About eight years ago I was very depressed and hopeless during one of my many stays (too many to count) in the psychiatric hospital when the recreation therapist who I liked very much showed me this video. While watching it, I was flooded with emotions as tears poured out of my eyes. It made me feel pleasantly suprised that maybe people do care-someone cared about people with mental illness. It was beautful to me. I was so happy people took the time to make this video. I was not alone. There were/are many people with mental illness. I had a spark of hope and felt compassion from other people–even if it was far away and people I would never meet. I still felt a spark of love, compassion and most importantly hope that ignited my recovery at that time.
I still love this next video. Since the video was made the statistics for mental illness have changed. It is now 1 in 5 people have mental illness instead of 1 in 6 as this video states. This video is very powerful and is still one of my favorites. For some reason this video makes me emotional. I think it is because it was one of the first videos I saw of this kind. It made me realize that people do care and that there is hope. I hope you enjoy it. ~Love, Sue
In August of 2009, Grand Central Station became the setting for a massive production, Bring Change 2 Mind’s first Public Service Announcement. Hundreds of principals and extras proudly wore their BC2M t-shirts and started the mental health conversation in the midst of this massive transportation hub. Ron Howard lent his extraordinary talent in directing the spot, and John Mayer donated his song, “Say” as the musical backdrop.
“Grand Central Terminal: 60” Video
Bring Change to Mind is a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging dialogue about mental health, and to raising awareness, understanding, and empathy.
Actress & activist Glenn Close co-founded Bring Change to Mind in 2010 after her sister, Jessie Close, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and her nephew, Calen Pick, with schizoaffective disorder.
Every individual who speaks out inspires another. And another. That’s how we’ll end the stigma around mental illness. That’s how we’ll Bring Change to Mind.
Get The Facts
One of the best ways you can help someone with mental illness is by understanding what it is – and what it isn’t. After all, myths about mental illnesses contribute to stigma, which in turn prevents those who are living with one from seeking help.
Bring Change to Mind – Guiding Principles and Beliefs
- Start the Conversation – Opening a dialogue about mental illness builds the awareness, understanding, and empathy necessary to inspire the action, structural change, and the creation of new norms which end stigma and discrimination.
- Amplify Voices – Our role is to give a voice to others, as their experiences and stories can transform feelings of isolation and despair into feelings of community and hope. These stories will open hearts and minds and change fear and stigma toward people living with mental illness into compassion and support for their journey ahead.
- Be an Ally – We are a trusted ally in the conversation about mental illness and openly collaborate with other mental health professionals, academics, resources and advocates to grow this consequential movement.
- Empower the Future – The foundation of broad awareness will be built by deeply engaged change agents, such as young people touched by mental illness and motivated to improve the lives of others.
- Support Science – Science and evidence-based action is essential to achieving our mission. Therefore, we ground our work in the latest research, which we evaluate for effectiveness then share with confidence.
- Fight for Human Rights – Our work is about saving lives, reducing suffering, and ensuring that people living with a mental illness are able to pursue their human potential with dignity, full civil rights, appropriate healthcare, and unbridled access to life’s opportunities.
Choose Your Words (It is Important)
- When we say someone is “crazy” or “that’s totally mental” we’re perpetuating stereotypes.
- Eliminate the phrase “suffers from mental illness”. Instead, choose, “lives with mental illness” or “is affected by mental illness”.
- When we say a person is “schizophrenic,” we make their mental illness fully define their complete identity. Instead, be clear that this is a disease that individuals manage and live with, e.g. “he is living with schizophrenia”.
- There are many phrases and terms; “crazy,” “nuts”, “psycho”, “schiz”, “retard” and “lunatic” that may seem insignificant, but really aren’t.
While there may be times when it is too challenging or simply not possible to politely correct someone else’s insensitive use of language, you can always watch your own.
Visit http://www.BringChange2Mind.org for more information on how you can help combat the stigma around mental health.
Start the Conversation within your own community…
For more information on Bring Change 2 Mind and its mission to end stigma and discrimination, please visit, bringchange2mind.org and join our community http://www.facebook.com/BringChange2Mind.
Bring Change to Mind – Let’s Talk Mental Health
© 2019 Bring Change to Mind
I will be posting something important about mental illness every day throughout the month of May on my blog in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.
Please keep visiting my blog My Loud Whispers of Hope and look for statistics or other beneficial information related to mental illness to increase awareness, educate, reduce mental illness stigma and prevent suicides.
It is crucial and imperative for all of us to get involved and save lives.
So, please visit my blog every day, but especially every day throughout the month of May.
Mental illness awareness and education saves lives.
Opening the dialogue about mental illness saves lives.
Sharing your story will help save lives.
Please see my post about my campaign titled, “There’s Glory in Sharing Your Story.” I need your help. Please let me know if you want to share your story and I will post it on my blog.
Please check out
“There’s Glory in Sharing Your Story”
stories from last year.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
You are all FABULOUS!!!
© 2019 Susan Walz | myloudwhispersofhope.com | All Rights Reserved
My Loud Whispers of Hope 