There are many stressors associated with being labeled or identified as a mental health services user.

There are many stressors associated with being labeled or identified as a mental health services user.

Police should help people with mental illnesses because they have power and responsibility to care for the safety of the public, as well as serving as protection for disabled citizens –including those with mental illnesses

Police should help people with mental illnesses because they have power and responsibility to care for the safety of the public, as well as serving as protection for disabled citizens –including those with mental illnesses

Law enforcement officers are coming into increasing contact with people with mental illnesses who are receiving inadequate or no psychiatric treatment in the community

Law enforcement officers are coming into increasing contact with people with mental illnesses who are receiving inadequate or no psychiatric treatment in the community

College students with mental illnesses don’t seek help because of the powerful and detrimental stigma that accompanies mental illness.

It is estimated that about 86% of students with mental illnesses withdraw from college before obtaining their degrees, compared to the 45% withdrawal rate of the general student population.  Unfortunately, many students experiencing mental health problems don’t seek help because of the powerful and detrimental stigma that accompanies mental illness.

Stigma is a stressor that has the potential to deprive individuals with a mental illness the opportunity to experience full inclusion and success within the community at large.

Stigma is a stressor that has the potential to deprive individuals with a mental illness the opportunity to experience full inclusion and success within the community at large.

Many individuals with mental illness isolate themselves from the rest of the world because stigma prohibits them from seeking the help they desperately need

Many individuals with mental illness isolate themselves from the rest of the world because stigma prohibits them from seeking the help they desperately need

Mental Illness is a medical condition that can affect any person’s brain and cause difficulties in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning regardless of age, race, gender, or social status

Mental Illness is a medical condition that can affect any person’s brain and cause difficulties in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning regardless of age, race, gender, or social status

People suffering from mental illness are among the most stigmatized, discriminated against, marginalized, disadvantaged and vulnerable members of our society

People suffering from mental illness are among the most stigmatized, discriminated against, marginalized, disadvantaged and vulnerable members of our society

Stigmas create barriers for people with a mental illness by assuming that they are not competent enough or able to do what “normal” people can do.

Stigmas create barriers for people with a mental illness by assuming that they are not competent enough or able to do what “normal” people can do.