National Alliance on Mental Illness Launches StigmaFree Campaign

May is Mental Health Month

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May 01, 2015, 11:34 ET

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 1, to support Mental Health Month, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the philosophy hope & grace initiative are joining forces to launch the StigmaFree campaign.

The StigmaFree campaign urges individuals, companies, organizations and campuses to create an American culture in which the stigma that is often associated with mental health conditions is ended and replaced by hope and support for recovery.

"Stigma free environments promote and support acceptance and respect, while encouraging the help-seeking that makes recovery possible," comments NAMI Executive Director Mary Giliberti. "It is our hope that this campaign will drive individuals and their families to be open about mental illness and get the help they need."

Assistance, tools and resources will be available in the coming months for organizations, companies and other groups to ensure a successful partnership.

To join the movement, go to NAMI.org and take the pledge to be stigma free by:

1.   Learning about mental health—educating yourself and others;
2.   Seeing the person not the illness—striving to listen, understand and tell my own story; and
3.   Taking action—spread the word, raise awareness and make a difference.

In addition to taking the pledge, support stigma free living on social media with the hashtag #iamstigmafree.

NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation's leading voice on mental health. Today, we are an association of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and volunteers who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need. NAMI relies on gifts and contributions to support our important work.

Twitter.com/namicommunicate
Facebook.com/officialNAMI

SOURCE National Alliance on Mental Illness