Standing Up Against Stigma
Real People. Real Stories. Real Hope.
We’re Saying “No” to Stigma
This public awareness campaign is designed to shine a light on the personal stories of people in Bartholomew County who have experienced mental illness. It goes beyond mere photographs, featuring powerful testimonies from local participants who challenge the misconceptions surrounding mental health. By sharing their journeys through their own eyes, these individuals break down stigma and encourage greater understanding, compassion, and hope. They are not just nameless faces or statistics, but everyday people in our community, bravely standing up to change the conversation around mental health.
See Who’s Taking a Stand
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Where there is life, there is hope.
“I can still remember the day I decided to do it. My mind raced and my heart thumped. There was no reasoning. All I wanted to do was sleep and never wake up.”
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Depression can sneak up on you.
“I noticed that I was unhappier than usual, more lethargic, and increasingly prone to decline my friends’ invitations to go out.”
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Pathway to empathy.
“My father shared our family’s history of bipolar disorder with me when I was 17 years old. I was experiencing my first bout of depression and was overwhelmed by the realization of potentially inheriting a mental illness.”
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Ask for help.
“I had my first panic attack in college, where I rushed to the ER thinking I was having trouble breathing.”
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Your battles do not define you.
“My journey began at the age of 13, following the passing of my grandmother. This loss triggered severe PTSD and anxiety, eventually leading to depression.”
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I saw hope for the first time.
“I remember thinking about how much easier it would be if I just jumped and saved everyone the trouble of having to deal with me and my ADHD.”
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Support pathways are crucial.
“Like so many others, I have family and friends who struggle with mental health.”
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Recovery is always possible.
“I went years with undiagnosed ADHD, depression, anxiety, and Substance Use Disorder. Self-medication became my modus operandi because I was living in opposition to my mental health concerns.”
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Intersectionality: where identities and mental health meet.
“In the small town where I grew up, being both Black and gay felt like navigating a maze with no clear path.”
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Healing from loss, grief, and trauma.
“I remember not wanting to be alive anymore. My mental health journey is a bit of a blur now. I remember the revolving door of anxiety, nightmares, and numbness swinging me from day to day.”
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We all have a story.
“When I was 5 years old, my parents opened our home to foster children. I remember learning about the children’s home life and hardships.”
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Dive into wellness, your way.
“As the pandemic was winding down, I noticed my mood was still low and anxiety frequently would appear. Then a friend invited me to swim, and I began to notice calm and joy returning to my life.”
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It's a love journey.
“The stress and pain of separating from my long-term fiancée became too much, and I turned to substances like so many others in high-pressure professions. My addiction spiraled, ultimately leading to the revocation of my nursing license.”
Join The Movement
The Standing Up Against Stigma campaign is 100% funded by SAMHSA in partnership with Mental Health Matters and ASAP Rethinking Wellness.
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