Winter

This is something that was happening to me, not something that was me

Ashley

He didn’t know how good he was

Linda

Mental illness was a part of her. It was not all of her.

Lise

There is no shame in needing help

Lexi

It felt like I had a big hole in my chest

Persephone

I often fall through the cracks

Nancy

There’s just so much abuse one living creature can take before their spirit breaks

Sandy

I never lost hope

Tian

People should be seen as people and not as a set of symptoms

Jodi

Finding her voice

Jen

Seeking help saved my life

Julia

I was not living: I was surviving

Burlington, Vermont

Mental health affects everyone, yet statistics show that stigma continues to be the biggest barrier to individuals seeking care. In 2016, shortly after launching Deconstructing Stigma at Boston Logan Airport, McLean received an impassioned phone call from a mental health advocate in Vermont asking us to consider bringing the campaign to the Green Mountain State.

Deconstructing Stigma in Burlington

The Burlington International Airport has welcomed McLean to exhibit the hospital’s award-winning public awareness campaign, Deconstructing Stigma. The exhibit, which has been developed specifically for the airport, features men and women from Vermont who have experienced mental health challenges themselves and in their families.

But beyond their willingness to share their stories to encourage others to seek care and to know they are not alone, the volunteers in this campaign are wildlife advocates, musicians, fitness instructors, actors, athletes, and artists. They are sisters and wives, brothers and fathers. What do they have in common? All have been affected by mental illness and the stigma that surrounds it and have been brought together as part of Deconstructing Stigma.

Learn more about the exhibit.

Facts About Mental Health in Vermont

In 2016, suicide was the 8th-leading cause of death for all Vermonters
Over the past two decades, trends in death by suicide have increased in Vermont and the United States
In recent years, more than 100 Vermonters have died by suicide each year
The percentage of Vermont adults with any mental health condition is generally higher than corresponding rates in the US and Northeast
More Vermont adults are getting treatment than the national average (58% vs 43% in 2015); other data sources—such as data reported to SAMHSA’s Uniform Reporting System (URS)—show that Vermont’s use of community mental health services is much higher than the national average (39 per 1,000 people vs. 23 per 1,000 people in 2015)
In Vermont, about 6,000 adolescents aged 12-17 (12.7% of all adolescents) per year in 2013-2014 reported using illicit drugs within the month prior to being surveyed
In Vermont, about 7 in 10 (68.8%) adolescents aged 12-17 in 2013-2014 perceived no great risk from having five or more drinks once or twice a week—higher than the national percentage
In Vermont, about 23,000 adults aged 18 or older (4.7% of all adults) per year in 2013-2014 had serious thoughts of suicide within the year prior to being surveyed
In Vermont, about 57,000 adults aged 18 or older with mental illness (57.7% of all adults with mental illness) per year from 2010 to 2014 received mental health treatment/counseling within the year prior to being surveyed

Get Support

Many organizations throughout Vermont offer support and services to individuals and families in need. Find Vermont-specific resources.