According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “mental illness is more common than cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.” In fact, the institute’s studies show that one in four people deal with some type of mental illness annually. Yet, many people won’t discuss mental illness because of the stigma attached to it. The Centers for Disease Control says stigma “can cause affected persons to deny symptoms, delay treatment; be excluded from employment, housing or relationships; and interfere with recovery.”

For several years, the Jewish Community Mental Health Coalition has focused on starting a conversation about mental illness. It launched a campaign to reduce the associated stigma in September 2013 during the High Holy Days that has proven successful. But, as our local Jewish community is involved in all corners of the Greater Kansas City area, the stigma that exists in the entire metropolitan area affects us all. In May 2014, more than a dozen community organizations came together to build on what was begun in the Jewish community by creating the Greater Kansas City Mental Health Coalition. Under the leadership of Jewish Family Services, this coalition aims to reduce the stigma of mental illness throughout the metropolitan area.

For more information go to www.jfskc.org.