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| mental health education is happening across the country |
There is a stigma free zone steering committee sponsored by Bridgeway Rehabilitation Services, a non profit mental health service organization where I work. Committee members include the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield, Ruach Ministries, United Church of Christ Congregational, the City of Plainfield's recreation and health departments and Tap into Plainfield. Mayor Adrian Mapp, Police Director Carl Riley and School Board President Emily Morgan have expressed their support. There will be a resolution at the March City Council meeting declaring Plainfield a stigma free zone. This will be a community-wide campaign.
Psychiatric problems affect 1 in 5 people. When you count the impact on their families, employers, teachers and friends, it becomes clear that everyone is touched by mental illness in one way or another.
Stigma often comes with mental illnesses. That's because there are many myths that cause fear and shame about conditions like depression, phobias, bi-polar illness and schizophrenia . The fear leads to discrimination. The shame is the leading reason people do not seek help for their psychiatric problems. The real shame is while treatments have been proven effective, untreated mental illnesses cause huge negative impacts in our community - on families, on businesses, on the many people struggling with these conditions.
A mentally health person is a better student, a more productive worker. A mentally healthy young person will not turn to drugs or join a gang. A mentally healthier community is what Plainfield can become when we know the facts about mental health,
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