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FACES of RECOVERY. Mental Illnesses Affect Everyday People People You’re Friends With People You Work With People You Love. NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania. Who are These Everyday People and What Do They Want?. They are your friends, colleagues and family
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FACES of RECOVERY Mental Illnesses Affect Everyday People People You’re Friends With People You Work With People You Love NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania
Who are These Everyday People and What Do They Want? They are your friends, colleagues and family • Individuals recovering from mental illnesses have the same wants as any American: To love and be loved To meet basic human needs To have education opportunities To seek meaningful employment To realize self-satisfaction • NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania
1 in 5 Americans (54 million citizens) has a diagnosable mental illness (NIMH) 1 in 10 children (Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health) Only 8 million Americans get the treatment they need (NIMH) Treatment works, but why are 46 million people falling through the cracks in our healthcare system? Mental Illnesses-More Common Than You Think NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania
How PA Residents Rate The Seriousness of Health ProblemsKetchum Public Relations 1992 NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania
Treatment Efficacy Rates NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania
50 Years Ago • Little or no understanding of the biology of mental illnesses • Parents were blamed for mental illnesses • Treatments were primitive • Asylum was the norm NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania
Chipping Away at Barriers to Mental Illness Recovery Through: • Pharmocotherapy Advancements & Research • Expanded Community Based Services • Earlier Intervention and Rehabilitation Models • A Collaborative Grassroots Anti-Stigma Campaign NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania
What Is Stigma ? • A mark of shame or disgrace associated with something that is not considered normal • Stereotype • A negative belief about a group • Prejudice • Agreement with the belief and a negative emotional reaction to the group • Discrimination • The behavior in response to the prejudice Patrick Corrigan, Psy D University of Chicago Consortium for Stigma Research NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania
What are the Effects of Stigma? • Stereotypes, Prejudice and Discrimination (Stigma) Can Cause Individuals with Mental Illnesses to Avoid Treatment Through Fear of: • Job Loss or Inability to Gain 1st Time Employment • Loss of Home or Discrimination in Housing Choices • Loss of Significant Relationships • Inadequate Private Insurance Coverage – Additional Financial Loss NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania
How Can Stigmatizing Attitudes Be Changed? • Education activities that address the myths and realities of mental illnesses • Activities that facilitate interaction between individuals living with mental illness and the general public • Grass roots partnership initiatives that bring together community leaders, media, legislators,consumers of mental health services and their family members. Patrick Corrigan, Psy D NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania
The Key Message Points of the Statewide Anti-Stigma Campaign (www.openmindsopendoors.com) • “People who have mental illnesses can and do recover.” • “People who have mental illnesses have the same needs as everyone else.” • “People who have mental illnesses make valuable contributions to society.” • “Stigma and discrimination against people who have mental illnesses keeps them from getting the help they need.” • “Stigma and discrimination violates basic human rights.” NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania
What You Can Do to Fight Stigma • Become involved in your local county community support program • Support inclusion of individuals recovering from mental illnesses within your neighborhood, churches and community organizations • Support funding for continued research and education activities that break down the barriers to recovery • NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania
What You Can Do to Fight Stigma • Use “people-first” language in everyday conversations • Access NAMI national website: www.nami.org & join the StigmaBusters • Access NAMI Southwestern PA website: www.namiswpa.org for media and legislative outreach tips and to link onto the statewide anti-discrimination website: www.openmindsopendoors.com • Push for Insurance Parity • NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania
“The time is now to educate, motivate and mobilize” Former Surgeon General David Satcher,MD,PhD • Mental Illness: Recovery is a Reality, Treatment Works, and Equal Coverage is Affordable. • Full parity will add just 1% to insurance premiums (Hay Group) • Employer plans with good access to MH outpatient services have lower psychiatric disability claims(UNUM Life Insurance Co & John Hopkins University) • Annual cost of untreated mental illnesses exceeds $300 billion (NIMH) NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania
Ensure Your Voice is Heard Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead • NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania