Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
March 9, 2007, Vol. 07-47

Mental Health News You Can Use...
February 2007
Supplement

Online Resources

What A Difference A Friend Makes

http://whatadifference.samhsa.gov

In December 2006, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with the Ad Council, launched a national public service advertising (PSA) awareness campaign designed to decrease the negative attitudes that surround mental illness and encourage young adults to support their friends who are living with mental health problems. The National Anti-Stigma Campaign (NASC) responds to the first step of the Federal Action Agenda for mental health transformation by initiating a national campaign to reduce stigma, increase awareness, and promote recovery from mental health problems. The first round of the Campaign focuses on young adults between the ages of 18-25 since this age group has the highest prevalence of mental health problems but also is the age group least likely to seek support. The NASC seeks to encourage, educate, and inspire young adults to support their friends who are having mental health problems, and to emphasize that friendships and peer support are essential to recovery.

The Campaign features multiple television and radio PSAs that have been distributed nationally to over 28,000 media markets. Print and outdoor advertising is also in development. The NASC has also created a campaign brochure and a report on recently gathered data about the attitudes of this age group and the general population regarding stigma, and distributed a resource guide entitled, "Developing a Stigma Reduction Initiative," that gives detailed information on how to mount a State or local stigma reduction campaign. The NASC is also partnering with many States and local communities to use the campaign materials in their State or local campaigns. Information about these partnerships and how you can partner with the NASC, the NASC TV and radio PSAs, and many additional materials are available via the NASC Web site at www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov or SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center at 1-800-789-2647.

About the ADS Center

SAMHSA's Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma (ADS Center) helps people design, implement, and operate programs that reduce discrimination and stigma associated with mental illnesses. With the most up-to-date research and information, the Center helps individuals, organizations, and governments counter such discrimination and stigma in the community, in the workplace, and in the media.

Subscribe to receive this update by sending an e-mail to promoteacceptance@samhsa.hhs.gov, or by calling an ADS Center representative at 800-540-0320. To comment on the materials included in this update, please send e-mail to promoteacceptance@samhsa.hhs.gov, or write a letter to Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma Associated with Mental Illness; Informational Updates; 11420 Rockville Pike; Rockville, MD 20852. To unsubscribe from this distribution list using the subscribed e-mail account, click here. To unsubscribe your address from a different e-mail account, send a message to Majordomo@listserve.shs.net with the following command in the message body: unsubscribe stopstigma [Your E-mail Address].

SAMHSA Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma
http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov

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The Center for Mental Health Services is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.