ABOUT THE NATIONAL STIGMA CLEARINGHOUSE WELCOME to the National Stigma Clearinghouse 245 Eighth Ave #213 New York, NY 10011 Tel: 1-212-255-4411 Website: http://www.stigmanet.org/ E-mail: stigmanet@webtv.net ABOUT US The National Stigma Clearinghouse was created to track negative stereotypes of mental illnesses and to provide concerned activists wih information about fighting prejudice.

From 1990 until the Fall of 1996, the all-volunteer Clearinghouse issued 64 monthly reports containing 640 items submitted by media watchers. The reports also contained articles, letters, and other items of interest to the national stigmabusters' network. The media's responses were outstanding, as shown in itemized recaps published by the Clearinghouse. More recently, examples of prejudice have been collected and circulated by larger-staffed organizations using E-mail. The Clearinghouse's focus on inaccurate images in news, advertising, and the entertainment media has broadened since 1990 to include a clippings and articles file on prejudice and related topics. It furnishes this information on request to psychiatric survivors, mental health organizations, the media, educators, students, lawyers, researchers, families, and professionals in the mental health field. In 1999, the Clearinghouse created its Antistigma Home Page to provide LINKS to anti-stigma work done by a growing number of organizations in the U. S. and throughout the world. Nora Weinerth, a communications consultant, and Jean Arnold, a community activist, see misrepresentation of mental illnesses as a tidal wave overwhelming token positive images of people with mental illnesses. Their "smoking gun" approach to confronting stereotypes in the media is simple, it often works, and it opens doors to key figures in the media industry. A free booklet to assist letter-writers is available from the Center for Mental Health Services, Call toll free 1-800-789-2647 and ask for "Challenging Stereotypes: An Action Guide," publication SMA 01-3513. For further information about the National Stigma Clearinghouse, call (212) 255-4411. Mailing address: 245 Eighth Avenue #213, New York, NY, 10011. E-mail: stigmanet@webtv.net Website: http://www.stigmanet.org Click here for NEWS and LINKS on ANTI-STIGMA HOME PAGE

MORE ABOUT US... DEFINING STIGMA Stigma is -- as we define it -- a narrow set of beliefs that damages a broad, diverse group of individuals. As a basis for discrimination, stigma robs people of the opportunity to live, work, and thrive in the community. CHANGING PUBLIC ATTITUDES Our goal is to change public attitudes about people who have psychiatric conditions. We track, and if necessary, protest stigmatizing images of mental illness in entertainment, news reporting, and advertising. We want to: End exploitation of mental illness for humor or sensationalism... Encourage balanced and sensitive portrayals of people with psychiatric vulnerabilities... Promote accuracy in the use of medical terms associated with psychiatric conditions... PUBLIC ATTITUDES SHAPE PUBLIC POLICY We believe that a shift in public opinion about psychiatric vulnerabilities can create the will to end discrimination in housing, insurance, and employment. THE HUB OF INFORMATION and ADVOCACY In operation since 1990, the Clearinghouse is a hub of information and advocacy for media watchers and stigmabusters nationwide. Our network includes people diagnosed with psychiatric conditions, their families, researchers, mental health professionals, educators, legislators, and members of the media. A "SMOKING GUN'" APPROACH Evidence in hand, stigmabusters call, write and fax letters to those responsible for innaccuracies and stereotypes. The idea is to educate and enlist members of the media as stigmabusters. When needed, we picket and file complaints with trade organizations and regulatory agencies. WE ARE VOLUNTEERS We are a grassroots, all-volunteer, not-for-profit, tax-deductible organization. with a 501(c)3 designation by the IRS Demand for our free materials keeps growing. With the addition of our web site, we expect to make information available to a record number of advocacy groups, educators, students, policy makers, and members of the media. Click for NEWS and LINKS on ANTI-STIGMA HOME PAGE Prepared by: National Stigma Clearinghouse 245 Eighth Ave #213 New York, NY 10011 Tel: (212) 255-4411 Website: http://www.stigmanet.org E-mail: stigmanet@webtv.net Return to Top