Download West Mifflin Area High School Stand Up to Stigma

West Mifflin Area High School
Stand Together Committee
presents…
Stand Up to Stigma Week
Who we are…
Standtogether.pittsburghcares.org
Our Goal
To provide learning experiences to reduce
negative attitudes, beliefs, and social
distance between youth with behavioral
health challenges and their peers.
What is Stigma?
Stigma describes the negative perceptions and
stereotypes associated with mental health disorders in
our society, which often prevents people from getting
help. Stigma reinforces inaccurate perceptions of people
with mental health disorders as weak, unintelligent, and
sometimes dangerous.
Stigma is shame.
Shame causes silence.
And silence hurts us all.
What is mental health?
Much like how we think about our
physical health, “mental health”
describes our psychological
wellness.
Sign our Pledge at Lunch to Stop Stigma
School Pledge: Our School pledges to create a safe and
welcoming environment for students and parents who
have behavioral health challenges.
Individual Pledge:
• I commit myself to ending stigma towards youth or adults who
have a mental illness or substance use disorder by educating
myself and others about these disorders.
• I will not ridicule those with a mental illnesses or substance use
disorder.
• I will not use stigmatizing language like “psycho”, “mental”,
“schizo” to refer to anyone whether that person has an illness or
not.
• If someone tells me they are having suicidal thoughts, I will
take this seriously and make sure they get the help they need.
• I realize that a mental illness or a substance use disorder is only
a PART of who the person is, but it doesn’t completely define
him/her. I will not judge people by their diagnosis but by who
they are as a whole person.
• I know that caring friends can make all the difference in a
person’s recovery, so I pledge to support others who have or
develop a disorder such as anxiety or depression.
Common Disorders
ADHD-Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Chronic condition where the student has difficulty sustaining
attention, is over active, and shows impulsive behaviors.
These students often struggle with school performance and
sustaining relationships with peers.
ODD- Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Students who consistently lose one’s temper, argues with
adults or refuses to comply with rules, often get angry,
resentful, or vindictive, will deliberately annoy others
Common Disorders Continued…
Anxiety
Excessive and unrealistic worry about everyday
tasks or events, or may be specific to certain
objects or rituals. Can be specific (objects) or
social (interacting with others)
OCD-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Illness that traps people in an endless cycle of
repetitive thoughts or behaviors. They have
distressing thoughts, fears, or images that they
cannot control.
Common Disorders Continued…
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
This can occur after a person has seen or
experienced a traumatic event that involved a
threat, injury, or death.
Major Depressive Disorder
A constant sense of hopelessness. It is difficult to
work, study, sleep, or enjoy the company of
others. This can be tricky to treat because often
times the person with MDD will cover up
symptoms & not want to be a burden on others.
Common Disorders Continued…
Bi-Polar Disorder (Manic Depressive Disorder)
Associated with severe mood swings that range from
extreme lows of depression to highs of mania and high
energy. The brain deals with a chemical imbalance that
can occur a few times a year, a week, or daily.
Schizophrenia
Group of several brain disorders which people
will interpret reality abnormally. This can result in
hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. This is
not a split personality disorder.
Celebrities and Mental Illness
Chris Brown-Bi Polar Disorder
Jessica Alba-OCD
Leonardo DiCapro-OCD
Demi Lovato-Bi Polar, Eating Disorder Ben Stiller- Bi- Polar Disorder
Lee Thompson Young-Bi-Polar/suicide
Jim Carrey-Depression
Stop the Shame and Silence
Silence leads to…
Isolation
Drug Use
Self Medicating
Physical Violence
Self Harm
Suicide
Suicide is the SECOND leading
cause of death for ages 10-24
Each day in our nation there are
an average of over 5,400 suicide
attempts by young people
grades 7-12
4 out of 5 teens who attempt
suicide have given clear warning
signs
Peers are the most important people in a teen’s life
*Listen
*Get the person help through a counselor, parent, or
faculty
*Take threats seriously
*Spend time with the person so they do not feel alone
*Do not ignore warning signs