Reduce the Stigma
NFTY SW Leadership Training Institute 2012
August 30, 2012- September 2, 2012
Maddy Ginis, NFTY-SW SAVP, with parts by Joy Nemerson
Touchstone Text:
“Your friend’s dignity should be as precious to you as your own.” - Pirkei Avot 2:10
Goals:
1. To address how mental health is perceived by different people.
Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to demonstrate knowledge of mental illnesses.
2. Participants will create their own Public Service Announcement to remove the stigma about mental illnesses.
Materials:
● 3 video cameras
● 1 projector
● 1 laptop
● 30-40 copies of the fact sheet
● 10 copies of the myth sheet
People:
● 1 PL
● 90 PPs
● 1 PP to read the vignette
Space Needed:
● One large empty room with one table in front for the projector and an outlet.
Time Table:
00:00-00:25 Introduction
00:25-00:30 Break into teams
00:30-00:40 Read in groups
00:40-01:00 Pop Quiz
01:00-01:05 Explanation for PSA
01:05-01:15 Break off into TYG, plan and record
Detailed Procedure:
00:00-00:25 Introduction
PPs will be instructed to silently walk into a large dark room. On the wall will be a power point slide which instructs the PPs to sit in their own space arms length apart. Once the PPs are sitting quietly the PL will roll through the slideshow.
At the end of the slideshow a previously selected PP will read vignette 1 (Appendix A).
Stand Up Questions:
PL will say,” I will now ask you to please stand if the statement applies to you.”
● I know a lot about different mental illnesses.
○ Please be seated.
● I know someone who is mentally ill.
○ Please be seated.
● I know someone who suffers from depression.
○ Please be seated.
● I have used terms such as “schizo” or “crazy” or “insane” in everyday language without thinking about the implications to people who may have a mental illness.
○ Please be seated.
● I have stopped someone from using terms such as “schizo” or “crazy” or “insane” in everyday language.
○ Please be seated
● My life is in some way affected by mental illness.
○ Please be seated.
● I would like to learn more about mental illness.
○ Please be seated.
The PPs will also watch a short PSA about mental health.
Before beginning the PSA the PL will say: “There are a lot of things you wouldn’t know about someone by just looking at them. There are also a lot of things I and we think we know about Mental Health that we may not. Mental health is not something we talk about everyday, it is not something we think about very often and it is not something most of us can recognize. We will now watch a short PSA addressing mental illness.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUaXFlANojQ
00:25-00:30 Break into teams
The PL will now say, “Please get together with your TYG and someone will come around with facts that have to do with mental illnesses. These facts are meant for information, not debate. Please remember to be sensitive to those around you. (Appendix B) Please go over these facts with your groups.”
The TYGs will disperse around the room. The PL will not tell the PPs or GLs about the “pop quiz” that will follow. [Be sure, then, not to give a copy of the program with this point in it to group leaders!!]
00:30-00:40 Read in Groups
In the groups the PPs and GLs will read over fact sheets (Appendix B). If time permits they can discuss which facts or statistics surprise them. At the end of this the PL will collect all of the fact sheets. [Time should permit some discussion. It should be encouraged for everyone to understand what has been presented. But not to debate/argue the facts So PL should say, “Take a few minutes to read the facts and be sure you understand them.”]
00:40-01:00 “Pop Quiz”
After all of the fact sheets have been collected the PL will say, “It is now time for a short Pop Quiz to see what you have learned while in your groups. Please assign one person in your group to be the scribe. When I ask a question, please write the answer in big bold letters on a piece of paper in front of you and have one person in your group raise their hand. Once a hand from every table has been raised I will ask for every group to show me their answers and tally up the points. Now let’s get started.”
Pop Quiz (Appendix C)
01:00-01:05 Explanation for PSA
The PL will now refer back to the PSA the PPs watched about mental health at the beginning of the program. The PL will discuss how bring change 2 mind is working to erase the stigma about mental illnesses. The PL will then tell the PPs that they are going to break off into their TYG boards and create their own PSA on mental health. They will be given a list of myths and facts (Appendix D) and their job is to correct any myth they chose. When they have decided they will go to one of the people with the cameras and record their PSA. The PSA must include the Myth the Fact and conclude with “We are from (insert TYG here) and we pledge to work to reduce the stigma.”
01:05-01:15 Break off into TYGs
The PPs will now break off into their TYGs and receive a copy of the myths vs. facts sheet. They will have time to choose which myth they are going to rectify, rehearse and find a video camera to record with. The Regional Board will be roaming answering questions and also be the ones recording the pieces of the NFTY-SW PSA which will be compiled.
Appendix A:
Vignette 1
Jessica Lynch (Depression)
Some might say I am vivacious with luminous, with large hazel eyes and a winning smile and it is easy to see how I was chosen to compete in the Miss America contest as Miss New York State 2003. But behind the self-confident, articulate outer shell I was not the same person I had been. Fourth grade is when it all seemed to go down hill. Up until then I had been popular and outgoing, but after two moves in close succession I found myself withdrawing. I was suffering from depression. By 8th grade anorexia had been added as a diagnosis. Finally, weighing only 79 pounds I was hospitalized for a month, but was never treated for my underlying depression.
When I went back to school things were even worse than before. People pretended that nothing had happened, but I always felt they were talking about me behind my back. Eventually medication and therapy helped me recover. But treatment was easy compared to the stigma I faced.
I spent high school denying my hospitalization. I did, however, begin counseling other students through a program called Lifeline. Although I was amazed at how many others seemed to be suffering from similar problems, I was afraid of how they would react if I, the straight A, ‘perfect’ student, admitted to being ‘crazy’.
One bright spot in my senior year, however, was The Miss America Organization. I began competing in pageants and started to tell my story. I spoke of my depression as if it were in the past, but in reality it was still very present in my life. It was hard for me to wake up and get out of bed in the morning. Despite this I somehow managed to resume treatment and it worked. Today I use my platform as Miss NY State to serve as a role model for others and am dedicated to “helping them see through the darkness”. With the scholarship money I have received from competing in the Miss America contest I hope to obtain a graduate degree in journalism or go on to law school.
Appendix B:
Bipolar Disorder:
● Characterized by at least one manic episode and periods of depression.
● Classified as a mood disorder.
● Typical onset age is 15-30 years old.
● As of 2012, 5.7 million American adults suffer with Bipolar Disorder.
Anorexia:
● Characterized by excessive food restriction for fear of gaining weight and distorted self perception.
● Classified as an eating disorder.
● Typical onset age used to be 13-17 and is now 9-12 years old.
● 8 million Americans suffer from some sort of eating disorder.
Depression:
● Characterized by persistent sad or anxious feelings, irritability or restlessness, fatigue, insomnia, or excessive sleeping.
● Classified as a mood disorder.
● Typical onset age is 25-44 years old.
● 18.8 million Americans are affected by depression.
● 80% of the people suffering with depression do not currently have treatment.
Schizophrenia:
● Characterized by delusions and auditory hallucinations.
● Classified as a psychotic disorder.
● Typical onset age is 15-25 years old.
● 2.2 million people in the United States have schizophrenia.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:
● Characterized by thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead a person to perform repetitive behaviors (compulsions).
● Classified as an anxiety disorder.
● Typical onset age in women is 20-30 years old.
● Typical onset age in men is 6-15 years old.
● 2.2 million Americans are affected each year.
Bulimia:
● Characterized by compulsive eating followed by vomiting because of anxiety about weight gain.
● Classified as an eating disorder.
● Typical onset age is 10-20 years old.
● 8 million Americans are affected by some sort of eating disorder.
Appendix C:
1. What is the name for the mental illness that is characterized by at least one manic episode and periods of depression?
Bipolar Disorder
2. What is depression classified as?
A mood disorder
3. What is the typical onset age for depression?
25-44
4. What is an example of an eating disorder?
Anorexia
*Bulimia* (Bonus Points for both)
5. What is an example of an anxiety disorder?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
6. Which eating disorder is characterized by excessive food restricitions?
Anorexia
7. What is schizophrenia classified as?
Psychotic disorder.
8. What is the typical onset age for bulimia?
Between 10 and 20 years old.
9. How many Americans deal with some sort of eating disorder?
8 million.
10. What are characteristics of Bulimia?
Compulsive eating followed by vomiting because of anxiety about weight gain.
11. What is the typical onset age for Bipolar disorder?
15-30 years old.
12. What mental illness is characterized by fatigue, insomnia or excessive sleeping?
Depression
13. What percentage of Americans currently suffering with medication do not currently have treatment?
80%
14. What mental illness is characterized by delusions and auditory hallucinations?
Schizophrenia
15. Which mental illness is characterized by thoughts that lead you to perform repetitive behaviors?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Appendix D:
Myth #1: Psychiatric disorders are not true medical illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. People who have a mental illness are just "crazy."
Fact: Brain disorders, like heart disease and diabetes, are legitimate medical illnesses. Research shows there are genetic and biological causes for psychiatric disorders, and they can be treated effectively.
Myth #2: People with a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are usually dangerous and violent.
Fact: Statistics show that the incidence of violence in people who have a brain disorder is not much higher than it is in the general population. Those suffering from a psychosis such as schizophrenia are more often frightened, confused and despairing than violent.
Myth #3: Mental illness is the result of bad parenting.
Fact: Most experts agree that a genetic susceptibility, combined with other risk factors, leads to a psychiatric disorder. In other words, mental illnesses have a physical cause.
Myth #4: Depression results from a personality weakness or character flaw, and people who are depressed could just snap out of it if they tried hard enough.
Fact: Depression has nothing to do with being lazy or weak. It results from changes in brain chemistry or brain function, and medication and/or psychotherapy often help people to recover.
Myth #5: Schizophrenia means split personality, and there is no way to control it.
Fact: Schizophrenia is often confused with multiple personality disorder. Actually, schizophrenia is a brain disorder that robs people of their ability to think clearly and logically. The estimated 2.5 million Americans with schizophrenia have symptoms ranging from social withdrawal to hallucinations and delusions. Medication has helped many of these individuals to lead fulfilling, productive lives.
Myth #6: Depression is a normal part of the aging process.
Fact: It is not normal for older adults to be depressed. Signs of depression in older people include a loss of interest in activities, sleep disturbances and lethargy. Depression in the elderly is often undiagnosed, and it is important for seniors and their family members to recognize the problem and seek professional help.
Myth #7: Depression and other illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, do not affect children or adolescents. Any problems they have are just a part of growing up.
Fact: Children and adolescents can develop severe mental illnesses. In the United States, one in ten children and adolescents has a mental disorder severe enough to cause impairment. However, only about 20 percent of these children receive needed treatment. Left untreated, these problems can get worse. Anyone talking about suicide should be taken very seriously.
Myth #8: If you have a mental illness, you can will it away. Being treated for a psychiatric disorder means an individual has in some way "failed" or is weak.
Fact: A serious mental illness cannot be willed away. Ignoring the problem does not make it go away, either. It takes courage to seek professional help.
Myth #9: Addiction is a lifestyle choice and shows a lack of willpower. People with a substance abuse problem are morally weak or "bad".
Fact: Addiction is a disease that generally results from changes in brain chemistry. It has nothing to do with being a "bad" person.
Myth #10: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), formerly known as "shock treatment," is painful and barbaric.
Fact: ECT has given a new lease on life to many people who suffer from severe and debilitating depression. It is used when other treatments such as psychotherapy or medication fail or cannot be used. Patients who receive ECT are asleep and under anesthesia, so they do not feel anything.