Through education and advocacy, we Can make a positive impact on our community's perception of mental illness and offer support for those families and individuals affected by these disorders.

Those suffering from mental illness are often the victims of stigma, defined as a mark of disgrace as a result of stereotypes and misunderstanding. Unfortunately, these individuals experience discrimination, prejudice, and even hostility as a result of their illness. Psychiatric disorders are often misunderstood, and there is still a belief that mental illness is not real because it cannot be seen. Yet nearly 58-million adults in America will suffer from a diagnosable mental illness each year. Through education and advocacy, we hope to make a positive impact on the community’s perception of mental illness and offer support for those individuals and families that are affected by these disorders.

Over the past several years, this event has continued to grow. And this year, we hope that we can achieve increased involvement within the community by providing more opportunities for educational events, outreach, and support throughout the year for those individuals and families suffering from mental illness.

We aim to bring the community together to address mental health issues and discuss resources within the Gainesville area and gain traction in the movement to Stop the Stigma in our community.