Combating Stigma: getting to A STATEWIDE APPROACH

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Combating Stigmagetting to A STATEWIDE APPROACH
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WHAT DOES THE WORD STIGMA MEAN?

• Dictionary Definitions
• A mark left by a hot iron a brand
• A mark of shame or discredit a stain
• An identifying mark or characteristic, such as a
  specific diagnostic sign of a disease
• Root Latin for mark or brand Greek for tatoo

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THE PRICE OF STIGMA

• Pain and isolation
• Lost opportunity
• Loss of personal power and control
• Submission
• Mistrust
• Unequal relationships
• Lost productivity

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MANY EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY

• Since 2006, many local projects have been
  supported with Mental Health Block Grant funds
• Several CMHSPs have had projects each year
• Overall, these have been locally guided efforts
  no evaluation or central guidance
• There is much to be learned from these efforts

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Build on Strengths

• Since 2006, 39 counties in Michigan have had
  access to MDCH-funded anti-stigma programs.
• MDCH needs to provide support to enhance current
  activities
• MDCH needs to provide a plan that guides and
  promotes an expanded investment

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• As mental health advocates, addressing stigma and
  reducing its presence and influence must be a top
  priority
• A multi-level approach needs to be applied
  State, CMHSP, County, and municipality
• Leadership and visible involvement by individuals
  with direct experience must be present at every
  level. State and local support needs to be
  strong and evident

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• The most important change to make is within our
  own institutional structures. Starting with
  ourselves, we must take acknowledge and address
  stigma within the mental health system
• Those holding the power must take personal
  responsibility for combating stigma within
  themselves. We must look in the mirror.
• A focus must be placed on celebrating the
  achievements of individuals as they work past the
  effects of stigma toward recovery, inclusion and
  full participation

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• MDCH must commit to making investments in the
  form of resources in the form of guidance and
  support in the form of providing leadership in
  the fight to combat stigma
• Locally, CMHSPs, providers, advocates need to
  partner with those they support to develop
  successful approaches to combating stigma within
  their systems and their communities

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A Multi-level approach to a Multi-Faceted Problem

• Focus anti-stigma efforts at three levels
• Internal organizational Stigma
• Local activity at the CMH/community level
• Statewide with MDCH leadership
• Use the current structure to promote stigma
  eliminating activities.

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Look Closer and build on Local CMH Strengths

• Take advantage of what is already being done
  through individual CMHs
• Let local folks be the experts in their own
  areas. They can best assess the local environment
  and gauge local attitudes, then determine how to
  best address them
• Tie locally developing efforts into overall state
  planning and guidance
• What are the effects? What outcomes can be
  determined?

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NEXT STEPS

• A Department-supported statewide Anti-Stigma
  Steering Committee will be established
• The Steering Committee will be asked to
• Examine current efforts and activities,
  connecting to other parties already engaged in
  anti-stigma work
• Learn more about efforts and directions in other
  states and countries
• Evolve the best set of principles and goals for
  Michigans anti-stigma work
• Gauge the extent of efforts and the outcomes
  achieved

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LOOKING FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD

• Involvement with anti-stigma efforts must be
  ongoing
• With conferences such as this
• In leadership discussions at every level
• With the ways that we train and guide those
  working in the system
• Our efforts to combat stigma can be expanded as
  we learn what is effective, and as we expand the
  involvement and leadership of those with direct
  experience