LOS ANGELES, Oct. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of World
Mental Health Day, NAMI Westside Los Angeles launched its FREE
YOUR ME™ anti-stigma mental
health campaign on Sunday, October 10
with a swell of synchronized social media posts by notable actors,
athletes, musicians and top content creators. Along with partners
Two Feet South and Pure Edge Inc., NAMI West LA created the ongoing
campaign to highlight the power of words when it comes to mental
health awareness—but more importantly, to send the message to our
youth community that they are not alone.
Among the group of high-profile personalities who raised their
voices in support of the campaign were multiple-award winning
actors and entertainers Jane
Seymour, Derek Hough,
John C. McGinley, Annalynne McCord
and DeWanda Wise, along with lauded
sports figures including Laird Hamilton, Gabby Reece, Danica Patrick, Joakim
Noah and Paul Rabil. Some
shared deeply personal stories of loved ones who suffered with
mental health challenges and having lost them to suicide, while
others spoke about their own struggles with mental health, and
encouraged their audience to shed the shame of speaking out and
asking for help.
"Today is World Mental Health Day," said Jane Seymour. "Having had so many people in my
life suffer from untreated or undiagnosed issues, PTSD, and of
course the tragedy of addiction, I feel very strongly about taking
the idea of shame away and making help available." Derek Hough posted, "I've always been passionate
about mental health. More than ever we need to use tools and
support to help us navigate and understand our emotional and mental
states. Let us all be there for one another and for ourselves."
Professional Lacrosse player Paul
Rabil shared, "As athletes we perform our best when we know
how to embrace the lows, highs and everywhere in between. On this
World Mental Health Day, I'm joining the National Alliance on
Mental Health FREE YOUR METM team of athletes to help
elevate mental health awareness through imagery, messaging and
fundraising. We hope people feel more inclined to access help,
especially our youth, without fear or shame…"
FREE YOUR ME™ is part of NAMI West LA's
mission to provide mental health education and support to as many
children and youth as possible. That mission grew further into
focus when CA Governor Gavin Newsom
signed into law Senate Bill 224 this past Friday, October 8. The bill, authored by State
Senator Anthony Portantino (a
FREE YOUR ME™ Ambassador), and co-sponsored by
NAMI California, will provide millions of California students with age-appropriate
mental health education from qualified instructors.
"California is in the midst of
a youth behavioral health crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19
pandemic," said Senator Portantino. "We need to keep these critical
policies moving forward and end the stigma surrounding the
discussion of mental health. Mental health education and training
is one of the best ways to increase awareness and empower students
to seek help." NAMI Westside Los Angeles Executive Director,
Erin Raftery-Ryan adds, "The
pandemic has revealed that we are not doing enough to protect the
mental health of our children and youth. Now more than ever, we
must ensure that our children and youth learn about mental health
and get the support and care they need." Raftery-Ryan continues,
"We must work together on early intervention and prevention and
provide as much support for youth mental health as we do for
physical health. We thank Governor Newsom for signing Sen.
Anthony Portantino's SB 224
bill to provide students with more mental health education." SB 224
was introduced earlier this year and reflects NAMI California and
Senator Portantino's dedication to improving mental health outcomes
for youth.
For more info on SB 224, visit:
https://namila.org/win-for-mental-health-education-in-california/
For more information about FREE YOUR
ME™ visit https://freeyourme.namila.org/
Connect with us here:
@freeyourmeofficial
@NAMIWLA
@pureedgeinc
@jennifercawleyphotographs
FREE YOUR ME™ is an innovative and
powerful concept by NAMI Westside Los Angeles and photographer
Jennifer Cawley, in collaboration
with creative producer Two Feet South, and supported by Pure Edge,
Inc. NAMI Westside Los Angeles is an affiliate of NAMI (National
Alliance on Mental Illness), the nation's largest grassroots mental
health organization dedicated to building better lives for millions
of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI Westside Los Angeles
offers free education programs along with support, guidance, and
hope for the growing number of Angelenos affected by mental health
conditions. Pure Edge, Inc. is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to
creating strategies & programs for educators and learners
to support social, emotional, and academic development.
Two Feet South is a multidisciplinary creative agency that has
produced award-winning work for worldwide brands and public
figures.
NAMI West Los Angeles - https://namila.org
Jennifer Cawley -
https://www.jennifercawley.com
Two Feet South - http://twofeetsouth.com
Pure Edge - https://pureedgeinc.org
Contact:
Maggi Simpson
MLSimpsonPR@gmail.com
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SOURCE NAMI Westside Los Angeles