5 Things you can do to end the stigma surrounding mental illness

This post originally appeared on the Active Minds Blog.

Today is our day, stigma fighters — it’s National Day Without Stigma! We’ve got five tips for you to help combat the stigma surrounding mental illness today and everyday. Keep up the good work and use these tools to fight stigma on your campus.

1. Sign the Mental Health Unity Pledge. We’re really excited to unveil today a brand new Active Minds program that seeks to create safe spaces for people to speak openly about mental health. Sign the Pledge and receive a sticker, to hang up in your dorm room or in your car. This will symbolize to other people that it is a safe space to talk about mental illness. Together, we can help create a community where no one is afraid to speak out.

2. Display your support: Join the National Day Without Stigma movement by getting artsy and chalking positive and supportive messages about mental health to challenge stigma. We also want to hear why you identify as a #stigmafighter. Share with us using the hashtag on social media!

3. Reach out. The first step of is always the hardest, but getting the right help can improve the lives of people with mental health disorders. If you’re looking for on-campus help, contact your school’s counseling center or health center. If you’re not on campus, you can search for mental health services yourself, call your primary care physician or local hospital, or call 1-800-273-TALK, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

4. Remember to watch your language and encourage others to do so too. We commonly hear the phrases “That’s so crazy!” or “The weather is so bipolar this week!” If you find yourself or someone else saying statements like these, consider how that kind of stigmatizing language discourages people from seeking help.

Also, remember that a person is not defined by his or her mental health disorder, so always put the person first. For example: Suzy has bipolar disorder. Suzy is not bipolar.

5. Educate those around you about mental illness and the impact of stigma. If you feel comfortable, encourage an open conversation about mental health with specific communities on your campus. Talk to groups, faculty, staff and other students about what “stigma” means and how to work together to challenge that stigma in your communities.

So #stigmafighters, can we count on you this National Day Without Stigma to take action to end discrimination? To educate others about mental health? To speak up, reach out and ask for help? To be the best #stigmafighter you can be?