Stopping the stigma

One of the biggest problems facing people with mental illnesses is social stigma. And because of unfair, negative and often completely incorrect ideas prevalent in our culture, a lot of people needlessly (and quietly) suffer with mental illnesses—across cultures, gender, sexual orientation and economic status. According to the Sacramento County Division of Behavioral Health Services, roughly 355,000 Sacramento County residents live with mental illness, but only about a third of them are actively getting help. It is for this very reason that the Sacramento Behavioral Health Services initiated the “Mental Illness: It's not always what you think” project. The latest event they have planned for this series is called Telling Our Story: End the Stigma of Mental Illness. The several-hour event includes people of different cultures telling their personal stories of living with mental illness through plays, skits, poetry and other forms of expression. Telling Our Story: End the Stigma of Mental Illness; 2 p.m. Saturday, January 24; free; Guild Theater, 2828 35th Street; www.stopstigmasacramento.org.