An invitation to write for Stigma Fighters
I would like to invite you to take part in a special 5-week series to raise awareness about mental illness.
The Schizophrenia Collective: There’s Nothing We Can’t Do – Supporting People With Schizophrenia
by Rebecca Chamaa Schizophrenia Awareness Week is May 20 – 27th. Here is a condensed list of things you can do to support people with this brain disease: Be aware that some people with schizophrenia like to have their illness talked about, or written about in person first language. For example, I prefer to be [...]
The Schizophrenia Collective: Reducing Stigma Through Fashion and Art
by Allie Burke I met Michelle Hammer years ago through a mutual passion to reduce stigma associated with schizophrenia. I remember feeling so awed and inspired by her because she was so artistic and brilliant. Not only did I respect her for what she was doing but I genuinely wanted to be her friend because [...]
The Schizophrenia Collective: The Struggles of Schizophrenia
by Lamont Derrickson The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes schizophrenia as "a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, the symptoms can be very [...]
The Schizophrenia Collective: The Unique Nature of Schizophrenia
Dear Stigma Fighters Community, I want to say thank you for welcoming me into your hearts to open up about living with schizophrenia. That is not always the case – I have lost many friends simply by saying I am Schizophrenic, and though schizophrenia is not always the most talked about disorder, even in most [...]
Schizophrenia, Stigma, and the Pressure to Tell Everyone About It
by Allie Burke Spoiler alert: you don’t have to if you don’t want to. I happened to be scrolling Twitter yesterday and came across a tweet that suggested something about mental health and advocacy that I hadn’t ever considered before. […]
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Chelsea Mersereau
As I sit here writing this we are on night three of sitting in the ER with my 12-year-old son Judah, waiting for a bed in the peds psych unit. There are 5 beds in this hospital unit and 7 kids waiting, 6 of them are ahead of my son. The average wait in the [...]
Stigma Fighters: Dann Alexander
Cuts to Mental Health Services – Risky Business With more mental health awareness comes more education. In an ideal world this should translate into more accessibility to more services. Canada prides itself on being a country with supposed universal access to healthcare. We are lucky here to have it. No argument there. Canadians do pay [...]
Stigma Fighters : Matthew Eaton
Is admitting being a victim of child sexual abuse courageous? There are times I doubt this power as I look at myself in the mirror. I am still remarkably human. The hair fades in color and quantity. The waist still expands as if my stomach had a mind of its own. I still have flaws, [...]