Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America

Send us a text Seth Kahan shares his journey from personal tragedy to leading a national movement against mental health stigma after his mother developed schizophrenia when he was 10 years old. His experience pioneering frameworks for grand challenges led him to launch Stop Stigma Together, a collaborative initiative uniting major mental health organizations to eliminate stigma around mental health and substance use disorders. • Seth's mother developed schizophrenia when he was 10, destroying his family and shaping his future work • The Stop Stigma Together initiative works with major mental health organizations and launched the "Love Your Mind" campaign with the Ad Council • Education works for reducing stigma in children, while adults need to see people like themselves managing mental health challenges • The SSTCommunity website provides free resources and brings together task forces focused on different aspects of mental health stigma • Mental health stigma exists in three dimensions: structural (laws/policies), social (interactions), and personal (private thoughts) • Seth overcame his own internalized stigma toward his mother through cognitive behavioral therapy • Policy work on mental health parity is crucial to ensure insurance companies treat mental health equally to physical health • Finding someone to talk to is the most important first step for anyone struggling with mental health issues If you need help with insurance denials for mental health services, visit CoverMyMentalHealth.org for free resources. For mental health crisis response alternatives to police, find local resources at TheRightResponse.co. https://tonymantor.com https://Facebook.com/tonymantor https://instagram.com/tonymantor https://twitter.com/tonymantor https://youtube.com/tonymantormusic intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI) The content on Why Not Me: Embracing Autism amd Mental Health Worldwide, including discussions on mental health, autism, and related topics, is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not reflect those of the podcast, its hosts, or affiliates. Why Not Me is not a medical or mental health professional and does not endorse or verify the accuracy, efficacy, safety of any treatments, programs, or advice discussed. Listeners should consult qualified healthcare professionals, such as licensed therapists, psychologists, or physicians, before making decisions about mental health or autism- related care. Reliance on this podcast's contents is at the listener's own risk. Why Not Me is not liable for any outcomes, financial or otherwise, resulting from actions taken based on the information provided. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.