# Presentation: 768413

## Rita McElhany
Community Development Manager
Missouri Department of Mental Health

- Rita McElhany
- Community Development Manager
- Missouri Department of Mental Health

## Literature Search

- “Telephone Survey of Missourians Regarding Attitudes Toward People with Mental Illness”
- Consulting with others

**Notes:**
Mimh
Road Show... asked for impressions/advice from State Advisory Board, consumer operated programs, homeless service agencies, contracted providers, State Advisory Board, NAMI, MHA, Program with NAN

## What we learned:

- Stigma around mental illness has lessened
- Key populations are still affecting access both for themselves and others
- Lots and lots of work to do!

## Missouri structured it’s transformation activities around the President’s New Freedom Commission goals:

- Mental Health is Essential to Overall Health
- Disparities are Eliminated
- Easy Early Access
- Evidence Based Practices
- Technology

**Notes:**
Missouri is a Transformation SIG grantee and has spent the past year working with community groups to rethink, prioritize and guide state government on the delivery of mental health.  The need to address stigma came up repeatedly and some recommendations for action were included in the plan.  While disappointing that clear marching orders did not emerge, the mandate to address the issue through a state plan that focused on a community level interventions is included. 

## To increase public awareness and understanding of mental disorders including mental illness

**Notes:**
The first 2 are treatment and prevention

Missouri has been through a few very lean years and prioritizing the direct delivery of services has been front and center.  As the economy expands DMH has been able to focus more on its mandate to increase public awareness of mental illness and is proposing some efforts to build funding and infrastructure to sustain this.  The director has proposed some large efforts the formation of a foundation to support the anti stigma efforts which includes consumer awards for accomplishments, art and creativity showcase, a mental health wellness campaign and a consumer conference as well as media efforts..

## What’s been done?

- What needs to happen?
- Who is going to do it?

## Working with the Office of Transformation additional experts will convene to plan specific strategies for implementation of local anti- stigma efforts.

**Notes:**
Who is going to do it?

Taking what we know and building on it.....identify who cares about it?  Who wants to do something about it? and what can they bring to the table?

A large Missouri Foundation has directed funds to develop a mental health division under the St. Louis Regional Health Commission.  One of the mandates is to develop a provider focused anti stigma curriculum.  DMH is a participant on this project and will implement and disseminate the provider training once it is developed.

## Contract with the University of Missouri - School of Journalism’s Capstone Project to develop a communications plan and statewide anti stigma campaign.

- Identify and apply for infrastructure funding to cover costs of campaign and local coalitions.
- Work with the Office of Transformation for speakers bureau development
- Begin regional coalition meetings to develop local initiatives

## www.dmh.mo.gov/cps/initiatives/stigma.htm

- www.dmh.mo.gov/transformation/transformation.htm

## Rita McElhany

*Community Development Manager*
*Missouri Department of Mental Health*
*Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services*
*1706 E. Elm St.*
*Jefferson City, MO 65106*
*573-751-3220*
*rita.mcelhany@dmh.mo.gov*