ASMH HOPE Campaign Mission

Anti-Stigma Mental Health
HOPE Campaign

VISION

Alexandrians affected by mental illness, intellectual disabilities
and substance use disorders will participate fully
in a community free of stigma.

MISSION

Work collaboratively with a broad base of community members, agencies and congregations to provide education, community outreach and advocacy to eliminate stigma and instill the hope that enables Alexandrians with mental health disabilities to participate fully in community life.

GOALS/ACTION STEPS

Participate with community partners to:

Provide at least three major community events annually that will educate attendees about mental health disabilities and stigma.

Provide opportunities for community members to interact with and hear from persons with mental health disabilities, a proven best-practice approach for eliminating stigma.

Advocate for increased funding to provide mental health and substance abuse prevention services to all Alexandrians who need such services.

Conduct workshops and educational presentations on stigma for targeted populations such as youth, parents, and health care providers.

Ensure that youth have easy access to information about mental health issues, peer stories and anti-stigma resources through online sources and other venues.

Utilize print and television/cable media to publish and air public service announcements about mental health issues and stigma.

Collaborate with other work groups of the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria, as well as regional anti-stigma efforts.

BACKGROUND

A government publication from the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health identified stigma as the #1 obstacle preventing Americans with mental illnesses from getting the care they deserve and has declared mental health stigma a national priority. The work group decided that the initial focus would be on youth, with other target populations selected in later years (multi-year effort). The Task Force has conducted several focus groups with youth and youth ministers and participated in several anti-stigma outreach events, including a community event with Pete Earley, nationally-renowned author of “Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness.”

Participating with the Alexandria Mentoring Partnership through the Alexandria Court Service Unit to help in recruitment of mentor volunteers for Alexandria youth (e.g., taking part in Mentoring Partnership meetings and events and advertising the need for mentors through the MH/SA Work Group’s business and other member organization contacts). (See Alexandria Mentoring Partnership website)

For background information on the meetings and work products of the Mental Health/Substance Abuse Work Group, see MH/SA Meetings and Activities.