Stigma, Shame and Fear

These obstacles profoundly influence an individual’s decision not to seek help when suffering from mental health challenges. Students often find themselves wrestling privately with frustration and despair as a mental health challenge dominates their life. Often too afraid to seek help from family, friends or health professionals due to stigma, fear of discrimination or shame. Most are not aware that effective treatments exist and things can get better; there’s hope.

Most suffer for years, in silence, alone, without seeking help, support or treatment. For some, unfortunately, it becomes too much and they choose to end their life. 

What If?

What if they knew that they were not alone? What if they had heard stories of peers who experienced similar challenges, who overcame or effectively managed them. What if they didn’t feel shame, despair, hopelessness, embarrassment or fear. What if they had hope that effective treatments exist. What if they sought help? 

Help us End Stigma, Prevent Suffering and Save Lives

Your donation will help our multifaceted #Change-The-Norm campaign targeted on addressing the root cause of the problem by focusing on early intervention; changing attitudes, beliefs and behaviors surrounding mental health to end stigma, ensuring engagement in help seeking behaviors and create hope.

Funds raised can help achieve

$5,000 

• Curate and publish 50 mental health stories focused on showing recovery is possible, highlighting help seeking and instilling hope. 

• Recruit, train and establish 5 campus ambassadors on 5 college campuses who will allow us to expand the reach of our campaigns to up to 40,000 students. 

$10,000  

• Curate and publish 100 mental health stories focused on showing recovery is possible, highlighting help seeking and instilling hope. 

• Recruit, train and establish 10 campus ambassadors on 10 college campuses who will allow us to expand the reach of our campaigns to up to 80,000 students. 

$15,000   

• Curate and publish 150 mental health stories focused on showing recovery is possible, highlighting help seeking and instilling hope. 

• Recruit, train and establish 15 campus ambassadors on 15 college campuses who will allow us to expand the reach of our campaigns to up to 120,000 students. 

• Attract and train 5 talented volunteers to fulfil critical roles required for our 1 year expansion strategy (in the areas of marketing and development). 

Funds raised can help cover the costs necessary to achieve these outcomes aswell as growing the reach and impact of Change-The-Norm. Examples of costs which can be covered, include but are not limited to: Programs required for story production, promotions to attract story submissions,  physical poster print costs, associated legal costs, 1-2 full time team member costs, story platform hosting costs, marketing costs and other associated story production costs.