Our beliefs and values
— We value true overall health and well-being, made up of both mental health and physical health.
— We believe that mental health is relevant to everyone since, over the course of a lifetime, we are all vulnerable to the many and widspread interactions between medical conditions and mental disorders. When it comes to mental health, there is no “us” or “them” – rather, mental health is important to the health of all of us.
— We know that redefining health for all of us will allow many people to seek available treatment for mental health problems, people who may now avoid treatment due to the stigma surrounding mental illness.
— We believe in early detection of mental disorders, intervention to pre-empt or prevent chronic disability, treatment, and recovery whereever possible, leading to fuller and more productive lives.
— We believe we must take responsibility for all of our health, mental health and physical health, and seek treatment where needed.
1/3 of older men saw their primary care physician in the week before dying by suicide. 70% saw their physicians within the prior month.
(DHHS, Mentally Healthy Aging: A Report on Overcoming Stigma in Older Adults (2005)
