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Standing Up To Mental Health Stigma Stories

These are personal stories of people who said "no" to mental illness stigma and decided to disclose that they, or their child, have a mental illness. (Yes, unfortunately, parents of children with mental illness face stigma too.) As you well know, stigma is prevalent in our society and many people with a mental health disorder feel like they have to hide in shame because of the stigma and discrimination. Why do these people, and millions of others like them, publicly disclose they have depression, an anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, ADHD, schizophrenia, an eating disorder or other mental health disorder? Read their mental health stigma stories to find out. (Information about contributing your story is here.)

Stigma Story: I Disclosed My Bipolar Disorder on Facebook Story: I Disclosed My Bipolar Disorder on Facebook
My name: Sara Johnson
Age: 31
Diagnosis: Bipolar 1 Disorder, PTSD
Symptoms since: 1998
Stigma Story: I Have Bipolar Disorder: Blooming Slowly Story: I Have Bipolar Disorder: Blooming Slowly
My name: Kathy Boehm
Age: 48
Diagnosis: Bipolar 2
Simptoms since: 1997
Stigma Story: Opening Up About Postpartum Psychosis Story: Opening Up About Postpartum Psychosis
My name: Jennifer Moyer
Age: 45
Diagnosis: Bipolar Disorder with Psychotic Features
Symptoms since: 1996
Stigma Story: Coming Out of My Mental Health Closet Story: Coming Out of My Mental Health Closet
My name: Connie Walcott
Age: 56
Diagnosis: Bipolar, PTSD, DID
Symptoms since: 5th grade (age 10)
Stigma Story: Coming Out With Depression and Anxiety Story: Coming Out With Depression and Anxiety
My name: David Burney
Age: 37
Diagnosis: Depression and Generalized Anxiety (GAD)
Symptoms since: Anxiety as a kid; Depression as a teen
Stigma Story: Disclosing My Mental Illness Was A Process Story: Disclosing My Mental Illness Was A Process
My name: Natalie Jeanne Champagne
Age: 27
Diagnosis: Bipolar 2, Anxiety, ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorders, recovering from Addictions
Symptoms since: age 12
Stigma Story: Why I'm Public About Having A Mental Illness Story: Why I'm Public About Having A Mental Illness
My name: Tracy A. Butcher
My age: 32
Diagnosis: Bordeline Personality Disorder, Bipolar 1, PTSD, OCD
Symptoms since: 1985
Stigma Story: Mental Illness and Self-Stigma: A Personal Story Story: Mental Illness and Self-Stigma: A Personal Story
My name: Hilary
My age: 32
Diagnosis: Bipolar 2
Symptoms since: 2005
Stigma Story: Mental Health Stigma and Medical Professionals: My Experience Story: Mental Health Stigma and Medical Professionals: My Experience
My name: Holly Ann Rivera
Age: 27
Diagnosis: Major Depressive Disorder & General Anxiety Disorder NOS.
Other Mental Health issues: ED, Self Harm, and traumas
Symptoms since: 1997
Stigma Story: Stigma of Being Branded Bad Parents

Story: Stigma of Being Branded Bad Parents
My name: Chrisa Hickey
Son's age: 18
Son's diagnosis: Schizoaffective Disorder
Symptoms since: 1995

Stigma Story: Disclosing My Child's Mental Illness

Story: Disclosing My Child's Mental Illness
My name: Amy White
Son's age: 18
Son's diagnosis: Bipolar 2, BPD and Mood Disorder
Symptoms since: 2010

 

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APA Reference
Gluck, S. (2015, January 19). Standing Up To Mental Health Stigma Stories, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2023, March 24 from https://www.healthyplace.com/stigma/stories/standing-up-to-mental-health-stigma-stories

Last Updated: July 5, 2016
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Medically reviewed by Harry Croft, MD

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