All correspondence must be made through the Vendor Portal. Specifications include, but are not limited to: The County of Orange (County) Health Care Agency (HCA) is seeking applications from qualified organizations to provide Mental Health Community Educational Events in Orange County, California. The primary goal of this program is to support individuals or groups who are able to produce meaningful community event(s) to a diverse population that can deliver an effective message towards reducing mental health stigma. Contracts will be awarded for events that meet the program needs contingent upon available funding. According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than half of people with mental illness do not seek help for their disorders. Often, people avoid or delay seeking treatment due to concerns about being treated differently or fear of losing their livelihood. Research indicates that mental illness stigma is a barrier to seeking help and recovery1 and it negatively affects timely access to participation in mental health care services2 . According to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), one of the causes of social exclusion and discrimination associated with mental illnesses is a misperception that people who have mental illnesses lack the same interests and abilities as everyone else. Evidence points to the fact that stigma reduction awareness and education and messaging that utilizes creative and artistic mediums such as plays, skits, art shows, videos, slide shows, film series, poetry readings, music performances, dance productions and other similar methods can increase awareness, dispel the myths and reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health conditions. In addition, utilizing persons who have lived experience with mental illness and/or substance use disorders for these events encourages participation in these events and supports their well-being as well. For example, “participation in arts programs can interrupt the drift to a negative lifestyle, helping to replace destructive behavior with positive activities and interests.3 ” Furthermore, performing arts have also shown to promote empowerment in individuals impacted and allow communities to dialogue about illnesses in a meaningful way.4 This is accomplished through education via an art-based method, that uses social learning (social cognitive theory) through observation.5
