Advocacy
Bring Change 2 Mind - New PSA To Help End Stigma
05/16/13 20:33
Need I say more? We should not be afraid of individuals with a mental illness. But we still are, in the year 2013. I can barely fathom it.
Why Do I Talk So Openly? - I Have To
05/12/13 17:50
As Simi Lichtman, (Associate Editor, New Voices Magazine) so eloquently states:
Mental Health Patients: Ending Stigma Must Come From Us
"I don't think everyone needs to publicize their disorders; I believe that many people need their privacy for reasons other than fear of stigmatization. But to hide it completely is to give in to the stigma and encourage its continuation. We need to be honest about our conditions with ourselves and others if we want others to stop judging us. Once we as patients are able to speak about our illnesses candidly, we can place the pressure on the rest of the world to accept us openly; until then, we cannot expect more of others than we are willing to offer ourselves."
We really have no choice, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. To read the full article in the Huffington Post, CLICK HERE. <-------------
Mental Health Patients: Ending Stigma Must Come From Us
"I don't think everyone needs to publicize their disorders; I believe that many people need their privacy for reasons other than fear of stigmatization. But to hide it completely is to give in to the stigma and encourage its continuation. We need to be honest about our conditions with ourselves and others if we want others to stop judging us. Once we as patients are able to speak about our illnesses candidly, we can place the pressure on the rest of the world to accept us openly; until then, we cannot expect more of others than we are willing to offer ourselves."
We really have no choice, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. To read the full article in the Huffington Post, CLICK HERE. <-------------
Raising Funds for Active Minds - 10 Year Anniversary! Save a Student's Life/Save a Student's Future
05/12/13 01:32
Click Here ---> Sandy Gale For Active Minds, 2003-2013
Please donate ANY AMOUNT over a secure connection, and you are welcome to give an anonymous gift. You may also make a donation in honor, in memorium, et al. Thank you!
Sandy
“Active Minds empowers students to speak openly about mental health to educate others and encourage help-seeking. We are changing the culture on campuses and in our communities by raising awareness about mental health while providing leadership opportunities and advocacy training to the next generation.
Since 2003, Active Minds programming and services have reached an estimated 6.54 million people.” For more information, please visit Active Minds
And meet “The Heard” -- Key Public Speakers for Active Minds
Please donate ANY AMOUNT over a secure connection, and you are welcome to give an anonymous gift. You may also make a donation in honor, in memorium, et al. Thank you!
Sandy
“Active Minds empowers students to speak openly about mental health to educate others and encourage help-seeking. We are changing the culture on campuses and in our communities by raising awareness about mental health while providing leadership opportunities and advocacy training to the next generation.
Since 2003, Active Minds programming and services have reached an estimated 6.54 million people.” For more information, please visit Active Minds
And meet “The Heard” -- Key Public Speakers for Active Minds
Active Minds Video - Why This Organization Is So Important For Young People
04/23/13 00:39
Please view this brief video and share it with others -- fellow students, educators, friends and family. No individual, no young person with all the potential in the world, should feel shame to reach out for help. This student-run organization makes it easier for peers to help each other cope with stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues exacerbated by the challenges of university life.
Countless lives and promising futures have been saved by Active Minds.
And thank you for visiting my fundraising page:
Sandy Gale For Active Minds <---- Click Here to make a donation. No amount is too small on the 10th Anniversary of Active Minds. And there are now over 400 chapters at colleges and universities across the US and Canada. Active Minds should be on every college campus.
"Running From Crazy" - Mariel Hemingway And Her Family's Battle With Mental Illness
02/08/13 00:38
"Running from Crazy": Mariel Hemingway Tackles Family History of Suicide, Mental Illness in New Documentary
“The new documentary "Running from Crazy" chronicles the life of actress Mariel Hemingway, the granddaughter of the great novelist Ernest Hemingway. The film focuses on Mariel’s family history of mental illness and the suicides of seven relatives, including her grandfather and her sister, Margaux.
The film is directed by the two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple, whose documentary "Harlan County U.S.A." has become a classic and won an Oscar in 1977. We’re joined by Mariel Hemingway and Barbara Kopple from the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.”
Severe Chronic Anxiety Can Be Deadly
08/26/12 12:50
Here is an article that breaks my heart. No one truly understand the devastating, destructive power of severe chronic anxiety; I know this feeling, I live with this feeling, and finally it is breaking into mainstream awareness thanks to the Andrew Kukes Foundation For Social Anxiety. (Visit this link to this desperately needed organization.)
I need only give the title of a recent Detroit Free Press article on this foundation, created in memory of Andrew Kukes who committed suicide as a young man after having lived his entire, brief, life with social anxiety; chronic social anxiety can kill.
Anxiety disorder takes a son away forever
By Kristen Jordan Shamus Detroit Free Press Columnist
August 25, 2012
Maybe you felt it at your wedding, minutes before you stood in front of family and friends to profess your love.
Maybe it hit you just as you were about to give a big presentation at work or before an athletic competition.
Most of us have felt anxiety. It's that pit-in-the stomach panic that takes over just before you have to do something big.
But imagine if you felt that way all the time. Every time you had to speak to someone. Every time you went anywhere. Every time you did anything.
That's how it was for Andrew Kukes. Andrew had social anxiety disorder, an often misdiagnosed, little-understood condition that affects as many as 15 million Americans.
For years, he struggled to find a name for what plagued him. His family tried to help, sending him to specialist after specialist before finally learning what was wrong. But by then, Andrew had sunk into a deep depression.
"My phone rang one day, and it was Andy's older brother, and he said he'd found him and that Andy had killed himself," said his father, Jeff Kukes. "It still haunts us today; we could not find help for Andy."
See the full article at: The Detroit Free Press, thanks to Kristen Jordan Shamus Read More...
I need only give the title of a recent Detroit Free Press article on this foundation, created in memory of Andrew Kukes who committed suicide as a young man after having lived his entire, brief, life with social anxiety; chronic social anxiety can kill.
Anxiety disorder takes a son away forever
By Kristen Jordan Shamus Detroit Free Press Columnist
August 25, 2012
Maybe you felt it at your wedding, minutes before you stood in front of family and friends to profess your love.
Maybe it hit you just as you were about to give a big presentation at work or before an athletic competition.
Most of us have felt anxiety. It's that pit-in-the stomach panic that takes over just before you have to do something big.
But imagine if you felt that way all the time. Every time you had to speak to someone. Every time you went anywhere. Every time you did anything.
That's how it was for Andrew Kukes. Andrew had social anxiety disorder, an often misdiagnosed, little-understood condition that affects as many as 15 million Americans.
For years, he struggled to find a name for what plagued him. His family tried to help, sending him to specialist after specialist before finally learning what was wrong. But by then, Andrew had sunk into a deep depression.
"My phone rang one day, and it was Andy's older brother, and he said he'd found him and that Andy had killed himself," said his father, Jeff Kukes. "It still haunts us today; we could not find help for Andy."
See the full article at: The Detroit Free Press, thanks to Kristen Jordan Shamus Read More...
Jared Loughner And The Price We Pay for Stigma and Ignorance
08/20/12 12:21
This article is not an apology for Jared Loughner’s actions in Arizona. He deserves to be in prison for heinous crimes. But here is a story of a man in a similar situation who received treatment that changed the course of his life. Stigma and ignorance about mental illness only lead to devastated of lives -- individuals who suffer, their families who suffer, and those who may become the victims of violence as demonstrated in the Loughner case. The media as usual has it all wrong; let’s not discuss gun control in this context, let’s talk about treatment for the mentally ill. An ounce of prevention, a pound of cure …
As the author of this article notes:
“So, some may choose to focus on the debate regarding our nation's political rhetoric. But whether we're talking about John Hinckley, Mark Chapman or the more recent example of Jared Loughner, one thing we should all be able to recognize is that mental illness can be a fatal illness – and if left untreated, its costs are overwhelming.”
See the full article at this LINK:
Maine Voices: Where was mental health crisis care before Tucson tragedy happened?
Someone who found help in that city says it was available, but apparently Jared Loughner missed his chance at it.
By RANDY SEAVER
The Portland Press Herald
(Randy Seaver of Biddeford is married and the stepfather of two boys. He works as a communications consultant.)
BIDDEFORD — The horrific event that transpired in Tucson on Saturday has inspired more than ample discussion regarding the tone and spirit of our nation's political discourse.
Despite all the fervent commentary, there is one piece of this puzzle that remains largely glossed over, however.
And this is where it gets a bit personal. When I was 22, I was living in Tucson and attending college part-time. Just like Jared Loughner, I was removed from school for many of the same reasons.
But I got lucky. I ended up at the Southern Arizona Mental Health Center (SAMHC) and spent the next several weeks there as an inpatient client.
I did not have insurance. I did not have any assets or even a job. My family was in Maine, thousands of miles away.
So, my ability to receive life-saving treatment and long-term support services was funded primarily on the back of the Arizona taxpayer.
...
Nearly a quarter century later, I like to think that investment has, so far, paid significant dividends. But I can assure you, it was a long-term and risky investment.”
As the author of this article notes:
“So, some may choose to focus on the debate regarding our nation's political rhetoric. But whether we're talking about John Hinckley, Mark Chapman or the more recent example of Jared Loughner, one thing we should all be able to recognize is that mental illness can be a fatal illness – and if left untreated, its costs are overwhelming.”
See the full article at this LINK:
Maine Voices: Where was mental health crisis care before Tucson tragedy happened?
Someone who found help in that city says it was available, but apparently Jared Loughner missed his chance at it.
By RANDY SEAVER
The Portland Press Herald
(Randy Seaver of Biddeford is married and the stepfather of two boys. He works as a communications consultant.)
BIDDEFORD — The horrific event that transpired in Tucson on Saturday has inspired more than ample discussion regarding the tone and spirit of our nation's political discourse.
Despite all the fervent commentary, there is one piece of this puzzle that remains largely glossed over, however.
And this is where it gets a bit personal. When I was 22, I was living in Tucson and attending college part-time. Just like Jared Loughner, I was removed from school for many of the same reasons.
But I got lucky. I ended up at the Southern Arizona Mental Health Center (SAMHC) and spent the next several weeks there as an inpatient client.
I did not have insurance. I did not have any assets or even a job. My family was in Maine, thousands of miles away.
So, my ability to receive life-saving treatment and long-term support services was funded primarily on the back of the Arizona taxpayer.
...
Nearly a quarter century later, I like to think that investment has, so far, paid significant dividends. But I can assure you, it was a long-term and risky investment.”
Keris Myrick - Conquering Mental Illness With Advocacy: A New Hero
07/30/12 17:46
A MUST READ: Keris is an inspiration to me. I hope to one day overcome my impossible stage fright to speak publicly about my illness. What an amazing woman, and an amazing story. Bless you, Keris! Let all of us hold onto hope.
Mental-health advocate is also a symbol of recovery
By Anna Gorman, Los Angeles Times
July 30, 2012, 3:25 a.m.
“For much of her life, Keris Myrick has tried to silence the voices that filled her head with suicidal thoughts and repeatedly sent her to a psychiatric hospital.
But now, Myrick, 51, who has schizo-affective disorder, is embracing one voice that has grown loud and clear — her own. And as she becomes a symbol of recovery and strength in the face of mental illness, others are listening to what she has to say.
Members of the nation's largest mental health advocacy organization, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, recently elected her their board president, giving the Pasadena resident a critical role in pushing for education, policy changes and better access to mental health care. The position is on top of her full-time job as chief executive of a nonprofit that provides peer support to thousands with mental illness in Los Angeles County.”
Read More of This Amazing Article Here
And many thanks to Anna Gorman of the LA Times for covering this story.
Mental-health advocate is also a symbol of recovery
By Anna Gorman, Los Angeles Times
July 30, 2012, 3:25 a.m.
“For much of her life, Keris Myrick has tried to silence the voices that filled her head with suicidal thoughts and repeatedly sent her to a psychiatric hospital.
But now, Myrick, 51, who has schizo-affective disorder, is embracing one voice that has grown loud and clear — her own. And as she becomes a symbol of recovery and strength in the face of mental illness, others are listening to what she has to say.
Members of the nation's largest mental health advocacy organization, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, recently elected her their board president, giving the Pasadena resident a critical role in pushing for education, policy changes and better access to mental health care. The position is on top of her full-time job as chief executive of a nonprofit that provides peer support to thousands with mental illness in Los Angeles County.”
Read More of This Amazing Article Here
And many thanks to Anna Gorman of the LA Times for covering this story.
First DP Network Television Interview - A Milestone
06/04/11 12:43
Stranger to My Self author Jeffrey Abugel discusses depersonalization on Channel 8's “Let's Talk Live, Washington DC. The first live discussion of DPD on a major television station. This is a major milestone in getting the word out about DP/DR. Thank you Jeff!
Must Have Book for Advocates
03/25/11 17:16
I began my journey with mental health advocacy by speaking out about my own mental illness, then focusing on the stigma surrounding all mental illnesses. Recently I have become keenly aware of the severity of our broken mental health care system which has abandoned those with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar, and schizoaffective disorder.
The following book will shock you to action and is really required reading for anyone who wants to understand why the Los Angeles County Jail is now the largest mental health “asylum” in the United States. “Asylum” used to mean “safe haven.” There is no such place for most severely mentally ill individuals. This has major financial and public health ramifications that will come to a head in the next few years.
Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness
Pete Earley, 2006 Read More...
The following book will shock you to action and is really required reading for anyone who wants to understand why the Los Angeles County Jail is now the largest mental health “asylum” in the United States. “Asylum” used to mean “safe haven.” There is no such place for most severely mentally ill individuals. This has major financial and public health ramifications that will come to a head in the next few years.
Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness
Pete Earley, 2006 Read More...
The Next Frontier: One Mind For Brain Research
11/09/10 20:46
Fifty years ago, President John F. Kennedy challenged Americans to redefine the realm of possibility by sending a man to the moon and returning him home safely before the decade was out.
Today we face a scientific challenge of even greater magnitude. Nearly 100 million Americans live with a disorder of the brain or central nervous system.
The torch on this mission has been passed to Patrick Kennedy.
More information at MOONSHOT.ORG
Prepare for the The Next Frontier: One Mind for Brain Research, May 23rd-May 25th, 2011.
Now is the time for emergency science. Now is the time for a moonshot to the mind.
Yet Another New Book!
09/02/10 12:19
Click on the Amazon Link to See: Overcoming Depersonalization Disorder: A Mindfulness & Acceptance Guide to Conquering Feelings of Numbness & Unreality
Fugen Neziroglu, Ph.D (Author), Katharine Donnelly, M.A. (Author)
June, 2010
I have not taken a look at this new publication, but it looks like a good self-help book for DP sufferers. “Acceptance” and a Buddhist approach to “living in the moment” complement a holistic approach to living with DP. All brain disorders need to be treated on all levels from medications to behavioral therapy to self-care strategies. Try whatever works best for you. Read More...
Fugen Neziroglu, Ph.D (Author), Katharine Donnelly, M.A. (Author)
June, 2010
I have not taken a look at this new publication, but it looks like a good self-help book for DP sufferers. “Acceptance” and a Buddhist approach to “living in the moment” complement a holistic approach to living with DP. All brain disorders need to be treated on all levels from medications to behavioral therapy to self-care strategies. Try whatever works best for you. Read More...
Participate in Editing the DSM-5
08/31/10 12:48
The American Psychiatric Association is again revising the old Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV, 1994). The DSM-5 will hopefully be published in 2013.
Certain brain disorders are being redefined and their diagnostic criteria being clarified. Depersonalization Disorder, for the first time, will be recognized as a disorder that can be COMORBID with other disorders -- not simply a secondary symptom.
We all need to participate to support this change, and reiterate the need for education of physicians and other mental health professionals who seem very ill-informed on our disorder. It is important we speak up in numbers. Depersonalization Disorder is far more common than believed. Help make this known to the APA. This will subsequently affect (and be reflected in) the updated ICD (International Classification of Medical Disorders.)
We must be heard! Read on and follow the link to participate. Read More...
Certain brain disorders are being redefined and their diagnostic criteria being clarified. Depersonalization Disorder, for the first time, will be recognized as a disorder that can be COMORBID with other disorders -- not simply a secondary symptom.
We all need to participate to support this change, and reiterate the need for education of physicians and other mental health professionals who seem very ill-informed on our disorder. It is important we speak up in numbers. Depersonalization Disorder is far more common than believed. Help make this known to the APA. This will subsequently affect (and be reflected in) the updated ICD (International Classification of Medical Disorders.)
We must be heard! Read on and follow the link to participate. Read More...
Elyn Saks - Professor with Schizophrenia
01/21/10 16:54
Elyn R. Saks has schizophrenia -- and you would never know. After revealing her illness, many close friends rejected her saying, "Had I known you had schizophrenia I would never have hung out with you." She is a mental health advocate, law professor, and author.
Link to her memoir: The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness
Link to her memoir: The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness
Bring Change 2 Mind
01/15/10 18:41
Visit: Bring Change 2 Mind
“1 in 6 adults and almost 1 in 10 children suffer from a diagnosable mental illness. Yet, for many, the stigma associated with the illness, can be as great a challenge as the disease itself. This is where the misconceptions stop. This is where bias comes to an end. This is where we change lives. Because this is where we Bring Change 2 Mind.”
Visit this extraordinary stigma-busting site and view the PSA produced by Glenn Close (her sister has bipolar disorder), directed by Ron Howard, and individuals who gathered in Grand Central Station, NYC to “come out of the closet” with their brain disorders.
Say What You Need To Say
Behind the Scenes: Making the PSA
“1 in 6 adults and almost 1 in 10 children suffer from a diagnosable mental illness. Yet, for many, the stigma associated with the illness, can be as great a challenge as the disease itself. This is where the misconceptions stop. This is where bias comes to an end. This is where we change lives. Because this is where we Bring Change 2 Mind.”
Visit this extraordinary stigma-busting site and view the PSA produced by Glenn Close (her sister has bipolar disorder), directed by Ron Howard, and individuals who gathered in Grand Central Station, NYC to “come out of the closet” with their brain disorders.
Say What You Need To Say
Behind the Scenes: Making the PSA
"Minds On The Edge"
08/24/09 12:53
The centerpiece of the project is a television program that will air on PBS stations in October 2009. This video component is part of a national initiative that includes an extensive web site and an ambitious strategy to engage citizens, professionals in many fields, and policy makers at all levels of government. The goal is to advance consensus about how to improve the kinds of support and treatment available for people with mental illness.
The television program MINDS ON THE EDGE: Facing Mental Illness effectively illuminates challenging ethical issues as well as systemic flaws in program and policy design, service coordination, and resource allocation that are contributing to a mental health system that is widely acknowledged to be broken. MINDS ON THE EDGE also provides a glimpse of many solutions that are currently being implemented across the country. These innovations, many shaped by the guidance and expertise of people with mental illness, offer promising solutions and hopeful direction to transform the mental health system.
Become Involved! Educate Others.
Visit the Website: MINDS ON THE EDGE