COMMUNITYAWARENESS

We plan to host community gatherings to “begin the conversation” regarding mental health.  Current statistics confirm that our country is experiencing a mental health crisis of epidemic proportions.  Our principal mission is to break the barrier of silence so that individuals suffering from mental health challenges will feel empowered to seek help, with the assurance of community support and respect.  Guests at such gatherings will hear from a patient advocate willing to share his or her journey to wellness.  According to research, getting to know individuals living with mental health challenges, and discovering their strengths and paths to wellness, is key to reducing false ideas that lead to stigma.

​

SCHOOL INTERVENTIONS

We plan to work with school officials, administrators and teachers to educate our students and parents about the challenges of mental health, the importance of speaking up and moving out of isolation to find effective peer and professional support, and the grounds for hope and healing.  Through early intervention, we believe students in our community will have an opportunity to learn and achieve skills needed to regulate their emotional and mental health, and to develop resilience, so that they will be prepared for life after graduation.

​

LEGISLATIVE AND LEGAL ADVOCACY

We plan to collaborate with public officials and private citizens to remove barriers to effective mental health treatment, due to factors such as inadequate funding and insurance parity violations.  We also plan to work within the legislative and legal system to advocate against our country’s and State’s inappropriate dependence on the criminal justice system to address mental health issues.