Denver is in search of to get rid of the social stigma round psychological well being situations with a brand new public well being marketing campaign.

The “What You Say Issues” marketing campaign, which The Denver Division of Public Well being and Setting launched on Thursday, goals to encourage Denverites to obtain assist for psychological well being points, and to not choose those that do.

“Many in our neighborhood are battling their psychological well being, particularly over the previous few years,” mentioned Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. “We have to do the whole lot we are able to to ensure our family and friends get the assistance they want – that begins with lowering stigma. This marketing campaign elevates the voices and tales of people that’ve been impacted by stigma round psychological well being and shines a direct mild on the lived experiences for folks with psychological well being situations.”

The marketing campaign contains print and digital commercials throughout town, that includes on a regular basis phrases and phrases that stigmatize psychological well being situations – for instance, saying somebody’s psychological well being points are “all in your head,” utilizing psychological well being situations as insults or adjectives, and dismissing somebody’s struggles – and what one may say as a substitute.   

The marketing campaign was modeled after the real-life experiences of greater than 1,000 Denverites, uncovered throughout a year-long analysis mission measuring the information, attitudes and beliefs residents have concerning behavioral well being situations.

Bob McDonald, government director of the Denver Division of Public Well being and Setting, mentioned on a regular basis occurrences of stigma can come from anybody and sometimes aren’t meant to be hurtful, however they could be a main barrier to look after folks with psychological well being situations.  

“Speaking about psychological well being is turning into extra widespread, however we do not all the time speak about how stigma can come up in conversations,” McDonald mentioned. “It is essential to know destructive stereotypes and sayings could make it more durable for folks with psychological well being situations to speak about their very own experiences, even from family members who wish to assist.”

“We hope by way of this marketing campaign, Denver residents will acknowledge and struggle stigma in their very own lives by fastidiously contemplating the phrases they select when speaking about psychological well being,” he added.

The marketing campaign additionally encompasses a assortment of neighborhood sources to study extra about psychological well being stigma and how one can tackle it.

Extra details about the “What You Say Issues” marketing campaign is on the market at www.DenverGov.org/WhatYouSayMatters.