The Town Hall’s Civic Discourse held a panel discussion on dismantling mental health stigmas on Oct. 27. 

The event, moderated by Executive Editor at WebMD Laura J. Downey, featured distinguished panelists including Maggie Hureau, director of social impact at Mammoth Brands, Darcy Gruttadaro, chief innovation officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Wenhua Lu, Ph.D., associate medical professor at the City University of New York School of Medicine. 

The event took place in person at The Town Hall in Manhattan, as well as online via a YouTube livestream.

The discussion was opened by Giorgio Sylvestre, a first-year student at Yale University. Sylvestre discussed his own history with mental health and shared how society should not bury mental health. 

“Mental health should never be something to hide from. It should never be something we fear, as though acknowledging it is the very thing that will destroy us. Mental health is about being seen, being loved, knowing you are not alone,” Sylvestre said.

The first question Downey posed to the panelists regarded how mental health stigmas vary across the United States. Lu discussed her work within the Asian-American community and the ideas surrounding perfection that are specifically placed onto children. 

Gruttadaro weighed in by sharing historical representations of mental illness, specifically the portrayals in film. Hureau noted a focus on men’s mental health within her work and the ways certain stigmas specifically impact men.

The panelists shifted their focus toward a data-focused discussion. Hureau referenced her company Harry’s research through their men’s care initiatives, noting that although 75% of men recognized a mental health crisis, only 50% identified a personal need for support and less than a third of those actually reached out for help. She added that men’s mental health issues are especially visible among younger men, including Black youth, who often assume they can manage problems alone and “suffer in silence.”

Lu explained that, based on work with Asian American adolescents, mental health struggles often begin as early as middle school. She said that for teenagers, these struggles are framed as a personal weakness or a character issue rather than a treatable health condition. 

As young adults transition into college environments, mental health issues persist, but they transition from being based on emotions to being based on environmental factors, such as expectations for success, high achievement and perfection. She also said that phrases like “it’s just stress” or “you’ll get over it” dismiss underlying issues and can delay treatment. 

Gruttadaro added that in many cultures, mental illness is still seen as a vulnerability that should remain within the family, and that this contributes to isolation. 

She also pointed out that portrayals of mental health issues in film and media reinforce stereotypes that have remained embedded in public perceptions. When asked how to shift the narrative, she said that early education is vital and encouraged “regular check-ins” even when those conversations feel uncomfortable. 

“You’re not planting a seed,” she said, in reference to asking individuals who may be at risk of self-harm. “It’s the right thing to ask.”

Ending the discussion, the panelists discussed  “culturally competent care.” Lu noted that communication only works when it’s in a language that people understand. She said that with immigrant families, translating ideas back into their language, or something as simple as writing it down, can change how the message is received. 

Hureau added that many communities had already developed cultural forms of healing long before the formalization of mental health vocabulary became established. These practices, however, are often not recognized or scaled. 

Gruttadaro added that representation matters inside support systems themselves. She stated that sending culturally relevant providers into communities enhances trust and engagement, and cited partnerships with Divine Nine sororities as an example of community-level trust building.

Christina Sparrock, founder of the New York City Mental Health Collective, argued that language was often used to criminalize rather than support, while another attendee raised concerns about adolescent suicide rates. Gruttadaro responded that half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, and 75% begin by age 25. 

Later, Gruttadaro noted that the curriculum for middle school mental health literacy is in development, including material designed for grades three to five. She also emphasized trauma as a connected factor that must be addressed before high school. 

When asked how audiences could partner with organizations, panelists encouraged engagement with existing networks rather than assuming that expertise in the field was required. Lu said something as simple as asking students how they are doing goes a long way. 

Lu’s personal example drove home the panelists’ focus on clinical language not being necessary to model care. Gruttadaro advised parents and teachers to be aware of reliable online warning sign resources. Hureau said small adjustments to communication styles, such as texting instead of sitting at a dinner table, can make conversations more comfortable.

The conversation concluded with a focus on collective responsibility. Panelists emphasized the need for collaboration between nonprofits and industry to achieve lasting change and that building trust requires patience. Audience members were encouraged to contribute their time, attention and empathy and to remember that, rather than assuming specialized knowledge is needed, everyday vernacular is perfectly fine to use when participating in stigma reduction.