Resource Organizations

Empowerment Initiatives
Empowerment Initiatives is a consumer-run nonprofit organization that seeks to empower individuals with mental disorders to achieve their goals. Through their peer mentor services, they provide support to individuals with mental health challenges and group activities that help individuals build social skills and connect with community resources. Also, the Empowerment Initiative Web site includes a media guide with suggestions on language to use, and not to use, when reporting on mental disorders.

The Empowerment Network
The Empowerment Network is a collaborative effort of Omaha, NE residents, community organizations, faith communities, government agencies, and other local groups and organizations working to improve their community. The focus of this network is to address disparities that exist within key systems such as employment, education, health, media, and other key community components that impact the quality of life for individuals and families in the Omaha region. The Network identifies gaps that are not served, identifies partners that can fill the need, and then encourages or initiates collaborations to promote progress.

National Wellness Institute
The National Wellness Institute, Inc. (NWI) provides wellness professionals with current health promotion and wellness- related resources and services for professional growth. Some of the continuing education and professional development programs provided through the NWI include monthly webinars, NWI certifications, and current wellness news in the form of press releases, newsfeeds, and podcasts.

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
VVA is an organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the full range of issues important to Vietnam veterans, creating a new identity for this generation of veterans, and changing public perception of Vietnam veterans. The Veterans Health Council, a program of VVA, serves as an information source for Vietnam veterans and veterans of more recent wars; it aims to ensure that veterans and their families are aware of health issues and available military benefits, to educate providers and educational institutions about health issues associated with military service, and to support veterans' healthcare initiatives.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)
IAVA is the country's first and largest nonprofit organization working to improve the lives of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans and their families. IAVA is dedicated to educating the public about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; advocating on behalf of those who have served; and fostering a community for troops, veterans, and their families.

Vets4Vets
"Vets4Vets is an organization dedicated to using peer support to help Iraq- and Afghanistan-era veterans heal from the psychological injuries of war. The organization's primary goal is to help these veterans understand the value of peer support and to encourage them to regularly use peer support to express their emotions, manage their challenges, and ease their reintegration into society. "

See Change: The National Mental Health Stigma Reduction Partnership
"See Change is Ireland's new national partnership working to bring about positive change in public attitudes and behavior and to reduce discrimination toward people with mental health problems. The partnership recently launched a public service announcement campaign."

Time to Change
Time to Change is England's most ambitious program to end discrimination faced by people who experience mental health problems. With 35 projects led by Mind and Rethink, the program is backed by international evidence on what works and has at its heart people with direct experience with mental health problems.

BeyondBlue
This nonprofit organization works to increase the ability of Australian society to prevent and respond effectively to depression.

Together
Founded in 1879, Together is the United Kingdom's longest serving mental health charity. The organization focuses on supporting people in their recovery from serious mental health problems.

Real Warriors Campaign
The Real Warriors Campaign is a program of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. It promotes the reintegration of returning service members with their families and communities.

blueSCI
This UK-based organization focuses on providing a variety of services, supports, and opportunities to assist individuals experiencing mental health problems in developing a sense of purpose and direction, developing healthy relationships with others, and achieving their personal goals and potential. This is achieved through a range of creative opportunities and practical advice related to the person's aspirations as part of their recovery.

One in Five: Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Illness
1 in 5: Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Illness is an educational anti-stigma activity which includes a documentary produced in 2006 by the Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority in Michigan. The documentary, featuring mental health consumers, provides an opportunity for the general public to learn about the lives of these individuals and to learn about the misconceptions, myths, and stigma associated with mental illnesses. Mark Leffler
Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority
500 Hancock
Saginaw, MI 48602-4224
Phone: 1-800-258-8678
E-mail: mleffler@sccmha.org

" You KNOW Me" Alaska Anti-Stigma Campaign
The You KNOW Me Alaska anti-stigma campaign was developed in 2005 by the Alaska Mental Health Trust and Alaskan consumer advocacy boards. It is a statewide initiative aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination, promoting support for treatment and services, and increasing public awareness of the issues and challenges faced by individuals, families, and communities who experience mental illnesses and other disabilities. Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
Delisa Culpepper, Chief Operating Officer
3745 Community Park Loop, Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone: 907-269-7960
E-mail: delisa_culpepper@revenue.state.ak.us

SANE StigmaWatch
SANE StigmaWatch, an initiative of the national mental health charity, SANE Australia, monitors the Australian media to ensure accurate and respectful representation of mental illnesses. It does this through monitoring, correcting, and logging media misrepresentation of mental illnesses. SANE Australia
P.O. Box 226
South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia
E-mail: info@sane.org

In Our Own Voice
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
Phone: 703-524-7600
E-mail: saraho@nami.org
In Our Own Voice, a program of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is a unique informational outreach program, that offers insight into the recovery that is possible for people with severe mental illnesses. The program aims "to meet the need for consumer-run education initiatives, to set a standard for quality education about mental illness from those who have been there, to offer genuine work opportunities for consumers, to encourage self-confidence and self-esteem in presenters, and to focus on recovery and the message of hope."

Nothing To Hide: Mental Illness in the Family Program
Family Diversity Projects
P.O. Box 1246
Amherst, MA 01004
Phone: 413-256-0502
E-mail: info@familydiv.org
Nothing To Hide: Mental Illness in the Family is a touring photo exhibit that was developed by the Family Diversity Project, a nonprofit educational organization based in Amherst, MA. The exhibit, which debuted in 1999?2000, presents a collection of 20 museum-quality photographs and the text of interviews that tell poignant stories of courageous individuals and their families whose lives are affected by mental illness. The exhibit also is available in book form, featuring portraits and stories of 44 families who defy the stigma of mental illness by speaking candidly about their lives.

Stigmabusters
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Stigmabusters
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
E-mail: smarch@nami.org
NAMI StigmaBusters is a network of dedicated advocates across the country and around the world who seek to fight inaccurate and hurtful representations of mental illness. StigmaBusters speak out and challenge stereotypes and educate society about the reality of mental illness.

StigmaBusters
NAMI
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
Phone: (703) 524-7600
Fax: (703) 524-9094
TDD: (703) 516-7227
Member Services: (888) 999-NAMI (6264)
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) monitors and protests negative representations of people with mental illnesses in the print, broadcast, advertising, and entertainment media industries. People are notified about programs and campaigns that contain hurtful and damaging messages about mental illness through e-mail alerts and are encouraged to contact media personnel to oppose these messages.

Mental Health America
2000 N. Beauregard Street, 6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone: 800-969-6642
Mental Health America (formerly known as the National Mental Health Association) is the country?s leading nonprofit dedicated to helping ALL people live mentally healthier lives. With our more than 320 affiliates nationwide, they represent a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation ? everyday and in times of crisis.

Stigma Watch
Mental Health America
2000 N. Beauregard Street, 6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone: 703-684-7722
Fax: 703-684-5968
Toll free: 800-969-6642
TTY Line: 800-433-5959
The National Mental Health Association?s Stigma Watch program tracks news and entertainment coverage of mental health issues for fairness and accuracy. Their goal is to correct and prevent stigmatizing advertising, television and radio programming, and print features.

Palmetto Media Watch
Sue Perry
South Carolina Department of Mental Health
Phone: 803-898-8582
The Palmetto Media Watch Program is a public education initiative of the South Carolina Department of Mental Health to help the media accurately and fairly represent people with mental illnesses

The National Stigma Clearinghouse
The National Stigma Clearinghouse was created to track negative stereotypes of mental illnesses and to provide information about fighting prejudice to concerned activists. The goal of the Clearinghouse is to change public attitudes about people who have mental illnesses.
245 Eighth Ave #213
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-255-4411
E-mail: stigmanet@webtv.net

Entertainment Industries Council
A non-profit organization founded in 1983 by leaders in the entertainment industry to provide information, awareness and understanding of major health and social issues among the entertainment industries and to audiences at large.
EIC West Coast
Production & Marketing
2600 West Olive Street, Suite 574
Burbank, CA 91505
Phone: 818-333-5001
E-mail: eic@eiconline.org

The Carter Center
The Carter Center focuses on mental health policy issues through four strategic goals: to increase worldwide public awareness about mental health and mental illness, and to stimulate local actions to address those issues; to achieve equity for mental health care comparable to other health care; advancing promotion, prevention, and early intervention services for children and their families, and to reduce the stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses.
The Carter Center
One Copenhill
453 Freedom Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30307
Phone: 404-420-5156
E-mail: carterweb@emory.edu

Rosalyn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism
The Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism program, created in 1996, is part of a national effort to reduce negative attitudes and discrimination associated with mental illnesses. The fellowship program aims to increase accurate reporting on mental health issues; help journalists produce high-quality work that reflects an understanding of mental health issues through exposure to well-established resources in the field; and develop a cadre of better-informed print and electronic journalists.
Rebecca G. Palpant, M.S., Senior Progam Associate
Mental Health Program, The Carter Center
One Copenhill
453 Freedom Parkway
Atlanta, Georgia 30307
Phone: 404-420-5165
E-mail: ccmhp@emory.edu

Movie Monday
Begun in 1993 by a mental health consumer, Movie Monday is a Canadian based weekly film series offered in the auditorium of a psychiatric hospital. The series is designed for people with mental illnesses, their families, and the general public. It features a mix of films to educate people and break down the stigma of mental illness, addiction, and other subjects.
Bruce Saunders
Phone: 902-595-FLIC (595-3542)
E-mail: bruces@islandnet.com

Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry Center for Mental Health and Media
The mission of the Center for Mental Health and Media is to save lives, comfort and educate families, and to change the public's outdated and inaccurate perceptions of the nature, causes and treatment of mental illness. To do this, they connect some of the most powerful forces in today's society &mdash the mass media &mdash with one of the most pressing health and economic issues in both the industrialized and underdeveloped worlds: mental health.
15 Parkman Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-726-8471
E-mail: info@mentalhealthandmedia.org
Massachusetts General Hospital Public Affairs Office
Phone: 617-726-2206

Mental Health Media (UK organization)
Mental Health Media
356 Holloway Road
London, England
N7 6PA
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7700 8171
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7686 0959
For individual staff email addresses please see the MHM Staff page. For general Mental Health Media utilizes all forms of media to reduce discrimination and stigma associated with mental illness and learning difficulties. They provide training on how to reach media and get your messages across.

Open the Doors
Open the Doors is an international program that was developed by the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) in 1996. Created to fight the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with schizophrenia, the program helps dispel myths and misunderstandings about the nature, causes, and treatment of the illness.

What is psychomedia?
This Web site and accompanying YouTube video document psychomedia, the detrimental effect caused by negative depictions of mental health problems in film and news media.

Mindframe Media
Project Manager - Jaelea Skehan
Office phone: 02 4924 6727
Mobile phone: 0402 292 005
A program out of Australia, this resource for media professionals ?is part of a national media strategy developed in collaboration with the media industry, mental health promotion and suicide prevention experts, policy makers and consumer and career representatives ? to enhance the community?s ability to take action against media reporting that stigmatises mental illness. ? This resource is designed to help media professionals continue to report suicide and mental illness responsibly and accurately and to ensure that ?reporting of mental illness is based on accurate information, challenges stereotypes and myths about mental illness and encourages people with mental health concerns to seek help.?