To tackle Zimbabwe’s shortage of mental health professionals and stigma towards mental health issues, community leaders have been trained on mental health problems and positioned to provide treatment within their local communities- on local park benches. “So far, 27,000 people suffering from common mental health disorders have tried the program,” and it is being expended throughout Zimbabwe.
Beyond the Label - Canada
Beyond the Label is a free resource developed by Canadian stigma researchers with activities “that emphasize the impact of attitudes and beliefs on people with concurrent mental health and substance use problems; highlight facts and dispel myths; present positive stories and solution-focused approaches; and support addiction and mental health workers in their efforts to reduce stigma, prejudice and discrimination.” Click the title to access the full pdf.
See Change- Ireland
Based in Ireland, See Change is a national campaign aiming to “reduce stigma associated with mental health problems and challenge discrimination.” Beyond their library of stigma facts, personal stories, and workplace resources, their annual Green Ribbon Campaign distributes hundreds of thousands of green ribbons throughout Ireland during the month of May, encouraging community members to wear them “as a symbol for starting conversation about mental health.” They also organize a national “Time to Talk” day when they “encourage people to use their social media presence and encourage positive conversations about mental health online using #TimeToTalk.”
Time to Change - United Kingdom
Based in the UK, Time to Change is a “growing movement of people changing how we all think and act about mental health problems.” Since 2007 they’ve worked to get people talking about mental health in schools, workplaces, and communities. This year, they launched a new program “to help tackle mental health stigma and discrimination in other countries - by training local campaigners and setting up pilot campaigns.” Click the title to learn more about their work.
Children of Parents with a Mental Illness- Australia
Children of Parents with a Mental Illness is challenging the internal and external Distorted Perceptions that kids encounter when they have a parent experiencing a behavioral health disorder. A great resource for children and young people! Click the title for youth-targeted educational videos on different types of behavioral health disorders, recovering from these diagnoses, and tips for self care.