Limping for the Mentally Ill
Oh you lucky, lucky people... you've known me for HOW long, and I've never pestered you once to donate or contribute to any worth cause?! Exactly as long as you've ever known me, that's how long. (Except maybe that once when I did the AIDS walk, but I can't even remember that far back.)
Nonetheless, I am hereby hitting you up for money, and here's why:
1. Being mentally ill totally sucks. You know this if you've ever been sick yourself, or if anyone in your family has or has had a mental illness, or if a friend has ever been stricken with a brain disorder. You also know this if you've ever seen someone on the street, homeless, who was clearly not in his or her right mind. In other words, EVERYONE knows this.
2. Serious mental illness is especially pernicious because people are either afraid of or very uncomfortable around the mentally ill. Even though we know intellectually that it's not "catching," we still shy away from the very people who most need support, compassion, and concrete help. The stigma associated with mental illness is pervasive and persistent.
3. It's mostly hard or impossible to work when you're mentally ill and symptomatic. If you don't have good health insurance, or are already poor, you're basically screwed. You are going to be on disability (if you can figure out how to get it), and good luck making ends meet. Advocating for good, culturally competent, and free or truly inexpensive mental health care is the socially responsible thing to do.
4. All of us could stand to be better educated on this subject. We can be better friends and family members, better employers and colleagues, better citizens and better advocates for those who cannot advocate for themselves or could use broader support in their struggles.
NAMI is the Nation's Voice on Mental Illness. The organization educates, advocates, fights stigma, and provides avenues to self-help and peer support for the mentally ill. I've been working there a couple of days a week, and I can testify that they are fighting the good fight. A recent financial crisis has left them understaffed and overextended. Every little bit of financial contribution will be put to good use.
Hey, Lynn Borton, one of the world's most compassionate and competent human beings, is their COO.
Okay, so, I'm participating in NAMIWalks this coming Saturday here in DC. It's 5K, and I'm walking with Lynn's team, "NAMI Rocks!"
Even though my ankle still hurts and I'm cranky because I couldn't run the Marine Corps Marathon.
Feeling generous? Feeling humane and kind? Feeling like clicking and donating? YES!!! YOU KNOW YOU ARE!!!!! DON'T HOLD BACK!!!!!
This is it. Click here and make me proud.
I promise I won't do this again for a long time. Really.
And thank you. Thank you very, very much.
Nonetheless, I am hereby hitting you up for money, and here's why:
1. Being mentally ill totally sucks. You know this if you've ever been sick yourself, or if anyone in your family has or has had a mental illness, or if a friend has ever been stricken with a brain disorder. You also know this if you've ever seen someone on the street, homeless, who was clearly not in his or her right mind. In other words, EVERYONE knows this.
2. Serious mental illness is especially pernicious because people are either afraid of or very uncomfortable around the mentally ill. Even though we know intellectually that it's not "catching," we still shy away from the very people who most need support, compassion, and concrete help. The stigma associated with mental illness is pervasive and persistent.
3. It's mostly hard or impossible to work when you're mentally ill and symptomatic. If you don't have good health insurance, or are already poor, you're basically screwed. You are going to be on disability (if you can figure out how to get it), and good luck making ends meet. Advocating for good, culturally competent, and free or truly inexpensive mental health care is the socially responsible thing to do.
4. All of us could stand to be better educated on this subject. We can be better friends and family members, better employers and colleagues, better citizens and better advocates for those who cannot advocate for themselves or could use broader support in their struggles.
NAMI is the Nation's Voice on Mental Illness. The organization educates, advocates, fights stigma, and provides avenues to self-help and peer support for the mentally ill. I've been working there a couple of days a week, and I can testify that they are fighting the good fight. A recent financial crisis has left them understaffed and overextended. Every little bit of financial contribution will be put to good use.
Hey, Lynn Borton, one of the world's most compassionate and competent human beings, is their COO.
Okay, so, I'm participating in NAMIWalks this coming Saturday here in DC. It's 5K, and I'm walking with Lynn's team, "NAMI Rocks!"
Even though my ankle still hurts and I'm cranky because I couldn't run the Marine Corps Marathon.
Feeling generous? Feeling humane and kind? Feeling like clicking and donating? YES!!! YOU KNOW YOU ARE!!!!! DON'T HOLD BACK!!!!!
This is it. Click here and make me proud.
I promise I won't do this again for a long time. Really.
And thank you. Thank you very, very much.
Labels: health
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