Last Monday, three leaders of the Grand Challenge to eliminate the stigma around mental health and substance use disorders spoke at the American Psychiatric Association in San Francisco national convention. I had the good fortune to be in the front row.
In the picture from left to right are Saul Levin (at the podium), CEO Christena Huntsman Durham and David Huntsman of the Huntsman Mental Health Foundation, Mark Rapaport, CEO of the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, and Monica Taylor-Desir from the Mayo Clinic. It was a general and exciting session, especially to hear the questions. The questioners were so passionate, eager to collaborate, and solution-oriented.
Very soon, the Ad Council will launch the first of its sites open to the general public to share toolkits on fighting stigma – I will let you know as soon as it is live. Also, our website StopStigmaTogether.org is up, and partners can now register (no fees involved). Our committees will launch shortly on policy, communications, Justice Equity Diversion Inclusion, Financial Strategies, and more.
As we head from spring to summer, I see hope coming in the form of concerted action on fronts that unite us. Do you have news to share with your partners in the week ahead?
“There is no health without mental health; mental health is too important to be left to the professionals alone, and mental health is everyone’s business.” – Vikram Patel.
