Smart Talk: Mental illness awareness and stigmas

What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, March 27, 2014:

One in five Americans suffers from some form of mental illness. Fear, rejection, discrimination, and stigmatization prevent nearly two-thirds of individuals with a diagnosable mental illness from seeking the proper treatment.

Often the mentally ill aren’t aware or aren’t confident that they can recover.

Stigmas and mental illness go hand in hand. Stigmas create poor and often misconstrued judgments of individuals suffering from mental illness. Stigmas are often associated with a lack of understanding and lack of education.

Stigmas and lack of awareness lead to inadequate medical coverage, violence, prejudice, and discrimination against individuals battling mental illness; therefore leaving them feeling helpless, rejected, and at risk for suicide.

How do we change the stigmas against the mentally ill and encourage them to seek help? What resources are available? How is the community getting involved to promote awareness of mental illness and its stigmas?

On Thursday’s Smart Talk, we’ll answer these questions and discuss mental illness with Julia Mallory, Executive Director of The Mental Health Association of the Capital Region and Lynn Keltz, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers’ Association.

For more information on mental health illness, awareness, or ways to seek help visit www.mahcr.org or www.pmhca.org

Health insurance is available for those suffering from a mental illness through the Affordable Care Act. Visit the Marketplace at www.healthcare.gov

Listen to the program:

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