Week 5 - Cell Blog - Community Service Project Update
Attached below is my current "script" for the advocacy portion of our presentation (I may memorize it or think of the script in bullet points [I have extreme stage fright and having a script in mind may ease my nerves]):
While someone is undergoing treatment for their mental illness, it’s important that they know there is a support system surrounding them and encouraging them. We can all be part of this support system by being a voice to the voiceless. It has been said that mental illness is an invisible disability and this is why the stigma surrounding mental illness is so prominent--it’s easy to believe there is no illness if there are no visible, physical signs of hurting. And so it is important that we are able to recognize these “invisible” signs of mental illness. Then when a family member or friend with mental illness isolates themself from you, avoids eye contact with you, or can’t seem to muster enough energy to hold a conversation, we will recognize these as visible signs that they are fighting a silent war in their minds. And we won’t judge them or be offended by their lack of positivity. We will know when to give advice and when to be silent and just listen. We will be patient with them and love them and let them know they are loved. Informing others of the nature of mental illness and its symptoms--like what our class is doing right now--is another form of advocacy. And we can remove the stigma across communities this way. If you yourself have suffered mental illness or are a family member of a mentally ill individual, sharing your experiences, advice, and support on online websites such as careforyourmind.org will also be appreciated by those who just want to know that they aren’t alone and that there is hope. And finally, you may feel called to be more directly involved as a mental health advocate by volunteering at mental health organizations such as NAMI or other counseling centers or by being an ambassador--financially supporting mental health. Whatever you choose to do, we can make this community a more welcoming home for those who feel alone in their mental illness because, in fact, they are not alone.
I also did research of numerous resources that mentally ill individuals may consider such as the Montgomery County Crisis Center, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), support groups (online or face-to-face), health insurance. There are also numerous hotlines they may call such as Girls & Boys Town National Hotline, National Hopeline Network, and Alcohol Hotline. It is interesting to note the incredibly negative reviews the Montgomery County Crisis Center has received.
I researched and wrote my script according to personal experience. I would like to emphasize the usefulness of online support groups. I have friends from online support groups that I have been friends with for 5 years now. They have been a huge motivation for me to continue to have hope during times that seem hopeless. Those with mental illness should know they are not alone and that they have a strong, stable support system rooting for them, which online support groups may provide them.
While someone is undergoing treatment for their mental illness, it’s important that they know there is a support system surrounding them and encouraging them. We can all be part of this support system by being a voice to the voiceless. It has been said that mental illness is an invisible disability and this is why the stigma surrounding mental illness is so prominent--it’s easy to believe there is no illness if there are no visible, physical signs of hurting. And so it is important that we are able to recognize these “invisible” signs of mental illness. Then when a family member or friend with mental illness isolates themself from you, avoids eye contact with you, or can’t seem to muster enough energy to hold a conversation, we will recognize these as visible signs that they are fighting a silent war in their minds. And we won’t judge them or be offended by their lack of positivity. We will know when to give advice and when to be silent and just listen. We will be patient with them and love them and let them know they are loved. Informing others of the nature of mental illness and its symptoms--like what our class is doing right now--is another form of advocacy. And we can remove the stigma across communities this way. If you yourself have suffered mental illness or are a family member of a mentally ill individual, sharing your experiences, advice, and support on online websites such as careforyourmind.org will also be appreciated by those who just want to know that they aren’t alone and that there is hope. And finally, you may feel called to be more directly involved as a mental health advocate by volunteering at mental health organizations such as NAMI or other counseling centers or by being an ambassador--financially supporting mental health. Whatever you choose to do, we can make this community a more welcoming home for those who feel alone in their mental illness because, in fact, they are not alone.
I also did research of numerous resources that mentally ill individuals may consider such as the Montgomery County Crisis Center, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), support groups (online or face-to-face), health insurance. There are also numerous hotlines they may call such as Girls & Boys Town National Hotline, National Hopeline Network, and Alcohol Hotline. It is interesting to note the incredibly negative reviews the Montgomery County Crisis Center has received.
I researched and wrote my script according to personal experience. I would like to emphasize the usefulness of online support groups. I have friends from online support groups that I have been friends with for 5 years now. They have been a huge motivation for me to continue to have hope during times that seem hopeless. Those with mental illness should know they are not alone and that they have a strong, stable support system rooting for them, which online support groups may provide them.
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