FIGHTING STIGMA IN THE CLASSROOM
So much to write about but no time to do it :( Still searching for balance while I juggle a new baby, work and well, life! Of course baby comes first, so I apologize for the lack of posts. However, I seem to be getting closer to my dream of fight stigma in the classroom. I received a wonderful email from a publishing company in Australia. They contacted me to ask permission to use the poster (to the left) in a school textbook titled VCE Psychology Units 3 & 4, 4th edition. I was so honored that I had to say yes. To top it off, this poster will be printed in 50,000 textbooks. To think that my little poster could make an impact on students...I am beyond trilled! In lieu of compensation, I asked the publishing company if they could donate to a mental health charity. They graciously donated $100 to Australia's Sane.org. "SANE Australia is a national charity working for a better life for people affected by mental illness – through campaigning, education and research." If you have a chance, check
out their site. This organization continues to do so much for the
mental health community in Australia. Also, thank you to all my readers who voted and made my blog a top ten blog (see award in right hand column). This will inspire me to keep on blogging!
That is very awesome Amber. I usally try to write you back in e - mail first, but today doesn't feel like an e - mail day. I did read your e - mail, though, and will get back to you. Anyway, this is about the wonderful news you wrote on blog. I am so excited that your poster is going to be in a text book! That's awesome. And what's even awesomer is the donation they made in your name. Way to go for not being greedy. You are a great artist with a meaningful message. I know a lot of people living with a mental illness because that's just the way it is with me being through things like Friendship House, TSA, and short trips to the Unit. I can tell you a lot of siblings don't care as much as you do. I mean the worst is people who don't have parents that care, but I think it's awesome you are so supportive of your brother. You really try to understand people living with a mental illness. Both my therapist Lesly (I won't put her last name because I want to protect her privacy) and the therapist I have now, Cathy, both come across like you, understanding. The worst is those triage nurses at the ER. But they were never trained in that. However, neither were you! Thanks for helping be a voice. That's why I joined SCCCMH because I wanted to be a voice. Let's get so many voices that we are a shout instead of a wispher.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say all that, hope you don't mind the long comment.
Hugs my friend,
Amanda
Thank you Amanda for your kind words:) and thank you for understanding why I set out to fight stigma. I hope there are many more brothers and sisters who can do their part to help a sibling live in a world of understanding and acceptance. We need all the help we can get!
ReplyDeleteAmber
Congratulations! and how wonderful that the school chose to include something of this nature.
ReplyDeleteI watched "My Name Is Alan and I Paint Pictures", about a Paranoid Schizophrenic artist Alan Streets. The film addresses the treatment and diagnosis of Paranoid Schizophrenia and the therapeutic benefits of art for mental illness. Alan Streets is deeply affected with Paranoid Schizophrenia and he is unable to interact with the gallery establishment. His paintings are instead sold on his website at http://www.alanstreetsstore.com
ReplyDeleteThe documentary "My Name Is Alan and I Paint Pictures", can be rented on Netflix or previewed at http://mynameisalan.com/