Roughly one in four people will experience a mental health problem during their lifetime, yet only a quarter of those who experience a mental illness reach out for support. Most fear that others will judge them negatively, and that the shame they will bring upon themselves and their families is too great. Stigma and discrimination against those living with mental illness is widespread and reaches into schools and institutions of learning, employment, housing, health care and media. It causes shame, prejudice and hopelessness, leaves many trying to manage the problem on their own, either suffering in silence, or masking the pain with drugs or alcohol. But mental illness is treatable, and recovery is possible when education, family, peer and community supports are available and used. Join TELL in fighting back against the cost of stigma.