SOS, a program of Heart and Soul Inc., is a consumer driven advocacy and educational outreach program designed to make positive changes in the public perception of mental illness and inform the community about the personal, social, economic and political challenges faced by people living with mental illness.
HISTORY
In October 1990, a group of individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness and dismayed with the media's depiction of people with mental illness, decided to form STAMP OUT STIGMA. Their mission was to change the destructive perceptions caused by television and film's portrayal of people suffering from a mental illness, typically presented as society's outcasts, being violent, unproductive, uneducated, dangerous, crazy, and nothing more than an economic drain on society. Employment, education, and housing opportunities of persons with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia or other mental illnesses are significantly hampered by this societal stigma and the resulting self stigmatization. The stigma of mental illness, although more often related to context than to a person's appearance, remains a powerful negative attribute in all social relations.
SERVICES
SOS presentations consist of 4-6 panelists who share personal experiences of living with mental illness, relating their own experiences of stigma and how they have worked to change the negative societal perceptions. Presentations are interactive, and the audience is encouraged to ask questions.
OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE:
Consultation - SOS presenters are experts in helping other client advocacy groups start up their own anti-stigma campaign. SOS has developed a comprehensive toolkit called, "Train the Trainer," that groups can use to provide instruction and inspiration.
Training - SOS provides training and consultation to employers in defining "reasonable accommodations" under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 for persons with mental illness in the workplace.
CLIENTELE
In nearly 1,500 presentations, SOS has reached diverse audiences throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including:
Civic clubs
Housing coalitions
Mental health boards
Police and fire departments
County boards of supervisors
Television and radio talk shows
Schools of medicine and nursing
Crisis-Suicide prevention centers
Physicians and hospital administrators
Graduate schools in psychopathology and social work
Universities, colleges, high schools and middle schools
SOS has been asked to present workshops at national and international conventions, including a conference sponsored by the FBI to develop a training manual for 14,000 law enforcement agencies whose staff has regular interaction with people with psychiatric disabilities.
For more information or to schedule a presentation, please call or write to:
Help us continue our work and show your support by sending a tax-deductible contribution. Make checks payable to STAMP OUT STIGMA, c/o Heart & Soul Inc. Mail to 500 2nd Avenue, San Mateo CA 94401. Non-Profit Tax ID # 204007859. Thank you!
SOS is currently recruiting presenters. TAYs (transitional age youth 18-25) are encouraged to apply.
Reaction and remarks from audience members:
"You exceeded our expectations! Every member of the team was riveting and your program is obviously well planned and tailored to the specific audience you are facing. We got answers to questions we didn't even know we had." Norma Block, San Francisco Mental Health Board.
"SOS provides a very unique and essential educational program for health care professionals. The candid panel presentation to the dental students by people who are challenged yet managing mental illness is essential to broaden the hearts and minds of our students." Dr. Arthur A. Dugoni, Dean and Professor of Orthodontics, University of the Pacific.
"I have attempted, and seen many others attempt, to accomplish over the course of months and years what one SOS panel can do with an audiences consciousness level in an hour's time." Donna Parten, Supported Educational Consultant
"Despite our numerous interactions with people with mental health issues over the years, your panel was able to greatly enhance our understanding of these issues in just a few hours." Victim Services San Francisco District Attorney's Office
"I've long admired the extraordinary work of SOS. The road to recovery for anyone with a debilitating mental illness has been helped by SOS's efforts to educate our community about mental health. I'm proud to join so many in support of SOS's important mission." Anna Eshoo, US Congresswoman, 14th District of California
"Stamp Out Stigma inspires the courage of the human spirit. The panelists share their story of mental illness in a meaningful and authentic way. Their openness to share themselves in the face of shame and stigma leaves us all feeling privileged simply to be invited in. There is no doubt that this is holy ground. All who enter, panelists and listeners alike, leave feeling a bit healed." The Rev. Channing Smith, San Mateo
