Free yourself and
your loved ones from stigma.

"I didn’t ask for help because I thought asking for help is a sign of weakness."

There can be a stigma attached to seeking mental health support, both among doctors and the public.

Stigma is a stereotype, unfair, or untrue belief that some people might have about mental health. Stigma can sometimes shame people into silence, and may prevent someone with a mental health condition from seeking support. Some people describe stigma as a feeling of judgement from someone else, but it can even come from within.

Mental illness can affect men and women differently.

There are real differences in how men and women approach their mental health. Symptoms of mental illnesses like anxiety and depression may be different in men and women as well.

NAMI’s StigmaFree campaign encourages you to take three steps for being StigmaFree:

Educate yourself and others –

Knowing the facts can help educate others and reject stigmatizing stereotypes.

See the person, not the condition –

1 in 5 Americans live with a mental health condition and each of them has their own path that says more about them than their diagnosis does.

Take action –

Join thousands of people across the country in pushing for better legislation and policies to improve mental health care for everyone.

Break through the barriers.

Recognize that seeking mental health support is actually empowering.

Get treatment. The fear of being labeled with a mental health condition shouldn’t prevent you from seeking help.

Overcome self-doubt and shame. Stigma doesn't just come from others. Seeking counseling, educating yourself about your condition and connecting with others who have a mental health condition can help you gain self-esteem and overcome destructive self-judgment.

Reach out to your network. If you have a mental health condition, you may be reluctant to tell anyone about it and may isolate yourself. Reach out to people you trust for the compassion, support and understanding you need.

Recognize your illness doesn’t define you. You are not an illness. Instead of saying "I'm depressed," say "I have depression."

Break through the barriers.

Recognize that seeking mental health support is actually empowering.

Get treatment. The fear of being labeled with a mental health condition shouldn’t prevent you from seeking help.

Recognize your illness doesn’t define you. You are not an illness. Instead of saying "I'm depressed," say "I have depression."

Stigma stems from a lack of understanding, rather than information based on facts. Learning about symptoms, treatment and support, as well as helping to educate others, can make a big difference.

Science supports therapy.

Studies consistently show that therapy and lifestyle interventions work just as well or better than medication for treating various mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. Caring for your physical and mental health creates positive changes in the brain, and therapy can teach valuable skills for managing symptoms and facing challenges.

It may take time to find a therapist that you feel comfortable with, but it's important to keep looking.

Finding the right therapist is like finding the right shoes – you have to keep trying them on until you find the right fit.

Free yourself and your loved ones from stigma.

Free yourself and your loved ones from stigma.

Join a NAMI Hearts+Minds course at your local NAMI. Learn more here.

Free yourself and
your loved ones from stigma.

Free yourself and
your loved ones from stigma.