WISE is an acronym that stands for Wisconsin Initiative for Stigma Elimination, a statewide collaboration of organizations and individuals. The work of WISE is supported by Patrick Corrigan, Ph.D., Illinois Institute of Technology, who is the lead investigator for the National Consortium for Stigma and Empowerment.
What do we do?
WISE’s goals are to:
increase inclusion, hope, and support for those struggling with mental health challenges
promote evidence-based practices, current research, and outcome evaluation
offer insights, resources, and support for stigma reduction
When and where do we meet?
We meet on the third Tuesday every other month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Our meetings are held in Oconomowoc in order to be accessible to people from all over Wisconsin. If interested in attending, please subscribe to the WISE newsletter, which features up-to-date details and information, or contact us at https://eliminatestigma.org/.
Why is WISE’s work important?
WISE’s work is so important because the latest statistics from the CDC, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, show that 1 in 2, or close to 50% of people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. This means that the “they” we use when giving statistics is actually “us.” This isn’t a cause outside of our circle of care or relevance, because it affects us, or our co-workers, family members, and friends.
So what’s next?
For more information, sign up for the WISE newsletter, attend a WISE meeting to get more involved, or visit our website at https://eliminatestigma.org/. And don’t forget to check in for next month’s blog, which will further explore WISE’s work.
Thanks,
Lucy, and the WISE team
