Division of Behavioral Health Services
Arizona Stigma Reduction Committee
Mental Health: Everyone Has It!
Membership Roster
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Get to Know the Arizona Stigma Reduction Committee:
The goal of the Arizona Stigma Reduction Committee is to build a greater sense of inclusion that supports people with mental health and substance use challenges within their own communities, and encourages them to seek and maintain treatment when it is needed.
- Members of the Committee are service recipients, family members, community members and behavioral health professionals from around our state.
- The Committee produces and promotes activities that raise awareness about mental health and substance use.
- Educates and informs the public and behavioral health communities about stigma and how to reduce it.
- The Committee addresses discrimination and prejudice towards persons with behavioral health diagnoses and their family members through advocacy and information related to recovery, inclusion and wellness.
The Committee does this by:
- Partnering statewide with individuals and families who have lived experience, work in the Division of Behavioral Health Services (particularly its Office of Individual and Family Affairs), peer- and family-run agencies, and behavioral health organizations.
- Providing opportunities for diverse groups of people to talk frankly with one another about mental health and system issues through our Arizona Dialogues program.
- Making informational materials, such as the “Help Reduce Stigma in Arizona” brochure, available to all and giving presentations that inform and invite people to join the statewide movement to reduce stigma.
- Encouraging the advocacy community to support one another’s activities and work cooperatively to be a power that moves the stigma reduction movement forward in Arizona.
- Spreading the message that we must all care for our mental health just as we do our physical health.
- Getting the word out about statewide events, conferences and the many opportunities available for people from all walks of life to get involved in activities that further the cause of inclusion and stigma reduction.
Reducing stigma related to mental health and substance use and fostering inclusion is not the sole responsibility of any one committee, though. It takes all of us to do this in the course of living our everyday lives. After all, every human being - no matter their age, gender, ethnicity or geographical location - has mental health. Reducing stigma and increasing inclusion starts with one person at a time and grows from there.
So, yes, YOU can make a big difference! You can start by being more aware of the language you use (see Stigma: Language Matters).
Local
- ADHS/DBHS Office of Human Rights
- Arizona Center for Disability Law
- NAMI Arizona
- MHA of Arizona
- Raising Special Kids
- Family Involvement Center (FIC)
- MIKID (Mentally Ill Kids In Distress
National
Articles of Interest
- SAMHSA’s Resource Center to Promote Acceptance, Dignity and Social Inclusion Associated with Mental Health (ADS Center)
- NAMI Stigma Busters
- NMHA Stigma Watch
- Consortium on Stigma Research (Patrick Corrigan)
- Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
- Stomp Out Stigma (Oakland County, Michigan)
Cynthia Henry
Committee Coordinator
Cynthia.henry@azdhs.gov
1-877-464-1015./ (602) 364-1015