THANK YOU FOR SHOWING YOUR SUPPORT!
We are stoked to be a part of the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 9, 2022.
You can support our our runners’ fundraising efforts via the button below. Remember to share your training and event experiences with us online @NoStigmas #IHaveNoStigmas, and join us in advocating to end mental health stigmas!
Our Chicago Marathon Fundraising Page
fundraisers.hakuapp.com/teams/nostigmas
Our NoStigmas Fundraising Page
Charity Team Management
Lena Aboulhouda - hi@nostigmas.org
Media inquiries - lance@nostigmas.org
Address:
ATTN Jacob Moore, 301 W Grand Ave #255, Chicago, IL, 60654
Join the advocates that have supported us through past Bank of America Chicago Marathons. We are no stranger to moving for mental health awareness. We have held our own NoStigmas 5K and participated in the Hot Chocolate 5K/15k, AFSP Overnight Walk, and Walk for Life Naperville. Click the button to donate now!
Who We Are
NoStigmas is a non-profit organization that aspires to improve the health and wellness of individuals by addressing behavioral and social determinants to reduce health disparities. We aim to cultivate the go-to peer support community, and to be the driving force behind a positive shift in perspective by fostering a culture of inclusion and empowerment—creating a world with NoStigmas.
Our mission is to ensure that no one faces mental health challenges alone. We envision a world without shame or discrimination related to mental health, brain disease, behavioral disorders, trauma, suicide, and addiction.
This mission is fulfilled by utilizing a uniquely individual approach that provides universal access to mental health prevention and education, support systems, and resources.
Why We Advocate
The Chicago National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), reports that 38.5% of adults in Illinois ages 18 and older reported poor mental health (feeling very depressed and/or anxious and having to limit daily activities because of mental health problems). According to the Healthy Chicago 2.0 Report, it was self-reported that 18.4% of adults in the Chicagoland area feel that their health is fair or poor compared to 10.3% nationally.
Because mental health challenges and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) are common across all socioeconomic and ethnic groups, it is important to think about universal prevention measures. NoStigmas also provides services that enhance the systems-of-care available to individuals in the Chicagoland area living with a mental illness. We aim to lower the stigmas of mental health services and to provide free peer-to-peer services for individuals.
Let’s Talk Stats
Half of mental health challenges start by age 14, with depression being the leading cause of illness and disability among adolescents according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It is important to note that most of these cases are “undetected and untreated” (WHO). This disparity is a risk factor for suicide, which is the third leading cause of death in those ages 15 - 19 (WHO).
Furthermore, when left unaddressed, these mental health challenges continue across the lifespan. Approximately 50% of all Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in their lifetime, with close to 45 million currently living with a mental illness according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institute for Health (NIH).
With these high numbers of individuals experiencing mental health illnesses, we also address the dose-response relationship between trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) for developing mental health challenges. One out of every four adolescents have been exposed to a traumatic event that can affect their learning and behavior according to The National Childhood Traumatic Stress Network. Individuals experiencing both chronic trauma, multiple traumas, and a high ACE score are at a higher risk for mental health challenges, because it negatively affects individuals’ neurobiology.
Research thoroughly demonstrates the benefits of peer support programs that include stronger social support systems, improvements in self-efficacy, increased knowledge of a disorder and likelihood of treatment follow-through, and reductions in hospitalizations, use of emergency services, and readmissions due to mental health crises. The research is evidenced across several studies and published in well-known journals of psychology.
FAQs
What is your team name? - Team NoStigmas
What is your organization’s primary category of focus? - Advocacy
What is your organization’s primary area of focus? - Local, national, and international
What are keywords used to describe and search for NoStigmas? - Mental Health, Mental Illness, Suicide Prevention
Can your charity process donations in currencies other than USD? - Yes
What is your fundraising deadline? - Before event
Does your organization pay your participants’ registration fees? - Cover based on fundraising levels
What fundraising platform will your participants use? - GoFundMe Charity
What is your EIN? - 45-1343051
What is your organization’s name as listed on 501(c)(3) documentation? - NoStigmas