Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Environments aims to increase awareness and reduce misconceptions surrounding mental health conditions by creating healthier spaces from the inside out. Organizations including businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, schools, etc. can become a designated Walt’s Waltz Stigma Free Environment. Organizations pledge to increase awareness of mental health conditions and promise to work to eliminate stigma and discrimination within their agency and the larger community. They commit to encouraging people to become more mindful of their own and others’ mental health. One way they do this is to remind folks to Take Your Mental Health Temperature. In addition, Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Environments post resource materials, encourage the signing of Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Pledge, promote attendance at our educational programs, and host/participate in a Walt’s Waltz Event(s). Through the act of advertising themselves as a Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Environment, organizations aim to inspire public interest and open dialogues about stigmas associated with mental health conditions.
What Does it Mean to be a Stigma-Free Environment?
Purpose: Stigma-Free Environments aim to change social environments by increasing awareness and reducing the misconceptions surrounding mental health conditions. Healthier spaces are then created from the inside out.
Goals:
Contribute to equity within our community
Create stronger and happier communities and workspaces
Educate, increase awareness, and provide safety
Develop a culture of understanding, compassion, and empathy
Promote holistic wellness
Normalize conversations around mental health as seen with physical health
Impart a sense of support and acceptance to individuals living with a mental health condition
Walt’s Waltz Role in Creating Stigma-Free Environments
At Walt’s Waltz, we will work with establishments to:
Host and promote mental health educational opportunities to Stigma-Free Environment (SFE) staff and the community members served.
Include the establishment’s logo, description, and website link on the Walt’s Waltz website.
Celebrate the establishment's commitment to being Stigma-Free through media postings, newsletter announcements, and press releases, possibly co-written, and published with the approval of the Stigma-Free Environment’s marketing team.
Supply the Stigma-Free Environment with Walt’s Waltz website links and printed resource materials as needed including: Take Your Mental Health Temperature cards, Self-Care Tips Poster, and Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Pledge posters plus many other resources and materials..
Support and assist Ambassadors in their leadership role.
Communicate upcoming mental health educational presentations, workshops, training sessions, and community events and arrange training sessions/presentations/workshops for establishment.
Provide brief surveys for Ambassadors and possibly to staff on an annual basis.
Walt’s Waltz is committed to guiding establishments through the education process of becoming stigma-free. We truly believe that education is the key to understanding and helping others who may struggle with their mental health. It is important that these people do not feel alone in their struggle, are aware of the resources available to them, and feel safe in any establishment to be honest with themselves.
What Does Being Stigma-Free Look Like?
We encourage you to take a look at our current list of Stigma-Free Environments. Here you will find a list of establishments that have joined in the mission to reduce the stigma. We also encourage you to take a look at our Stigma-Free Pledge. We hope you feel moved to help us in creating Stigma-Free Environments.
