{"id":31962,"date":"2016-05-26T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-05-26T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?p=31962"},"modified":"2016-05-26T07:53:30","modified_gmt":"2016-05-26T14:53:30","slug":"11-organizations-that-challenge-mental-health-stigma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/11-organizations-that-challenge-mental-health-stigma-0526167","title":{"rendered":"11 Organizations That Challenge Mental Health Stigma"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"RearFor as long as society has been aware of mental health concerns, it has also harbored stigma<\/a> toward those experiencing such concerns. With limited knowledge of the varied factors influencing the development of mental health conditions, people historically believed these issues to be divine punishment, demonic possession, the effects of immoral behavior, or some combination of the above. People who developed mental health concerns were often shunned, exiled, locked away, abused<\/a>, or subject to other cruel treatment.<\/p>\n

Today, mental health issues\u00c2\u00a0such as depression<\/a>, anxiety<\/a>, and posttraumatic stress<\/a> tend to be better understood by society than they were in the past,\u00c2\u00a0especially as more research shows just how common these conditions are. People who experience these concerns\u00c2\u00a0today may feel more comfortable discussing them with friends, family, or\u00c2\u00a0others experiencing similar conditions in their own lives than people may have even 50\u00c2\u00a0years ago. A number of celebrities and other public figures even speak openly about their own mental health challenges in an effort to reduce stigma and increase awareness and support for those facing similar issues.<\/p>\n

Stigma does still exist, however. Not everyone who wishes to seek treatment\u00c2\u00a0is able to do so, and some barriers to treatment result from the stigma attached to certain mental health concerns. Some may\u00c2\u00a0believe, for example, that challenges\u00c2\u00a0such as addiction result solely from\u00c2\u00a0an individual’s choices, and they may fail to\u00c2\u00a0recognize the range of contributing factors.\u00c2\u00a0Many conditions\u00c2\u00a0such as schizophrenia<\/a> and bipolar<\/a> are falsely associated with violence, which may heighten feelings of\u00c2\u00a0shame or\u00c2\u00a0discrimination and lead those experiencing them to avoid seeking treatment. People diagnosed with borderline personality<\/a>, one\u00c2\u00a0of the most stigmatized mental health conditions, often\u00c2\u00a0experience\u00c2\u00a0stigma even from mental health care practitioners and\u00c2\u00a0may be more likely to\u00c2\u00a0withdraw from treatment early as a result.<\/p>\n

At GoodTherapy.org, we are committed to normalizing mental health concerns and eliminating mental health stigma. We believe all\u00c2\u00a0people\u00c2\u00a0should be able to seek care without fearing\u00c2\u00a0judgment or discrimination<\/a>, and this Mental Health Awareness Month we would like to highlight 11 like-minded organizations working to increase mental health awareness and reduce stigma.<\/p>\n