Stigma-Free Society is a Canadian charity committed to eliminating stigmas of all kinds. They offer a variety of educational programs that foster awareness, understanding, and acceptance among diverse communities. Their programs focus primarily on promoting mental health and reducing the stigma around it.
Three out of four people with a mental illness report that they have experienced stigma. This can lead to feelings of hopelessness and shame that make people reluctant to seek support when they need it. Whether you too are passionate about eliminating stigma or want to learn more about managing your mental health, you can benefit from Stigma-Free Society’s free programs and resources.
The Rural Mental Wellness Toolkit offers resources specifically for people living in rural communities. It teaches valuable skills that will help you care for your mental health and provide support to others. The toolkit also provides a platform for people to share their experiences with mental illness to encourage compassion and make those who are struggling feel less alone. The more individuals’ lived experiences are highlighted, the more empathy is fostered in our society. The Inspiring Stories section of the Rural Mental Wellness Toolkit features farmers and rural residents who share stories about how they’ve overcome challenges with their mental health.
Another important part of the charity’s mission is to educate the next generation on mental health and stigma. The Student Mental Health Toolkit provides educators and parents with lesson plans, downloadable resources, videos, and more to encourage an inclusive classroom environment. These resources teach students actionable ways to boost their wellbeing and open conversations about mental illness. Stigma-Free Society provides Virtual Presentations to schools across Canada – including those located in rural communities – where presenters share personal stories about their mental health journey and stigma they’ve faced.
Stigma-Free Society was born when President and Co-Founder Andrea Paquette created a website and T-shirt to share her journey as someone living with bipolar disorder, and to overcome feelings of shame following her diagnosis. Her efforts soon led to the formation of the Bipolar Disorder Society of British Columbia in 2010. This same charity is now known as Stigma-Free Society; its name was changed in 2016 to reflect its focus on mental health and stigma more generally. Their robust collection of resources is dedicated to reducing stigma related to not only mental illness, but physical and developmental disabilities, race, sexual orientation, religion, and gender identity and expression.
Do you want to get one step closer to living Stigma-Free? Try the Stigma-Free Tool to privately assess your attitudes around stigma and become more self-aware of any stereotypes you may hold. Visit the charity’s website to check out their free resources and share their toolkits with your loved ones, educators, and people in your community!
If you are interested in supporting the amazing programs offered by Stigma-Free Society, you can make a donation here. Keep up with all things Stigma-Free by sign up for the charity’s monthly newsletter and following them on social media:
