Take Action

There are many ways to address stigma and discrimination. Get involved in an event or plan your own event, activity, or program. The SAMHSA ADS Center offers exciting and free training events throughout the year that can help you get started. You also can search our online library for resources and materials to help you. Here areother places that can help you start to reduce stigma:

• Tips on Taking Action
• Organizing a Campaign or Program
• Planning Anti-stigma Events and Strategies

Tips on Taking Action

The following provide advice on fighting discrimination and stigma:

• Developing A Stigma Reduction Initiative (and in PDF format) (Center for Mental Health Services)
• Challenging stereotypes: An Action Guide (and in PDF format) (Center for Mental Health Services)
• Fighting Stigma (National Mental Health Consumers' Self-help Clearinghouse) [PDF version]
  Also available in Spanish as Combatiendo El Estigma [PDF version]

Organizing a Campaign or Program

The following provide information and advice on organizing an anti-stigma campaign or program:

• Train the Trainer: A beginner's guide to Stamp Out Stigma (Stamp Out Stigma) [PDF Version]
• Successful strategies for recruiting, training, and utilizing volunteers (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) [PDF version]

Planning Anti-stigma Events and Strategies

The following provide information and advice on planning anti-stigma events and educational strategies:

• Mental Health Anti-Stigma Walkathon Development Guide
• Organizing and Operating a Speakers' Bureau (National Mental Health Consumers' Self-help Clearinghouse) [PDF version]
• How to Develop a Consumer-run Newsletter (National Mental Health Consumers' Self-help Clearinghouse) [PDF version]