Over the past year, one in five Americans has experienced a diagnosable mental health disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. In honor of National Mental Health Month, we caught up with Mary Giliberti, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Earlier this month, she joined forces with New York City’s First Lady, Chirlane McCray, to light the Empire State Building green to commemorate mental health awareness. Here’s what she has to say about the cause, the month, and the movement.
First off, tell us a little about the #iamstigmafree pledge and the go green movement?
Stigma and discrimination surround mental illness. You don’t hear people using slang words for cancer or diabetes, but it is difficult to avoid hearing the words “crazy” or “insane.” Because green is the color of hope and renewal, it has become a great symbol for fighting stigma with acts of kindness, compassion, and empathy. Through the co-branded campaign by NAMI and Philosophy’s hope & grace initiative, we intend to build a movement that effectively breaks down barriers, encourages understanding, and promotes acceptance for people affected by mental health conditions.
How would you describe NAMI?
We started about 35 years ago as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table. Today, we’re the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, with hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and volunteers working in communities to raise public awareness and provide support and education. In addition to local chapters, we have strong online communities on Facebook and Twitter, and through NAMI AIR, our new support app.
What else have you been doing to raise awareness, both nationally and here in New York and New Jersey?
Stigmafree builds on a movement that has been growing for some time, taking it to a new level. In states like New Jersey and New York we’ve had very successful NAMIWalks that raise funds for local programs and promote public awareness by showing communities the faces of individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI’s In Our Own Voice program introduces people living with mental illness as speakers to community groups, providing the kind of person-to-person contact that is powerful in breaking down stigma, and we also have NAMI-on-Campus clubs around the country and last year launched Ending the Silence, a program for presentations in high schools.
Education is of course empowerment. What, in your opinion, are some key facts we should all know about mental illness?
Mental health conditions affect a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, and ability to function and relate to others. There is no one cause for mental illness and it’s no one’s fault. It’s not a reflection of bad character. As with other medical conditions, it’s important to know the symptoms and be alert to them. Recovery is possible, especially if a person gets treatment early.
For someone who’s wondering whether he or she is suffering from mental illness, what first steps might you recommend?
Learning all you can about mental health is an important first step. Reach out to your primary care doctor, health insurance, or state/country mental health authority. And if you or someone you know needs help immediately, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or call 911.
Do you have some preferred resources on mental illness for readers who’d like to learn more? Sites you feel are particularly credible and impactful?
The NAMI website is rich in information and connections to social media communities that are important in their own right. For information on the latest science and research, NAMI recommends the National Institute of Mental Health. For clinical information, it may be helpful to visit the website of the American Psychiatric Association.
If you have questions about topics surrounding mental wellness - including symptoms, treatments, and coverage - feel free to reach out to us at 1-844-MD-OSCAR or help@hioscar.com. Our team of experts is ready to help, and can refer you to resources and in-network providers.