Brochures and Fact Sheets

Making it Sane: The Story of a Nonprofit Operated by People with Mental Illness
Making it Sane: The Story of a Nonprofit Operated by People with Mental Illness is a 27-minute documentary film created by a community psychologist, Louis Brown, to supplement the public awareness efforts of consumer-run organizations across Kansas.

How to use the media to fight stigma and discrimination (Spanish language version)
This Spanish languge tool kit helps individuals learn how to counteract stigma by working with the media and becoming involved in various anti-stigma initiatives.

The arts-reaching hearts and minds to counter discrimination associated with mental illnesses
An electronic publication discussing how art can be a powerful force in correcting the misperception that people who have mental illnesses lack the same interests and abilities as everyone else.

Reaching across with the arts: A self-help manual for mental health consumers
Reaching Across with the Arts is a resource guide and manual to be used by mental health consumers to explain how to create self-help arts programs and activities as well as how to use creativity in their everyday lives.

A mentally healthy workforce: It's good for business
This booklet provides assistance to employers and companies who are interested in changing the workplace from a mentally unhealthy environment to a healthy one.

Resources, web pages, and internet links for faith communities
List of helpful resources for faith communities and NAMI affiliates which provide resources for persons of faith to help congregations in their understanding of mental illnesses.
Contact information:
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
Phone: (703) 524-7600

1 in 4 households in your church is afraid to tell you this secret
A fact sheet discussing the stigma that surrounds mental illness within faith communities.

Creating caring congregations
A brochure providing basic steps in developing a congregation with a better understanding of mental illness, where individuals with mental illnesses and others are welcomed.

Mental health, mental illness, and healthy aging: A New Hampshire guide for older adults and caregivers
This guidebook was written for older adults with mental health concerns or mental illnesses, and their caregivers and family members. Living with mental health problems can be challenging, and as an individual grows older, further health issues are often encountered. Some references are specific to New Hampshire resources, but the overall themes can be applied universally.

Work as a priority: A resource for employing people who have serious mental illnesses and are homeless
This guidebook is intended to provide both a conceptual and practical foundation to increase employment among people who are homeless and who also have serious mental illnesses.

An advocate?s guide to expanding housing options for people who have mental illnesses
This document provides the basic information needed to begin discussions on various housing options and offers information about how to start a coalition to address housing needs. People who have mental illnesses need a wide variety of housing options and access to an array of support services to retain their housing.

Faith in recovery toolkit
A toolkit developed to aid in the creation of a mental health ministry.

Recovery at work: A guide to implementing effective employment services for people with psychiatric disabilities
This manual will help individuals understand, promote and implement state-of-the-art employment services in their community. The manual explains the differences among employment services and why some are more effective than others.

Maryland rural families speak: About mental health
This article briefly discusses the findings from a study of families in two Maryland counties. It provides insight into the experiences of rural, low-income families.

Filing an ADA employment discrimination charge: 'Making it work for you'
This guidebook provides information about how the ADA employment discrimination administrative charge process works and what has happened when individuals with psychiatric disabilities have filed administrative claims of employment discrimination. It explains, through discussion and examples, when, where, and how to file a charge.

Changing minds, advancing mental health for Hispanics/NAMI New Jersey: Family to Family project
Project abstract of The New Jersey Mental Health Institute, Inc. in which it proposes to achieve consensus for implementing NAMI national?s exemplary practice, the Family-to-Family Education program. The program will be geared towards Hispanics, the fastest growing and largest ethnic minority group in our State and Nation.

Mind your language: Media guidelines for mental health issues
This booklet, part of the 'see me' mental health public education campaign of Scotland, provides guidelines when addressing mental illness in the media.

Good neighbors, health communities: A community guide to fair housing for people with disabilities in your neighborhood
In this guide you will find information on common misconceptions about group homes and similar facilities in community settings, State and Federal law regarding housing discrimination, and where to find more information.

Americans with Disabilities Act: A guide for people with disabilities seeking employment
This brochure provides a guide for individuals with mental illnesses, specifically answering questions about employment rights under the ADA.

Building community support for housing: Ten tips on how to win support for your affordable housing projects
A brief fact sheet highlighting tips of what goes into a successful community outreach campaign for an affordable housing project.

Older adults and mental health: Issues and opportunities
A companion piece to the Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health, this report focuses on the broad range of community-based preventive and treatment services that are available to older adults and their families. Chapter 6 specifically addresses stigma and other barriers to mental health care for aging adults.

What "fair housing" means for people with disabilities
This booklet explains in plain language how three Federal laws protect the housing rights of people with mental or physical disabilities.

Housing toolkit
A toolkit developed to provide information to help the public mental heath community meet the housing needs of people with mental illnesses.

Steps to employment: A workbook for people who have experienced mental health problems
This workbook was designed to help people who have experienced mental health problems to become job-ready. It explains the job search process and provides information to help reduce anxiety associated with employment.

Challenging stereotypes: An action guide
Step-by-step approach on how to respond to stigma in the media and elsewhere, including sample letters, resource listings, and strategies.

Mental illness is not a full-time job
A brief fact sheet discussing equal protection under the law. It also provides guidelines and resources for further information.

How to use the media to fight stigma and discrimination
This tool kit helps individuals learn how to counteract stigma by working with the media and becoming involved in various anti-stigma initiatives. 

Working Minds toolkit: A practical resource to promote good workplace practice on mental health
This guide, developed for the Mind Out for Mental Health campaign in England, may help employers in addressing the issue of mental health in the workplace. The kit contains useful material for anyone interested in addressing mental health issues in their workplace.

Helpline fact sheet: Ministry, mental illness, and communities of faith
A brief fact sheet discussing how "religious communities are in a unique position to combat stigma and provide a message of acceptance and hope."

State mental health parity laws 2007
Provides state-by-state breakdown and descriptions of parity laws.

It is time to pass comprehensive health insurance parity!
A resource page offered by Mental Health America discussing state and federal action towards parity.

Understanding stigma
Part of the "Working with the Family: Impact of Mental Illness on Families" section of the Pathways to Promise Web site, this fact sheet provides information on understanding the stigma that is encountered by the families of individuals with mental illnesses.

Words matter
This fact sheet provides examples of appropriate and inappropriate language when discussing mental illness.

Reponse ability: Challenging stigma
This fact sheet developed in Australia, provides basic information on stigma, and the misconceptions that can exist about mental illness.