Because
mental illness is so stigmatizing, people feel they're going through this alone.
It is important to us that, as a state, we have important conversations around mental health, reducing stigma, and that we support our friends and family who are struggling with
mental illness. It is particularly important to discuss the incredibly high rate of people suffering from both a substance use disorder and
mental illness at the same time.
The lower scores indicate positive attitudes toward persons with
mental illness. This tool has six sub scales: (i) Separatism: Ten items, (1-9, and 24) to measure respondents' attitude of discrimination e.g.: "People with
mental illness have unpredictable behavior"; (ii) Stereotyping: Four items (10-13) intended to measure the degree of respondents' maintenance of social distance toward persons with
mental illness.
Champions of Science: The Art of Ending Stigma encourages individuals to share artistic expressions about
mental illnesses while educating and raising awareness of them.
According to the study conducted by the University of California, people with severe
mental illness are more than twice as likely to have Type 2 diabetes, with even higher risks among patients who are African American or Hispanic.
"Surviving
Mental Illness: My Story" is available for purchase in both print and ebook formats.
The discrepancy is even larger in Walsall, where the average resident is three times more likely to have a job than someone with a
mental illness.
For example, statistics show that out of every six people suffering from
mental illness, five do not seek treatment meaning they or their families live in denial.
This is the kind of experience surrounding
mental illness that is not usually brought to cinema screens.
The National Alliance on
Mental Illness (NAMI) is an organization whose mission it is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by serious
mental illness.