Combating Mental Health Stigma? There’s an App for That

When Ariana Alejandra Gibson was growing up, she didn’t have an outlet for talking about her father who had schizophrenia. A boyfriend’s father even once said that his son couldn’t have children with Gibson because then their children would also have schizophrenia. She felt shamed and stigmatized for her father’s illness and figured others probably did too. So she created the STIGMA app, which allows users to share their personal struggles and stories and even ask for a message of hope. Gibson found sometimes just hearing, “You are not alone,” can help a lot. Gibson is also partnering with BRAVE, which can connect users with mental health professionals. Gibson talks to host Jacoby Cochran about the origin of the app and how a social experiment in her neighborhood helped her decide she needed to create it. Guest: Ariana Alejandra Gibson — Founder, STIGMA App Some Good News: "Gem of the Ocean" at Goodman Theatre Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm