The World Health Organization celebrates World Mental Health Awareness Day on Oct. 10 each year. MoodSurfing salutes this effort and we hope to be a small, but meaningful part of building the world’s awareness of mental health.
Over the past few years, we have lifted up the names of people from many walks of life who are dedicating themselves to reducing stigma and spreading the word about mental health and the treatment of mental illness. People such as:
Devika Bhusan, Acting Surgeon General for the State of California who says: “our struggles are the source of our superpowers.”
Singer-songwriter Mariah Carey: “I’m hopeful we can get to a place where the stigma is lifted from people going through anything alone.”
Selena Gomez, actor and singer, who recently released a “raw” and “intimate” documentary called “My mind and me”.
Brent Guy, who, while working for 30 years as a college football coach kept his bipolar diagnosis secret, but who now volunteers through NAMI to train first responders and reduce stigma.
Recording artist Demi Lovato, who now works to teach young people to speak out and be more understanding of people with mental illnesses.
Former football player and Super Bowl champion Keith O’Neil, who founded the Forever Foundation, whose mission is to educate the public about bipolar disorder.
Olympic athlete Alexi Pappas is now working to teach everyone to recognize the signs and symptoms of major depression, to bring attention to the need for recognition and good treatment.
All of these heroes and many others are working tirelessly to give voice to the sufferers of mental health issues and to make known the realities of life with, and life beyond mental illness. Who are your heroes in the fight against stigma?