Did you know that one in five Americans are affected by a mental health condition?  Yet mental health is still not a topic that most people want to discuss.  Why?  The short answer: stigma.  Stigma can come from an external or internal source, but either way it creates an atmosphere of shame and judgement.  A mental health condition isn’t just about having normal ups and downs in life; it is a medical issue that affects the emotional and mental well-being of a person.  It isn’t the fault of the person who suffers from it, and it is time for us to turn toward mental health and address it with the same compassion and kindness you would give someone with another medical illness such as cancer.  The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) suggests three steps to address stigma: educate yourself about mental illness to dispel stereotypes you may have; see the person as they are, not as the condition they have, and offer them kindness; and take action to advocate for better policies to address mental illness in your community.  For more information and/or to get involved, go to this link: https://www.nami.org/stigmafree

To get support for you or a family member, you may contact the Employee Assistance Program at our toll free number of 800-678-6265 for five complimentary counseling sessions or email eap@osumc.edu.