Would you want others to know if you have a mental health disability? The stigma related to mental health is so pervasive that many people hesitate to share this personal information with others. We fear others may judge us, reject us or discriminate against us for being “different.” But are we really that different?

May Is Mental Health Awareness Month A View from a Peer Perspective from Disability Rights California’s Peer Self Advocacy Program (PSA)

To Tell or Not to Tell - Mental Health, Stigma and Self-Disclosure

April 26, 2023

Many have negative perceptions about people with mental health disabilities based on inaccurate assumptions, harmful stereotypes and misunderstanding. The media rarely portrays us in a positive light, typecasting us as violent, incompetent, irrational and out of touch with reality.

Labels are for jeans, not people. But they tend to stick like duct tape. No wonder many don’t want to disclose their mental health disability. There is always the risk of negative consequences from being open about it.

Contrary to popular belief, we are more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violence. Mental health has nothing to do with competence – after all, there are plenty of people without mental health disabilities who may be incompetent or make irrational decisions. Reality is subjective – there is not just “one” reality. Just because one person’s reality may be different than your reality doesn’t make theirs any less real.

But these labels stick, and the stink of stigma still permeates our souls. Let’s bring in some fresh air so we can all breathe deeply and feel free to be, and reveal... our true selves.

Introduction to the Peer Connection

We want to welcome you to The Peer Connection, sponsored by the Peer Self-Advocacy Program at Disability Rights California! This is an open forum for peers and *people with lived experience with mental health disabilities throughout the state to communicate with other peers via email.

*The Peer Connection is exclusively for peers and people with direct lived experience with mental health disabilities who have received or are receiving mental health services.

While there are many peer organizations and peer services in different California counties, many of us feel isolated, separated and out of touch with one another. The Peer Connection is an online gathering place to share ideas, provide support and connect us with resources and referrals to services.

We want to bring us all together by providing an “information highway” and opportunity for all of us to:

Discuss hot topics, issues and current events related to peers
Announce upcoming events (webinars, conferences, committee meetings, etc.)
Propose and arrange peer trainings on topics of our choice
Learn information and updates regarding Peer Support Specialist Certification Implementation
Provide information and links to up-to-date research, articles and legislation related to peers and mental health The Peer Connection is a powerful online tool to:
Learn about our rights
Exchange self-advocacy strategies and skills
Elevate our voice as peers
Mobilize as a team to advocate for causes that support and value us as peers in California and beyond

Registration Form for The PEER Connection

Sign up for our open forum for peers and people with lived experience with mental health disabilities* to communicate with other peers via a group listserv throughout the state.

If you have any questions or want more information, feel free to contact me at Robyn.Gantsweg@disabilityrightsca.org.

May Is Mental Health Awareness Month - A View from a Peer Perspective from Disability Rights California’s Peer Self Advocacy Program (PSA)

May Is Mental Health Awareness Month - A View from a Peer Perspective from Disability Rights California’s Peer Self Advocacy Program (PSA)

May Is Mental Health Awareness Month A View from a Peer Perspective from Disability Rights California’s Peer Self Advocacy Program (PSA)

Introduction to the Peer Connection

Registration Form for The PEER Connection

May Is Mental Health Awareness Month - A View from a Peer Perspective from Disability Rights California’s Peer Self Advocacy Program (PSA)

May Is Mental Health Awareness Month - A View from a Peer Perspective from Disability Rights California’s Peer Self Advocacy Program (PSA)

May Is Mental Health Awareness Month A View from a Peer Perspective from Disability Rights California’s Peer Self Advocacy Program (PSA)

Introduction to the Peer Connection

Registration Form for The PEER Connection

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