Last week, Actress Glenn Close blogged on the Huffington Post about her personal and professional experience with mental illness. Some of Close's most famous roles have been those of women suffering from delusions, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and borderline personality disorder. But in her private life, she watched both her sister and nephew suffer from mental health disorders in silence.
It was that silence, Close decided, that caused the most damage and shame to those living with psychological illness:
What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, more unashamed conversation about illnesses that affect not only individuals, but their families as well. Our society ought to understand that many people with mental illness, given the right treatment, can be full participants in our society...Over the last year, I have worked with some visionary groups to start BringChange2Mind.org, an organization that strives to inspire people to start talking openly about mental illness, to break through the silence and fear. We have the support of every major, American mental health organization and numerous others. I have no illusions that BringChange2Mind.org is a cure for mental illness. Yet I am sure it will help us along the road to understanding and constructive dialogue. It will help deconstruct and eliminate stigma.
Now, Close has collaborated with Director Ron Howard on a series of Mental Health PSAs shot in New York's Grand Central Terminal.
They've also put out a short, emotional piece on how real people with mental health disorders "outed" themselves with the support of family and friends for the PSA.
With the launch of the campaign on October 21, Close and her sister Jessie have appeared on ABC's Good Morning America, ABC's The View, and MSNBC's Dr. Nancy to discuss Jessie's personal experience with mental illness. They hope that by sharing their story and encouraging others to do the same, they can remove the stigma that surrounds it.
Visit BringChange2Mind.org to get the facts on mental illness in America or to share your story.