Share the HOPE of Mental Health Recovery with Others

Who We Are

A key department of Rogers Behavioral Health, Rogers InHealth seeks to increase inclusion, support and hope for all living with mental health and addiction challenges. The Rogers InHealth website is dedicated to distributing stories of recovery to offer insights into the experience of illness and recovery to people with mental illness and addiction, their friends and family, professionals and the general public. People with mental health challenges sharing their recovery experiences in a targeted, local, credible and continuous way is the current, primary, evidence-based practice to reduce stigma. Rogers InHealth promotes the power of strategic contact with people in recovery to end stigma in schools, healthcare, congregations, workplaces and wherever humans interact.

Wisconsin Initiative for Stigma Elimination

Rogers InHealth provides collaborative leadership to WISE (Wisconsin Initiative for Stigma Elimination). WISE is a statewide coalition of organizations and individuals building resilient and hopeful communities by promoting inclusion and support for all affected by mental health challenges. WISE implements and advances evidence-based practices for stigma reduction.

Rogers InHealth Ethics Statement on Disclosure

Rogers InHealth works to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and addictions by illuminating effective treatment and recovery practices and the resulting positive impact on individuals' lives. Rogers InHealth also promotes strategic sharing of one's experience with mental illness and addiction as a "coming out" of the shadows of secrecy to reduce self-stigma. These goals are met through filming stories and actual or re-enacted therapeutic experiences for broad distribution electronically.

First and foremost, Rogers InHealth seeks to support the healing and recovery of people with mental illness and addictions. While many reach a point in their recovery when they have a strong desire to assist others by sharing what they have learned, it is always important to consider any consequences of sharing one's story. For some, the benefits outweigh the potential risks and they decide to talk about their mental illness with their family, their friends, at their workplace and/or other settings. Some choose to participate in opportunities to tell their story publicly to further the mission of reducing stigma. A decision either way will not impact the person's future treatment or funding for treatment by Rogers Behavioral Health. InHealth offers training on supporting people to make the best decisions around personal disclosure in the various settings of their lives.

Our History

Our History

In 2011 Rogers Behavioral Health (RBH) Board Chair and System President pursued the idea of creating a new entity within the system to focus on reducing the stigma of mental illness and addiction. It is clear that stigma interferes with people accessing care and recovery options. News stories from across the country demonstrate the consequences of lack of mental health supports for people challenged by mental illness.

Growth

Growth

In 2012, the plan came together and the boards of the two organizations agreed InHealth WI would become the new Rogers InHealth. Work began to meet the goals defined by the collaborative planning process. InHealth WI, an existing non-profit organization that had been in operation for 12 years came to the attention of RBH. This small organization had been making a positive impact through creative, effective, community-based programs and collaborations. The initial relationship was consultative as InHealth WI’s staff conducted an internal and external planning process to determine the best direction for the new department.

WISE & InHealth

WISE & InHealth

Within the first year, WISE was formed to provide a “think tank” for the many mental health advocacy, provider and community organizations to come together to learn and implement best practices in this important work. Gaps were identified and four resources were developed to fill the gaps in stigma reduction resources: WISE Basics, Up to Me, Safe Person Decals/training, and Compassion Resilience Toolkits.