Ten Things You Can do to Fight Stigma

Ten Things You Can Do To Fight Stigma for Our Children and Youth
Adapted from an article “Ten Things You Can Do To Fight Stigma”, written by Otto F Wahl, PhD., George Mason University

1. Learn More About Children and Youth with Special Mental, Emotional, and Behavior Needs. To the extent that you are better informed, you will be able to evaluate and resist the inaccurate negative stereotypes and labeling that exists.

2. Listen to Children, Youth, and Families Experiencing these Challenges. These individuals can describe what hurts: what they find stigmatizing, how stigma affects their lives, what they would like others to know about having special mental, emotional, or behavior needs, and how they would like to be viewed and treated.

3. Watch Your Language. Most of us use terms and expressions that perpetuate stigma like “nuts”, “crazy”, “mental”, “stupid”, “violent”, “defiant”, “uncontrollable”. We can avoid contributing to stigma by avoiding such language, using Child First language; by recognizing them as children and youth first and remembering that they are so much more than just their mental, emotional, or behavioral problem.

4. Monitor Media and Report Stigmatizing Material. Organizations such as the National Stigma Clearinghouse, the National Mental Health Association, and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill protest such material by contacting the people- authors, editors, movie producers, advertisers- responsible for the material.

5. Respond to Stigmatizing Material in the Media. Write, call, or e-mail those who have stigmatized. Express your concerns and provide them with more accurate information to use.

6. Speak Up About Stigma. When someone you know misuses a term or diagnosis let him or her know and educate them about the correct meaning. If someone disparages a child or youth you mental, emotional, or behavior problems or makes disrespectful comments let them know that it is hurtful and you find such comments offensive or unacceptable. Let others know your preference for Child First language.

7. Talk Openly. Don’t be afraid to let others know of the mental, emotional, or behavior challenges you or your child youth faces. The more hidden it remains; the more people continue to believe that it is a shameful thing that needs to be concealed. Talking about it can also be empowering and help to relieve “internalized stigma” felt by you and/ or your child.

8. Demand Change from Your Elected Representatives. Policies that perpetuate stigma- from poorer health insurance coverage for mental health that for other physical health conditions to limited funding for research into the causes and treatments to inadequate budgets for mental health services- can be changed if enough people let their representatives know what they want changed.

9. Provide Support for Organizations that Fight Stigma. Join, volunteer, or make a monetary donation. The influence and effectiveness of the organizations fighting stigma depend, to some extent, on membership size and adequacy of finances.

10. Contribute to Research Relate to Children’s Mental Health and Stigma. To the extent our children’s mental, emotional, and behavior problems can be understood and treated, stigma will be reduced. When we can be confident that our children’s special needs can be treated quickly and effectively, it will be less frightening. Contributing to research is a way to bring understanding, and awareness of what is working, what isn’t working and what is needed still.