Amie Archibald-Varley, Nurse, Health Equity Specialist, and co-host of the Gritty Nurse Podcast, joins us to talk about stigma, where it comes from, and how it leads to discrimination. This episode (which is part one of our three-part series) will inform you on how to prevent and address stigmas as well as be a good ally. You're Not Alone: Navigating Life with Mental Illness is a three-part series for Mental Illness Awareness Week 2023 (October 1 - 7) that explores mental illness, the barriers that can block your journey to good mental health, and how stigmas, diagnoses, and disclosure are represented on film and TV. TRANSCRIPT  Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com Follow: @BraaainsPodcast Music: @_Deppisch_ Design: Perpetualnotion.ca Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast GUEST BIO Amie Archibald-Varley is a thought leader, Speaker with the National Speakers Bureau, Health Equity Specialist, and upcoming author of "The Wisdom of Nurses" with Harper Collins (April 2024). She is also a podcaster, mental health & health equity advocate, and quality improvement and change management specialist. She inspires others to speak their truths and brings communities together to engage in "courageous conversations." Amie is a medical contributor who has been featured on numerous television, radio, and news outlets nationally and internationally. She is a Freelance Journalist with the Canadian Broadcaster Corporation (CBC), and regularly contributes to conversations on a wide variety of topics such as: Healthcare, politics (local, national, and international), climate change, health equity, racism and antiracism, mental health issues, and popular culture. She is also featured on the Smart Speakers Series on Newstalk1010's The Rush with Reshmi Nair. Amie has also written for The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, and the Toronto Star and is currently writing a book with Harper Collins for 2024. As the co-host of the successful Gritty Nurse Podcast, Amie discusses hot topics in healthcare. The podcast has hit #2 in Apple Podcasts in Medicine for Canada. She also is starting 2 new podcasts in 2023: DEFIANT and Too Opinionated Podcast launching in Feb/Mar 2023. In her role as a Health Equity Specialist, Amie provides leadership, advisory, and strategic consultation related to anti-racism, and equity in the culture, policies, and practices of a large health system, with a specific focus on promoting respect for equity-deserving groups.