Erasing the Stigma of Mental Illness
Candice Crawford, president and CEO of the Mental Health Association of Central Florida, announces the launch of the It’s Okay to Get Help campaign. |
Oftentimes, at the mention of mental illness, people imagine a homeless person pushing a shopping cart filled to the brim and carrying on a conversation with an invisible companion. Unfortunately, mental illness is more common than most realize, and people from all walks of life can be affected by either long-term or temporary mental or emotional conditions, such as depression, or bipolar and anxiety disorders.
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According to the Mental Health Association of Central Florida, one in four people seek mental health treatment at some point in their lives. Recently, high-profile celebrities, including Catherine Zeta-Jones and Demi Lovato, have come forward with their own diagnoses in an effort to increase awareness and dispel the stigma attached to mental illness.
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| His advocacy to improve American lives did not end when he left Congress. Kennedy, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has received treatment for depression and addiction, tours the U.S. to promote his initiative for mental health and brain research in a quest to uncover the causes of and treatments for brain disorders. When Crawford discovered that Kennedy was scheduled to speak in Florida, she invited him to make a stop in Orlando as the keynote speaker of the Legacy of Champions Luncheon. “It was so exciting when I found out that he had agreed to add us to his schedule,” she said. “I was speechless.” Batchelor, who is co-chairing the luncheon with Crotty, has great expectations for the event.
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Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy II, who has been treated for depression and addiction, will speak at the Mental Health Association of Central Florida’s The Legacy of Champions Luncheon on June 17. |
| “I believe this will be a catalyst for bigger things to come,” Batchelor said. “Social service providers can only thrive if they have adequate funding, and we know that there is not enough money coming from the government resources these days. More organizations are turning to the private sector. My hope is that a lot of people will attend and support the Mental Health Association.” In existence for more than 60 years, MHACF has been instrumental in promoting mental health, providing resources for individuals to receive counseling and medical attention, and advocating everywhere, from the courtroom to the legislative floor. MHACF also recruits and trains volunteers to become guardian advocates. After completing a four-hour training program, the individual is paired with a mental health client as an advocate for their rights and a liaison with mental health providers, law enforcement personnel and the community at large. According to the Florida Mental Health Act of 1971, commonly known as the Baker Act, a person can be involuntarily confined to a secured facility if they exhibit evidence of a mental illness. Only law enforcement officials or mental health professionals have the authority to commit someone under the Baker Act, and even then, only if that person appears to be harmful to themselves or others. Often, these people are confused and alone. Guardian advocates guide clients through the legal system and on their journeys to become independent through treatment and counseling. Last year, MHACF trained more than 350 guardian advocates who were able to make positive impacts on the lives of others. As of Jan. 1, MHACF lost funding from the Florida Department of Children and Families because of budget cuts. This governmental entity was the primary funding agent for the program. To continue its essential training, MHACF has had to rely on private donations and corporate sponsors. In the fall of 2010, collaboration between Florida Hospital and MHACF resulted in the opening of the Outlook Clinic, which provides services for uninsured residents of Orange County who are diagnosed with depressive or anxiety disorders, as well as medical complications, such as heart failure, which often accompany these diagnoses. |
