Fighting the Stigma of Mental Illness

Each year, an estimated 56 million Americans -- one in five people -- experience diagnosable mental disorders. These disorders affect both sexes and people of every race, ethnicity, age and socio-economic status.

Severe mental illness or serious emotional disturbance can impair normal, daily activities from work or school to sleeping and caring for oneself and others. Yet, many individuals living with a mental disorder do not seek care because of the stigma surrounding mental illness. This stigma stands between millions of Americans and treatment, employment, education and community acceptance.

The Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities' goal is to create understanding and awareness. We know that mental illness can affect anyone, but it is nobody's fault. Through education, we seek to erase the stigma associated with mental illness.

We want Tennesseans to know that people who have mental illness can, and do, lead productive lives. They make good employees and good neighbors.