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Shame and stigma

Shame and stigma can show up for families in many ways that make life harder, disrupt connection and tear down our sense of identity.

When we understand more about how shame and stigma work, we can:

  • help our children deal with the not-good-enough feelings shame and stigma can create
  • teach them importance of treating others with respect and empathy
  • create more supportive environments for our children; and
  • stand up for our family and children when we experience stigma.

When we can see stigma and shame in action, it can make it easier to respond to those effects and find ways of reconnecting with each other and communities we are part of.

This collection of resources has been created with families who’ve been through tough times to spark hope and new ideas for responding to the harmful effects of shame and stigma on children and families. If your family is struggling with shame and stigma, we hope their stories remind you that you’re not alone.

The effects of shame and stigma can be huge and overwhelming at times. We hope these resources make it a little easier to spot those effects for your family and to remember they are not your fault.

But we also hope these stories remind you of things your family does to stand up to shame and stigma and maybe sparks some new ideas.

Choose from the following resources:

Read more about how families are standing up to shame and stigma by:

More resources:

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