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Say NO to Stigma
Stigma around mental health and mental illness continues to be a significant issue which can discourage people from seeking help, lead to social isolation and discrimination, and perpetuate negative stereotypes.
By helping to reduce stigma, you can not only help to reduce discrimination, but you also make it safer and easier for people to speak up about their mental health issues and seek the support they need.
Language plays a huge part in either reducing stigma. Sometimes we might say things with the best of intention without realising that it’s actually causing more harm than good. We also know that people sometimes avoid talking about mental health and suicide because they’re afraid they might say the wrong thing.
The good news is, there are a few simple tweaks you can make to the words you use when talking about mental health and suicide that can make a huge difference!
We’ve gathered together some fantastic resources to help you ‘say no to stigma’, and to help give you confidence to have more open and honest conversations about mental health more generally.
Resources
Tasmanian Communications Charter
Show "Tasmanian Communications Charter"As part of the Tasmanian Suicide Prevention Strategy (2016-2020), the Tasmanian Government commissioned the development of a Tasmanian mental health and suicide prevention communications charter to be signed by organisations and individuals working in suicide prevention in addition to community leaders within Tasmania. The primary purpose of the Tasmanian version of The Charter is to increase help-seeking and help-offering behaviour and reduce stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide within our state.
The Tasmanian version of The Charter document provides a Tasmanian context to the National Communications Charter and has been reviewed by members from the Tasmanian Communications Charter Working Party. Members from the Working Party include organisational representatives of populations prioritised within the Tasmanian Suicide Prevention Strategy (2016-2020) including LGBTI people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, men and young people. It also includes consultative representation from services working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Our words matter: Guidelines for language use
Show "Our words matter: Guidelines for language use"Our words matter: Guidelines for language use is a practical, research-informed, and user-friendly resource that is designed for media, researchers, service providers and other communicators. It seeks to inform, support and empower people to select and use words in ways that minimise stigma and harm and maximise diversity of representation.
Incorporating these guidelines into practice will help to educate the public, break down misinformation and promote help-seeking, and help-offering behaviour.
Images matter: Mindframe guidelines for image use
Show "Images matter: Mindframe guidelines for image use"Images matter: Mindframe guidelines for image use is a practical, research-informed, and user-friendly resource that is designed for media and other communicators. It seeks to inform, support and empower people to select and use images in ways that minimise stigma and harm and maximise diversity of representation.
Incorporating these guidelines into practice will help to educate the public, break down misinformation and promote help-seeking, and help-offering behaviour.
#chatsafe
Show "#chatsafe"#chatsafe is a suicide prevention program that aims to empower and equip young people with the skills to communicate safely online about self-harm and suicide.
Safely Talking Toolkit
Show "Safely Talking Toolkit"The Safely Talking Toolkit has been developed to guide safe discussions on suicide and suicide prevention. The toolkit was co-developed by MHCT and Everymind with extensive consultation from the mental health and suicide prevention sector. You can use the toolkit and supporting resources to guide safe public discussions about suicide. The toolkit also includes reference to further resources and guides that will assist you in hosting safe discussions.
StigmaWatch
Show "StigmaWatch"SANE’s StigmaWatch program was established in 1997 to promote responsible reporting of mental ill health and suicide in the Australian media.
StigmaWatch monitors and responds to reports of inaccurate or inappropriate stigmatising media portrayal of mental ill health and suicide.
In line with the Australian Press Council and Mindframe’s reporting guidelines, StigmaWatch work with media professionals across the country to provide constructive feedback and advice on how to responsibly report stories about mental ill health and suicide.
Check out the National Stigma Report Card to find out more about how stigma still impacts people living with mental illness.
