Advocacy; Pleading for others Captain (Ret) Pat Hinkle, MA, LPC & LMFT phone:

Reactions of Family Members upon MI Diagnosis “Most family members are in shock and denial about it, and it takes a long time for them to realize that the disease is not a character flaw.” Guilt is a common feeling even though the family did not cause the illness Mental illness is a no-fault disease What a hurdle for us to grasp, let alone the public

It Starts With Us! Volunteerism Willingness to work on behalf of others Without motivation for: Financial gain Material gain Notoriety It starts with our action to seek knowledge and then initiate reaction

StigmaBusting Ideas Challenge stereotypes TV Print Film Seek to educate society about the reality of mental illness Op-ed pieces to local papers IOOV Programming at church, school, civic org, etc

Conclusion Lesson Objectives… Identified what advocacy is and how it relates to our mission of pleading for the mentally ill Discussed the importance of reducing stigma through volunteerism, education and challenging stereotypes Advocating for policy and political change through resource development