Mental Illness and Stigma What is a mental illness? Mental illnesses refer to disorders generally characterized by dysregulation of mood, thought, and/or behavior. Mental illness encompasses a variety of disorders The Morris County Stigma‐Free Communities Initiative is a county‐wide ranging from depression program which aims to eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness and anxiety to substance and substance use disorders. We are dedicated to raising awareness of and alcohol use disorder and these illnesses by creating an environment where affected individuals are bipolar disorder. Mental supported in their efforts to achieve wellness and recovery. illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion or income. What is stigma? The World Health Organization ranks mental health conditions, including Stigma is a mark of disgrace alcohol and substance use disorders, as the leading cause of disability in which results from the the United States and Canada, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. judgment by others. When 1 in 4 adults experience a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year an individual is labelled by (approximately 61.5 million Americans) and 1 in 17 adults live with a their illness they experience serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Yet more judgment and prejudice. than half will not seek treatment. Why? Stigma brings experiences and feelings of shame, The primary reason individuals fail to seek the help they need is due to the embarrassment, distress, hopelessness and reluctance stigma associated with the disease of mental illness. Main reasons cited are to seek or accept help. As a shame and fear of judgment from friends, family and co‐workers. Such result, stigma is the primary judgment is often rooted in a lack of knowledge or training. It is our goal to reason individuals do not disseminate information and foster a stigma‐free environment where seek help when they experience symptoms of people are free from judgment and can get the help they need to recover mental illness. from disease. For more information on the disease of mental illness, visit
Mental Illness and Stigma What is a mental illness? Mental illnesses refer to disorders generally characterized by dysregulation of mood, thought, and/or behavior. Mental illness encompasses a variety of disorders ranging from depression and anxiety to substance and alcohol use disorder and bipolar disorder. Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion or income. What is stigma? Stigma is a mark of disgrace which results from the judgment by others. When an individual is labelled by their illness they experience judgment and prejudice. Stigma brings experiences and feelings of shame, embarrassment, distress, hopelessness and reluctance to seek or accept help. As a result, stigma is the primary reason individuals do not seek help when they experience symptoms of mental illness. The Morris County Stigma‐Free Communities Initiative is a county‐wide program which aims to eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness and substance use disorders. We are dedicated to raising awareness of these illnesses by creating an environment where affected individuals are supported in their efforts to achieve wellness and recovery. The World Health Organization ranks mental health conditions, including alcohol and substance use disorders, as the leading cause of disability in the United States and Canada, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. 1 in 4 adults experience a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year (approximately 61.5 million Americans) and 1 in 17 adults live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Yet more than half will not seek treatment. Why? The primary reason individuals fail to seek the help they need is due to the stigma associated with the disease of mental illness. Main reasons cited are shame and fear of judgment from friends, family and co‐workers. Such judgment is often rooted in a lack of knowledge or training. It is our goal to disseminate information and foster a stigma‐free environment where people are free from judgment and can get the help they need to recover from disease. For more information on the disease of mental illness, visit
Stigma-free-toolkit-FAITH-BASED-ORGNIZATIONS.docx