Mental Health Justice Team

Our purpose: Inspired by the Unitarian Universalist second principle of justice, equity, and compassion in human relations, we strive to make our congregation completely absent from mental health stigma. We wish to educate members of our community on how mental illness can affect an individual, their family, and even the congregation at large. We want to tell the all too common stories of those who have a mental illness so we can understand mental health from different perspectives. We are a group that firmly believes a congregation should support one another and lift each other up rather than isolate others because they are different. 

Our UUCY Mental Health Justice Team: 

• Will be partnering with national and local mental health organizations  
• Will be a supportive community for those affected by mental illnesses 

• Will be a repository for resources and information 
• Acknowledges and will address the unique and often ignored mental health issues of marginalized groups (ex. people of color, LGBTQIA, prisoners, etc.) - also known as intersectionality
• Will work toward achieving "Stigma Free" status for the UUCY (see below for more details)

For ideas on community partnerships or to get involved by joining the conversation, contact Team Leader Cas Horne ([email protected]). 

---

What is Stigma and what does it mean to be "Stigma Free"?

​Stigma is a mark of disgrace which results when a community labels an individual by their illness. These people often experience judgment, prejudice, and discrimination because of misconceptions surrounding their mental or physical health. 
​
Stigma-Free is about decreasing the stigmatization and making those who are affected feel less disgraced about their illness. It means welcoming everyone, and accepting their illness as a part (rather than the whole) of the person. It also means creating hope for those who do suffer from a mental illness and creating an environment where they do not feel shame or judgement.

---

UUCY’s Mental Health Justice Team Leader:  Cas Horne is a college student and has been a part of UUCY for nine years now, having grown up in the congregation for most of their life. They have a passionate interest in mental health, having dealt with their fair share of mental health issues themselves. They are an active member of the UUCY Social Justice Committee.