Take Action

There are many ways to promote acceptance and social inclusion. Get involved in an event or plan your own event, activity, or program. The SAMHSA ADS Center offers exciting and free training events throughout the year that can help you get started. You also can search our online library for resources and materials to help you. Here are other places that can help you promote social inclusion:

• Tips on Taking Action
• Organizing a Campaign or Program
• Planning Anti-stigma Events and Strategies

Tips on Taking Action

The following provide advice on promoting social inclusion and reducing discrimination:

• Developing A Stigma Reduction Initiative (Center for Mental Health Services) http://store.samhsa.gov/product/SMA06-4176
• Challenging Stereotypes: An Action Guide (Center for Mental Health Services) http://store.samhsa.gov/product/SMA01-3513
• How to Use the Media to Fight Stigma and Discrimination (National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-help Clearinghouse) http://www.mhselfhelp.org/gateway.php?type=techasstfile&techasstfile_id=35 [MS Word format-83Kb] 
  Also available in Spanish as Como Utilizar Los Medios Para Luchar El Estigma Y La Discrimination http://www.mhselfhelp.org/gateway.php?type=techasstfile&techasstfile_id=37 [MS Word format-103 Kb] 
• Partners in Recovery: Creating Successful Practitioner-Consumer Alliances (Center for Mental Health Services) http://store.samhsa.gov/product/OM00-4074
• Highlights of the Final Report of the Evaluation of the Elimination of Barriers Initiative (Center for Mental Health Services) http://www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/archtelPDF/ EBIReport_FINAL_Tagged.pdf [PDF format-456 Kb]

Organizing a Campaign or Program

The following provide information and advice on organizing a campaign or program designed to promote acceptance, dignity, and social inclusion:

• Train the Trainer: A Beginner’s Guide to Stamp Out Stigma (Stamp Out Stigma) http://www.dmh.ca.gov/Mental_Health_Planning_Council/docs/ Meetings/2008/Jun/0608PresentationC.ppt [PPT format-1,386 Kb] 
• Successful Strategies for Recruiting, Training, and Utilizing Volunteers (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) http://store.samhsa.gov/product/SMA08-4005

Planning Events and Strategies to Increase Social Inclusion

The following provide information and advice on planning events and educational strategies aimed at reducing discrimination and increasing social inclusion:

• Mental Health Anti-Stigma Walkathon Development Guide http://www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/action/walkday/ default.aspx
• Organizing and Operating a Speakers’ Bureau (National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-help Clearinghouse) http://www.mhselfhelp.org/techasst/view.php?techasst_id=17