Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
November 2, 2006, Vol. 06-108B

Archived Teleconference Recording: NIMBYism – Not In My Back Yard

Online Booklet:
Combating NIMBYism in Providing Housing to People Who Have Mental Illnesses

The lack of decent, safe, affordable, and integrated housing is one of the most significant barriers to full participation in community life for people with serious mental illnesses. One of the biggest obstacles to safe and affordable housing is community opposition to housing or NIMBYism, when people say, "Not in my back yard!" Even people who are sympathetic to the idea that mental health consumers need appropriate housing often do not want them in their neighborhood. The SAMHSA Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma Associated with Mental Illness (ADS Center) is working to counter stigma and has resources that provide information on how to address NIMBYism:

1. NIMBYism - Not In My Back Yard is an archived teleconference training that offers information about NIMBYism and how to defeat it. To download the complete presentation and listen to the audio recording, visit the ADS Center Web site at http://www.stopstigma.samhsa.gov/archtel.htm. Instructions for play and download are listed on the Web site.
2. Combating NIMBYism in Providing Housing to People Who Have Mental Illnesses is an online booklet that provides advice on overcoming NIMBYism and gaining long-term community acceptance for housing for mental health consumers. It's available online at http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/publications/combatingNIMBY.aspx.

Please use these online resources to address NIMBYism in your community!

We welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions: promoteacceptance@samhsa.hhs.gov

The SAMHSA ADS Center is a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services.

About the SAMHSA 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 ADS Center helps individuals, organizations, and governments counter such discrimination and stigma in the community, in the workplace, and in the media.

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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.