STAR Program Tackles Mental Health Stigma
By Office of the President | Jan 14, 2025
Downstate鈥檚 STAR Program is taking bold steps to combat mental health stigma, focusing on underserved communities facing the intersecting challenges of mental health and HIV. Through its 鈥淪top Mental Health Stigma鈥� campaign, supported by funding from the New York State Office of Mental Health, the program challenges stereotypes, builds understanding, and encourages open dialogue about mental health.
As part of New York State鈥檚 Strategic Plan for Mental Health Stigma Reduction, the STAR Program delivered a powerful presentation for the 鈥淣Y State Community Mental Health Anti-Stigma Projects,鈥� showcasing the campaign鈥檚 innovative approach, emphasizing the importance of breaking down barriers and creating compassionate, inclusive conversations around mental health. Introduced by Jack A. DeHovitz, M.D., MPH, MHCDS, FACP, STAR Program Director and Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine, the session highlighted the program鈥檚 鈥淪top Mental Health Stigma鈥� campaign.
This initiative leverages the power of personal storytelling, featuring narratives from individuals who have faced mental health challenges alongside perspectives from care providers. These stories aim to foster empathy, challenge stereotypes, and encourage open conversations about mental health, furthering the campaign鈥檚 mission to dismantle stigma and create understanding.
Social media is pivotal in the 鈥淪top Mental Health Stigma鈥� campaign, effectively reaching younger audiences aged 18 to 34. Jose Iorio, STAR Program media and marketing consultant, highlights how using multilingual posts, testimonials, roundtable discussions, and interactive quizzes fosters meaningful engagement and sparks essential conversations about mental health.
The campaign鈥檚 reach extends beyond social media, incorporating initiatives such as suicide prevention training, Mental Health Awareness Month events, and workplace mental health programs. Michelle Melendez, MS, LCSW, CHC, STAR Behavioral Health Director, underscores the importance of tailoring culturally relevant resources for African American and Caribbean youth, ensuring that support reaches those who need it most. Collaborations with organizations like Teens Helping Each Other (THEO), the STAR Program鈥檚 adolescent education component, further amplify the campaign鈥檚 impact, reinforcing its mission to create a healthier, stigma-free community.
The 鈥淪top Mental Health Stigma鈥� campaign reflects just one aspect of the STAR Program鈥檚 broader commitment to comprehensive, patient-centered care. The STAR Health Center, recognized as a Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, delivers high-quality, coordinated healthcare to meet Brooklyn鈥檚 diverse communities鈥� unique needs. Contact jose.iorio@downstate.edu or michelle.melendez@downstate.edu for more information. Watch the full video .