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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stigma is one of the most important problems encountered by people with severe psychiatric disorders. It lowers their self-esteem, contributes to disrupted family relationships and adversely affects their ability to socialise, obtain housing and become employed. Although mental health problems occur in almost every family at some point, people who experience them still meet fear and prejudice from others and are made to feel ashamed and excluded. The stigma and discrimination associated with having a mental illness are often so devastating that they prevent people from seeking help for fear of being labelled.
Stigma can be deeply hurtful and isolating. Learning to live with mental health problems is extremely difficult, particularly when someone experiences the prejudice caused by stigma. Stigma can be used to exclude and marginalize people. It is necessary to confront biased social attitudes in order to reduce the discrimination and stigma of people who are living with mental illness.
Effectively reducing stigma and discrimination requires concerted action by everyone?people with self-experience, relatives and friends, professional groups and civil society?with strong government back up. The aim of SI?s Media Watch project is to help ensure that human dignity is accorded to all those who experience mental health difficulties, that they are not discriminated against, and that they are allowed to reach their potential by coexisting equally in society.
See Joe's Story
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Amnesty.ie |
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Amnesty Internationals vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. Amnesty International undertakes research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights. |
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Focus Ireland |
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Focus Ireland aims to advance the right of people-out-of-home to live in a place they call home through quality services, research, and advocacy.
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European Disablity Forum |
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EDF is a European umbrella organisation representing more than 50 million disabled people in Europe. Its mission is to ensure full access of disabled citizens to fundamental and human rights through their active involvement in policy development and implementation in the European Union.
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Rehink.org |
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Rethink is the largest severe mental illness charity in the UK. As of 2nd July 2002 'Rethink' is the new operating name for the 'National Schizophrenia Fellowship'.
We are dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by severe mental illness, whether they have a condition themselves, care for others who do, or are professionals or volunteers working in the mental health field.
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Phrenz of the Media |
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This site was created by members of the Limerick and Ennis Phrenz support groups. The members of these groups are all people who have experienced mental health difficulties.
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Age Action |
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Age Action Ireland is the national independent organisation on ageing and older people. It acts as a network of organisations and individuals including older people and carers of older people. It is a development agency promoting better policies and services for older people in an ageing society.
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publichealthallianceireland.org |
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The Public Health Alliance(PHAI) is an alliance of non-governmental organisations, statutory bodies, community and voluntary groups, advocacy bodies adn individuals who are committed to work together for a healthier society by improving health and tackling health inequalities. |
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Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Networks |
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GAMIAN is a not-for-profit international organization. It is a nonpolitical and nonsectarian network of organizations and individuals concerned about mental health. Acting as a community, the members of GAMIAN are committed to the empowerment of consumers to seek appropriate professional healthcare treatment for mental illness without fear of social stigma and with the recognition that such appropriate treatment will improve the quality of life of patients, their families, and their communities. GAMIAN is committed to promoting awareness of the constantly evolving knowledge about the causes, consequences, and treatments of mental illness. |
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Sane website |
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Mission
SANE Australia is a national charity helping people affected by mental illness through:
Campaigns
Education
Research
It was founded in 1986 as Schizophrenia Australia Foundation and adopted SANE Australia as a new business name in 1996. ABN 92 006 533 606
The national office and staff are based in Melbourne, Victoria.
SANE Australia is a Public Benevolent Institution with exemption from income tax and is on the ATO Register of Gift-Deductible Recipients.
The organisation has a Board of Directors. Patrons from all States and Territories also lend important support
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Nami.org |
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NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is a grassroots, self-help, support, education, and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with severe mental illnesses. NAMI's efforts focus on support for persons with serious brain disorders and their families; advocacy for nondiscriminatory and equitable federal, state, and private-sector policies; research into the causes, symptoms and treatments for brain disorders; and education to eliminate the pervasive stigma surrounding severe mental illness |
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Irish College of Psychiatrists 'Changing Minds' Campaign |
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The results of a national opinion survey on schizophrenia and five other mental disorders were released on October 7. On that day, The Irish Division of Royal College of Psychiatrists, at simultaneous launches in Dublin and Belfast, launched a four-year Campaign to reduce stigma and discrimination. Changing Minds is a collaborative campaign which includes a variety of professional, patient and voluntary groups |
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www.paveepoint.ie |
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Pavee Point is a partnership of Irish Travellers and settled people working together to improve the lives of Irish Travellers through working towards social justice, solidarity, socio-economic development and human rights. |
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www.nda.ie |
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The National Disability Authority, on behalf of the State, promotes and helps secure the rights of people with disabilities |
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www.seemescotland.org |
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The 'see me' campaign was launched in October 2002 to challenge stigma and discrimination around mental ill-health in Scotland. |
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http://www.openthedoors.com/english/index.html |
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Open The Doors - Fighting against the stigma of Schizophrenia |
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Click here to visit the site |
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www.save.org/ |
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SAVE's Mission is to prevent suicide through public awareness and education, eliminate stigma and serve as a resource to those touched by suicide.
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Headline.ie |
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Headline is Ireland's national media monitoring programme, working to promote responsible and accurate coverage of mental health and suicide related issues within the Irish media. |
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