The third step in the NAMI StigmaFree campaign is to take action to help create a better future for those with mental illness. You may think, “I’m only one person, and mental illness is a huge problem. How can just one person make a difference?”
The task may seem daunting, but there are actually many things you can do to advocate for those with mental illness. These are some things I have done:
- Supported my love ones who struggle, and made sure their questions were answered and their needs were met
- Volunteered with my local support group to help raise awareness in the community, by sharing resources at local health fairs and seminars
- Financially supported local and national mental health organizations
- Gently corrected others who used language that perpetuates stigma
- Lent a listening ear to people who were struggling and needed someone to talk to
- Participated in awareness walks. My favorite walk is the Out of the Darkness Walk, which raises funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
- Started this blog as a way of raising awareness and educating others
Read this blog from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) about what it means to be a mental health advocate: https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/June-2020/What-Does-It-Mean-to-Be-a-Mental-Health-Advocate
For more ideas on how to take action, see this resource from NAMI: https://www.nami.org/Advocacy/Advocate-for-Change
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