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A Publication of Community Mental Health for Central Michigan Visit us online at www.cmhcm.org June 2008 A WORD FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR When Martin Luther King Jr. Unfortunately, the media delivered his now famous “I often reinforces stigma held Have A Dream” speech, he by the public. addressed racial discrimination in the United We hear much about States and his dream of recovery and system hope for a better world. He transformation in the delivered his speech as a delivery of mental health part of the March on services, but all of these Washington in August of efforts can be seriously compromised by stigma. In 1963. It is cited as a Linda Kaufmann, ACSW LMSW defining moment in civil this newsletter you will hear Executive Director rights history. Much of what of additional he said was and is true “walks” (marches) and healthy, productive lives about discrimination for any sharing experiences as ways and progress in their path reason! to address discrimination to recovery. and highlight anti-stigma Individuals who have a activities. One small area of mental illness have also understanding is the experienced discrimination. The Substance Abuse and importance of using person- The discrimination and Mental Health Services first language. People with stigma have very real Agency at the national level mental illness are people impacts. Stigma can inhibit has sponsored an anti- first. For example, using someone from seeking stigma campaign entitled “person with schizophrenia” treatment that could aid “Mental Illness: What a instead of “a schizophrenic” them in their recovery. Difference A Friend Makes” is a way to focus on the Stigma can have substantial to encourage young adults person, not the illness. effect on self-esteem and to support their friends who Individuals with mental feelings of being are living with mental health illness are complex persons, disempowered. problems. There are the same as everyone else, additional anti-stigma and using their illness to Individuals with mental campaigns in many areas. describe them is not illness experience stigma productive and seriously and discrimination in The solution lies in education and society’s misses the value each NEWS & VIEWS seeking housing and person offers to our employment, in schools, ability to recognize that mental health issues are communities. their community, and even sometimes from the mental similar to physical health issues. With today’s “Mental illness is nothing to health system itself. In be ashamed of, but stigma addition, stigma frequently treatments and understanding of mental and bias shame us all.” influences people as they nd illness we expect individuals Bill Clinton, 42 U.S. interact with persons with President 1993-2001. mental illness. with mental illness to lead Page 2 NEWS & VIEWS Walk a Mile in My Shoes - Mt. Pleasant illnesses and that making fun function in society.” of someone who is struggling Michael House shared Walk participants make the is not funny. that he was an alcoholic public aware of mental health issues 3. To make legislators aware since 1984 and his bipolar of issues important to mental illness went undiagnosed A group of 40 people health consumers. Current because people attributed his connected with Community funding for community behavior to alcoholism. He Mental Health for Central mental health should not be explained that he self Michigan (CMHCM) reduced and legislation medicated with alcohol but it participated in the Walk a needs to be passed that is “is only a temporary fix. It Mile in My Shoes event in Mt. helpful to persons with only lasts a few hours.” He Pleasant on Friday, May 16, mental illnesses. Studebaker nearly drank himself to death 2008. The group walked stressed to the crowd, “Your and finally three and a half from Island Park to the voice matters!” years ago he quit. He is Korean War Memorial near Scott Covach, a involved with community the downtown area. The participant, said, “this walk mental health and no longer walk that started at 10 a.m. makes people aware that we self-medicates. He has a had three main purposes are people too. Just because job, bought a new house, says Joel Studebaker, we are disabled doesn’t obtained a driver’s license, Clubhouse Manager of the mean we are unabled.” and today he lives a normal Summit Clubhouse in Mt. Frank Leineke, another life. Pleasant. participant, explains At the end of the rally 1. To make the community awareness is not only for the Joel Studebaker encouraged aware of the struggles general public with healthy the participants to, “keep persons with mental illness minds, but it is for people building on recovery. face everyday. Studebaker who might be suffering from Continue your route to said the stigma that persons depression or other mental recovery. Lean on supports. with mental illness are illnesses and are afraid to Call a professional. Do violent is unfounded. They come forward for help. whatever you can” to are, “no more violent than Leineke says, “Help is continue on the road to the general population,” and available at 301 Crapo,” the recovery. are more likely to be the mental health clinic in Mt. “victims of violence.” Pleasant. Through this help, Written by Mark Oliver 2. To show that people make Leineke explains, “People fun of persons with mental can return to work and NEWS & VIEWS Page 3 Walk a Mile in My Shoes - Lansing Nineteen people representing the six counties that comprise Community Mental Health for Central Michigan made the trek down to Lansing for the Walk a Mile in My Shoes event on May 14, 2008. Every county in the state of Michigan was represented at the event that was held on the steps of the capitol. Each county was given an opportunity to make a statement about mental health issues at an open microphone. Each statement was followed by a “Walk a Mile in My Shoes!” cheer from the crowd. The weather was uncooperative with periodic outbursts of rain, but it did not discourage the hundreds of people gathered before the capitol. The rally was held to make law makers aware of mental health issues when passing legislation. Crowd and Weather at rally Dwane Hight, a Peer Support Specialist and one of the walkers from CMHCM, commented, “What blew me away was that even with the miserable weather people stayed to the very end.” He added, “Anything we can do to draw attention to stigma can’t hurt and hopefully it will help.” Elsie Gorman, a member of the Consumer Action Committee that meets in Mt. Pleasant, was impressed by the enthusiasm of the rally participants. “The rain didn’t dampen people’s spirits. I appreciated what each person said from each county. Stigma stinks! People lose everything they have before getting help because of stigma. It’s easier to turn heads before stepping in and doing something.” Written by Mark Oliver Consumer Action Committee Seeks Grant to Eliminate Stigma for programs, events, and battling stigma gives people activities dealing with stigma. hope. It is hoped that it can have a Kathie Swan, Deputy big impact on the public Director for Services and the through the possible use of current chair of the CAC, TV, billboard, movie, and read a statement about other advertising. Another stigma authored by Coleen Bryon Buetler and Aaron suggestion was to invite Jasper, a consumer advocate Young attend the CAC meet- celebrity guest speakers who working out of Lansing, ing to discuss applying for have battled the stigma of “Stigma is the number one Stigma Grant mental illness themselves barrier to recovery and The Consumer Action and have them speak on the receiving mental health care. Committee (CAC) is applying issue to the public or make a Stigma has many forms and for a grant that would fund video documentary with exists widely in both the efforts to battle and testimonies of consumers of system and the community. overcome stigma. The grant mental health and their The best way to combat and matching funds totaling experiences with stigma. stigma is through $275,000 over a three year Although nothing is set in interpersonal connections. period would be used to pay concrete, just the process of (continued on page 4) Page 4 NEWS & VIEWS ( continued from page 3) In other words, hearing the voices and stories of individuals who have directly experi- enced mental health problems is the best way to change and alter people’s attitudes about mental illness.” Webster’s Dictionary defines stigma as “a mark of disgrace or discredit.” That pretty much says it all. If you are disgraced and discredited not for what you have done but for who you are, that hurts and goes to the core of who you are because there is nothing you have done wrong. People’s attitudes are hard to change, but we shall overcome, and we will do it with the character and grace that is in each and every consumer of mental health services. Written by Mark Oliver Stomp Out Stigma at CMU and in the Community Emily Parsons started an organization called Active Minds on the campus of Central Michigan University (CMU) in Emily Parsons Stomps Out November of 2007. It is affiliated with the national Active Stigma at Central Michigan Minds organization whose purpose is to develop and support University student-run mental health awareness, education, and advocacy groups on college campuses. Parsons says, “I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder three years ago, but showed severe symptoms of depression and mania for the year prior to the diagnosis. Mental illness is a constant battle.” Parsons helped organize the stomp out stigma 5K run / 2 mile walk on April 6, 2008, on the campus of CMU.

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