and thoughts that bring the idea of the value of social inclusion back into our own hands, where there IS something we can do about it.

• What about that heavy focus on diagnosis- in which the person gets lost.
• What about all of us, instead, thinking though strengths vs. limitations.
• What about crafting and helping others to craft a self determined life?
• Or what about my personal favorites; self stigma, internalized stigma, anticipated stigma.

Over half the folks living with a mental illness stop having meaningful relationships, they stop doing things that are meaningful to them! What about embracing what we know about well being and what is needed to achieve that. Inspiring folks to once again contribute, to engage, to give back. Really live community interdependence.

Mind you, I’m not suggesting sweeping anything under the rug. Keep this issue of mental health out in the public domain, be bold and honest about the prevalence of this issue in our midst.

Stigma? Graham Thornicroft of Great Britain running the “Time to Change” campaign, offers that frankly, people’s reaction to mental illness is entirely reasonable- based on what they know.

Our opportunity is to continue promoting stories of people’s wellness. Really maximizing the power of what we know about the role of home, purpose, community, social supports and family.

I hope you’ll join me in the fight against stigma against mental illness. Awareness is the first step. Compassion the second. Let’s work together to help bring light and understanding to this most important issue.

I’ll contribute monthly to this blog on this and a variety of topics and welcome your feedback as we work in Colorado and the nation to make strides to normalize something that so deeply affects so many of us.

Thanks for your interest. We’re on our way.

Learn more about Jeannie’s work as a mental health ambassador here.