Just a few short years ago, it would have been hard to imagine that famous figures ranging from musicians to athletes would be openly sharing how they’ve wrestled with mental illness. We’ve made great progress as a society in increasing awareness of mental health conditions and tearing down the stigma that often surrounds them.
Yet, this stigma still overshadows the suffering of the one in five Americans who live with mental illnesses. Continuing to dispel misconceptions and negative attitudes requires keeping the conversation going, and I’m grateful for the many celebrities and everyday folks alike who are leading the charge.
I’m especially thankful for those in the Dallas community who are speaking up so powerfully about their own mental health. Michelle Staubach Grimes is one of those individuals. After struggling in silence for years, she felt compelled to speak out about her experience with depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder to help normalize these conditions for the sake of the many who live with them. As she shared in our recent interview with her, “One of the reasons I felt it was important to speak out publicly is to help erase the stigma.”
Providing opportunities for people like Michelle to share their stories is another way to fight stigma. That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome her to our annual WellSpring Celebration Luncheon, which will be held at noon on April 22 at the Belo Mansion. Guests at this event will have the unique opportunity to listen in on a personal, powerful conversation with Michelle, led by Peabody Award-winning reporter Brett Shipp, now of Brett Shipp Media.
We’d love to have you as our guest! Learn more about the WellSpring Luncheon and get your tickets now. And, if you’d like to take an extra step to help fight stigma, consider serving as a sponsor for this important event.
Together, we can continue the conversation that’s chipping away at stigma, one story at a time.
With Gratitude,
Alice