Fight the Stigma Challenges

So you may have seen this graphic going around and are curious about what the heck is Fight the Stigma?

It's our annual celebration our unique strengths and mutual resilience, now moved to the digital realm. Life, as we can see now, gets tough. But April is a time to reflect on the year so far and envision the rest of the year to come. We often reach some crossroads around this point in the year, which are important to understand through these reflections. One might say that maintaining good mental health is, of course, challenging during times like these. But what does that mean to even have 'good mental health' or 'good health?' We hope that by intentionally engaging with yourself and others, you can break the notion that there is one standard to live up to. Rather, there's a continual practice of doing, thinking, feeling, processing, emoting, and connecting--and not necessarily in that order.

It's important to acknowledge that not everyone is impacted the same by quarantines and self-isolation. Many factors influence mental health. Our culture, our experiences, our gender, and so much more may influence how we engage with our mental health and identity. The point, however, is that there are no strict pre-determinants for where we are at or where we may go. Science tells us that humans are resilient, and we'd like to shed light on that fact through these various challenges and celebrate how our various backgrounds may motivate us to be kinder to others and ourselves.

Make sure to use #FightTheStigmaUVA when you've completed a challenge as all of the challenges will be counted up as entries for prizes. Prizes will be announced later this week!

Challenges: (and links, in case you were redirected here from Instagram)

• Write for NAMI’s Archives Reflections project (that's this website! Submit your piece (anonymously or with your name associated) here

• Each time you join the Contemplative Sciences Center for weekly, scheduled (Monday-Friday) live streamed yoga, mindfulness, and tai chi.

• Murder Mystery Night (6 pm, Friday) sign up here

• Join UVA's COVID-19 Folding Team and work to Cure COVID-19

• Uplifting Words Challenge—send them to NAMI for our Insta (@NAMIOnGrounds)

• Go for a walk/run/jog today

• Write about your stressors

• Finished all of your assignments for tomorrow

• Check in with someone from the Class of 2020

• Write to a local nursing home

• Send an e-Card to cheer up patients

• Attend a weekly Tuesday Night Community Matters Dinner (6:00 pm - 7:30 pm); email aholland@virginia.edu to get a spot!

• Sign up to virtually volunteer through Madison House

• Write about your stressors

• Donate Blood (if you can!); look up your nearest blood drive here

• Write a thank you note to a professor

Other important opportunities coming up:

• Thursday, April 16 Survivor Support Network Training from the Women's Center for NAMI folx

• Fight the Stigma and NAMI's Tele-therapy and Insurance Q&A (Thursday, April 16, 1 pm - 2 pm) with CAPS Managers (register here)

• CAPS weekly Friday Coffee Hour (1 pm - 2 pm, register here)

~NAMI On Grounds (at UVA) and Fight the Stigma Committee