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SALT LAKE CITY, April 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Together, with national experts across the country, Huntsman Mental Health Institute at the University of Utah launched a nationwide collaborative effort to eliminate mental health and substance use disorder stigma.
“We are honored to have such prestigious national organizations join Huntsman Mental Health Institute and our family in this Grand Challenge to end mental health stigma,” said David Huntsman, president and COO, Huntsman Foundation. “This partnership will make a powerful impact as we spread the word that there is ‘no health without mental health’ and that we need to begin to treat our mental health as we would any physical ailment.”
The impact of stigma has been well documented by the National Academy of Medicine and others. Stigma prevents policymakers from crafting laws free from discrimination and discourages students from pursuing mental health careers. The shame caused by stigma keeps people from seeking the treatment they need, leading to increased rates of suicide and substance use disorders. Stigma has led to an underfunded mental health system, and often, those with the most severe needs fall through the cracks.
“Individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders are among the most discriminated individuals in the world,” said Mark H. Rapaport, M.D., CEO of HMHI. “We have the opportunity together to change that reality. It will not happen overnight; it will take many voices and require us to work together in new ways to synergize the incredible work already happening in this area and join together to create real and lasting change.”
A Grand Challenge is a social change movement that shifts beliefs, attitudes, and behavior. Past similar movements have included seatbelt usage, recycling, and tobacco campaigns. Grand Challenges require broad support, take place over decades, and have multifaceted strategies to meet a full range of needs. Key elements of the Grand Challenge to eliminate…
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