DESTINATION DIGNITY
ACTION for Dignity and Change in Mental Health
DESTINATION: DIGNITY
Persons with serious mental health conditions who use public services face an 80% unemployment rate and have little access to affordable supportive housing, leaving many in poverty or homeless.
WE CALL FOR: Economic empowerment in the form of affordable supportive housing, “Housing First” programs, and educational/employment supports.
​Persistent and negative media portrayals of persons with mental health conditions drive stigma and discrimination.
WE CALL FOR: More positive media portrayals of people with mental health conditions; guidelines for reporting on mental health conditions
State community mental health budgets are too often inadequate, leaving people with limited access to needed treatment and services, which drives costly and needless incarceration and hospitalization.
WE CALL FOR: Increased funding on federal, state, and local levels for a range of easily accessible community-based services and supports.
50-75% of persons killed in encounters with law enforcement have a mental illness.
WE CALL FOR: Mandated Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for all police departments; jail diversion programs that reduce needless incarceration; programs that support returning citizens to live and work in the community.
40,000 Americans die by suicide each year. Persons with serious mental health conditions die, on average, 25 years younger than the general population, usually due to preventable health conditions.
WE CALL FOR: Suicide prevention training for all mental health professionals (currently only 10% receive training); “Zero suicide” approaches in health care. Access to integrated health care that treats the whole person; no wrong door” in health care; trauma-informed health care
WHAT:
Destination Dignity is a collaborative project for change and public engagement around mental health in America. The Destination Dignity march as its focus will bring people from around the world and nation together, with people affected by mental health conditions in the lead, to create energy and solidarity for a more supportive nation. Many communities, local and national organizations are contributing to this effort through the Dignity Mental Health Coalition.
WHY:
Dignity and rights for people affected by mental health conditions are the counterpoint to a legacy of stigma, shame and discrimination that has caused social isolation, chronic underfunding of services, unnecessary levels of disability and unemployment, and the unacceptable levels of premature death, including by suicide, of people affected symptoms of mental illness. Public awareness for these issues must be led by people who have experienced these impacts personally, along with their supporters, allies and related professionals, in order to both realize change and engage the previously silent majority of Americans affected to these issues.