The document is a presentation by the Client Empowerment Council on self-stigma. It defines stigma and self-stigma, and discusses how self-stigma can involve negative thoughts like feeling worthless. Members of the Client Empowerment Council then share their personal experiences with mental illness and self-stigma, and how getting involved in volunteering, education, and helping others has helped them combat self-stigma. The presentation concludes with a question and answer session.

1. Welcome
Self-Stigma
Our Experiences and Successes
Presented by: Client Empowerment Council

2. AGENDA

3. Definitions
Stigma
“Stigma is a social process,
experienced or anticipated,
characterized by exclusion,
rejection, blame or devaluation,
that results from experience,
perception, or reasonable
anticipation of an adverse
social judgment about a person
or group.”
Self-Stigma
“your life is over”
“you’ll never amount to
anything now”
“you’ll never have friends”
“you may as well just give
up”

4. Client Empowerment Council
– Joined the CEC in 2010
– Graduated from college in 2012
– Became CEC Secretary
– Became Co-Chair in May 2012
– Chair in June 2012

5. Brigitte – 2 years old

6. History with Self-Stigma
• Made to feel worthless, useless, meaningless,
incompetent, ugly
• As an adult, I still have these same feelings,
thoughts
• As Chair, I fight against the messages and
tapes because I know they’re not true

7. Volunteering helps combat Selfstigma
• Service provides hope, courage, strength
• Do service for community org and know it’s
value. When it comes to combating self-stigma
• Helping others helps me to keep on keeping on.
• Overcoming self-stigma, one step at a time.

8. Failures & Successes
Self-Stigma – Cons
Self-Stigma – Pros
-
- Competent
- Confidence
- Knowledge
- Hope
Incompetent
Self Doubt
Ignorance
Fear

9. Moderator
Laura Neville
Secretary
Client Empowerment Council

10. Self-Stigma
Anita Manley
Representative for Women’s Health Center
Lead Communications Committee

11. • Public Stigma is the reaction that the general
population has to people with mental illness
• Self-Stigma is the prejudice which people with
mental illness turn against themselves

12. No one can make you feel inferior
without your consent.
- Eleanor Roosevelt

13. Mental illness is a diagnosis,
not a disaster.

14. You are only limited by what you tell
yourself you cannot do.
- Michelle Rocafort

15. Mental illness is a chemical imbalance in
the brain, not a character flaw.

17. Today you are you!
That is truer than true.
There is no one alive who is youer
than you!
- Dr. Seuss

18. It’s been a tough road
Valerie De Witt
Representative for Geriatrics Program
IMHR Liaison

19. (insert pic of Val

20. “Just a little bit helps”
Richard Cottingham
Representative for Mood & Anxiety Program and
Ottawa Operational Stress Injury Clinic
And
CEC Treasurer

21. Insert pic of sailor

22. Insert pic of Richard

23. Clinical Perspective
Dr. Rajiv Bhatla
Chief of Psychiatry and Chief of Staff
The Royal

24. Questions & Answers
Evelyn Sparks
Acting VP of Professional Practices & Chief of
Occupation Therapy
&
CEC Staff Liaison

25. Congratulations Nancy

26. CLOSING STATEMENT
Contact the Client Empowerment Council @
613-722-6521 ext 6767
Brigitte.renaud@theroyal.ca
www.theroyal.ca
Helpful links
•
•
•
www.mindyourmind.ca
http://www.ilep.org.uk/fileadmin/uploads/Documents/ILEP_Technical_Forum/TF6_2010_WV
B.pdf
http://www.healthyplace.com/