ABOUT

#SeeThroughStigma Awareness Week is a week-long of programming put on by Active Minds and Axis UChicago, whose purpose is to unravel stigma around disability and mental health. Through Stigma Week is an annual week of programming dedicated to unraveling stigma around mental health and disability by providing a forum where disability and mental health can be discussed openly, in order to ensure that everyone can receive the support, services, and respect that they deserve.

While Axis and Active Minds work in different spheres, we found that one common issue that both mental health and disability deal with is self-identification. Mental health and disability are umbrella terms that encompass a wide variety of experiences and identities, and serve to silence rather than encourage everybody’s unique experience and perspective. These terms often encourage a general neglect of the details of lives affected by disability or struggles in mental health, which in turn creates a stigma surrounding these topics, such that they are not discussed openly, making it difficult for individuals who might benefit from support or help from seeking it. It’s now time to open the conversation, address the stigma that exists around mental health and disability, promote self- identification, and #SeeThroughStigma.