Our Mission is to instill community, leadership, and purpose in 250,000 young adults by 2027 so they can live mentally healthier lives.
What We Stand For
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We hope to eventually trademark the symbol our Founder built SAS on: the semi-colon with a heart instead of a dot. In written language, it represents a place where the writer could have stopped, but instead continued writing. In the mental health community, the semi-colon symbolizes the continuity of mental health awareness, as well as solidarity and affirmation with addiction, depression, suicide and other mental health issues. The semi-colon is a symbol of strength and support amidst suffering and hopelessness.
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Our Values
Courage
When it comes down to it, there's one thing that can empower a generation more than anything else: the ability to act in the face of fear. We aspire to empower and elevate Gen Zers to have the courage to be who they are even when the world tells them that they are not enough.
Compassion
We believe in the power of compassion. It's not just about helping others; it's also about understanding that we're all connected—that we all have similar needs and desires, and that we can empathize with each other because we've been through similar things ourselves. Helping and supporting each other has a ripple effect, and we value making a more compassionate world for all, one step at a time.
Creativity
Creativity is a fundamental attribute that has the power to change the face of mental health. It's not just about being able to come up with a new idea—it's also about being able to execute that idea and make it happen. At Step Above Stigma, we utilize creativity throughout every touch point, whether it be coming up with a new mental health solution or receiving feedback for how we can do better.
Commitment
We're committed to making an impact on our generation's mental health. We believe that everyone deserves to love themselves, even when they make mistakes or simply feel like they don't belong. We want Gen Zers to recognize that they matter and are valued in this world so they can thrive.
Community
There are so many things to celebrate about being different, but there's something even more powerful about being able to unite around commonalities. We want to create a space where people from all walks of life can come together and celebrate what makes them unique, where they feel welcomed and understood, and where everyone feels like they belong.
When it comes down to it, there's one thing that can empower a generation more than anything else: the ability to act in the face of fear. We aspire to empower and elevate Gen Zers to have the courage to be who they are even when the world tells them that they are not enough.
Compassion
We believe in the power of compassion. It's not just about helping others; it's also about understanding that we're all connected—that we all have similar needs and desires, and that we can empathize with each other because we've been through similar things ourselves. Helping and supporting each other has a ripple effect, and we value making a more compassionate world for all, one step at a time.
Creativity
Creativity is a fundamental attribute that has the power to change the face of mental health. It's not just about being able to come up with a new idea—it's also about being able to execute that idea and make it happen. At Step Above Stigma, we utilize creativity throughout every touch point, whether it be coming up with a new mental health solution or receiving feedback for how we can do better.
Commitment
We're committed to making an impact on our generation's mental health. We believe that everyone deserves to love themselves, even when they make mistakes or simply feel like they don't belong. We want Gen Zers to recognize that they matter and are valued in this world so they can thrive.
Community
There are so many things to celebrate about being different, but there's something even more powerful about being able to unite around commonalities. We want to create a space where people from all walks of life can come together and celebrate what makes them unique, where they feel welcomed and understood, and where everyone feels like they belong.
Our Impact
We have 4 established chapters across Canada and have had more than 724 volunteers. We will be 1,000 strong by the end of 2023. From a survey of 84 volunteers at our founding chapter…
- 99% agree that their understanding of mental health has improved being engaged with SAS.
- 92% agree that SAS has improved their understanding of intersectionality.
- 99% agree that SAS has encouraged them to take care of the mental health of those around them.
- 98% said that SAS inspired them to be a mental health advocate.
- 95% feel like they are a part of a community being involved with SAS.
- 99% would recommend SAS to a friend.
- 97% say that SAS helps them feel less alone when it comes to having mental health or a mental illness.
- 99% agree that SAS reduced the stigma associated with mental health and illness.
- 97% agree that SAS is taking action to create systemic change in the mental health space.
Testimonials
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"Being a part of SAS has been life changing. I have learned how to use my experiences to help show others they are not alone and to advocate for mental health. I have met an amazing community of like minded people that I am excited to see at every meeting and I am genuinely so proud to be a part of this team."
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"I think being a part of SAS means that I don't feel alone in my mental health journey. Everyone that is on SAS has their own relationship, experiences and journey with mental health. Not only is it valuable and meaningful to learn from each other, but it also helps me feel supported. I think this club is one that I truly felt safe and comfortable. I really love the atmosphere of the club and the top execs for fostering such a warm and welcoming space."
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"Being a part of SAS means so much to me because of the community of advocates that has been formed to make me feel less alone with my own mental health struggles. It means that there will always be people who can resonate with what I've been feeling, yet it also means that there will be people to learn from and to become more educated from. It provides so many perspectives and lenses for collective and systemic change in our world for mental health access."
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