Mental illness touches us all, whether we see it in our own family, or whether we just want to build safe and supportive communities for future generations. Letʼs Erase the Stigma Educational Foundation (LETS) helps organize school-based LETS Clubs that provide opportunities for children, adolescents, and young adults to provide early education for their peers and openly discuss stigma. Stigma is the number one reason why individuals with mental health concerns do not seek treatment, but today the LETS kids are creating a movement of change. What began as a single Club of 5 students in Los Angeles has grown into a national organization of more than 300 students in 15 LETS Clubs, with even more being founded each month.

LETS is a simple, yet revolutionary, idea. It's a way of fighting the stigma of mental illness, with the energy, ideas, and plans all made by kids! LETS is an idea whose time has come.

—Dr. Stephen Hinshaw, Department of Psychology
at the University of California, Berkeley, Editor,
Psychology Bulletin

Our Mission

Letʼs Erase the Stigma Educational Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) childrenʼs charity dedicated to erasing the stigma of mental illness by funding and developing educational programs, mentoring opportunities, and research possibilities designed to empower youth to change the perception of mental illness.

Our Goals

LETS erases the stigma of mental illness by working together with youth on shared goals:

• Establishing stigma-erasing Clubs on every school campus—where new leaders advocate for people with mental illness.
• Changing negative perceptions of mental illness into positive dialogue, making it okay to talk about mental illness in everyday conversations.
• Empowering young generations to teach others how to replace stigma with awareness.
• Helping youth feel confident asking for help if needed, because mental illness isnʼt shameful.
• Preventing crisis through early education and the power of peer-to-peer learning.
• Building supportive communities that include everyone in erasing the stigma of mental illness.

Our Programs

Up until now, our culture has dealt with mental illness by waiting until a young person is in crisis to respond; but LETS is a resource for creative, youth-led initiatives that move away from crisis-based treatment and toward prevention and early education. We implement creative, youth-centered initiatives that:

• Establish LETS Clubs in high schools, middle schools, community centers, colleges, and universities.
• Cultivate mentorships between university students and high school students.
• Create scientific research opportunities that explore LETS outcomes and mental health in youth.
• Host annual LETS conferences for high school students at no cost to the students.
• Host college symposia for students, professors, and researchers.
• Create outreach opportunities for community service and education.
• Develop interactive speakers programs for LETS youth to talk with peers who experience stigma.

Our Research

LETS is committed measuring outcomes from its earliest work in order to maintain accountability, refine our goals, establish best practices, and learn more about how stigma affects children. Our LETS  Directors of Research are internationally renowned stigma experts: Dr. Bennett Leventhal, of the Nathan Kline Institute; and Dr. Stephen Hinshaw, of the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley oversee LETS pilot and long-term research programs to evaluate sustained change in attitudes and behaviors related to mental illness. We take inspiration from kids who share stories of how LETS has helped with issues like bullying and talking to family members about mental health concerns. Our evaluation of the LETS model will help us continue to improve our youthsʼ experience.

An Invitation

Help us continue our legacy! We invite you to contact LETS at 888.594.5387 or moreinfo@letserasethestigma.org to discuss opportunities for giving and the many ways you can become involved in youth initiatives that erase the stigma.