Fannin County, Texas (March 29, 2018) -- Okay to Say™, a state-wide, community-based effort to spread the word that mental illnesses are treatable, is coming to Fannin County, as a joint effort by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI), the Texoma Behavioral Health Leadership Team, the Glaser Family Charitable Foundation and local Fannin County leaders. Participants are encouraging Fannin County residents and community leaders to join together and encourage their friends, family and colleagues to make it okay to say that you or someone you know has a mental illness.
The effort officially launched at 9:00 a.m. Thursday with an “Okay to Say – Fannin County Day” presentation in the Bonham ISD Administration Board Room in Bonham, and featured Cindy Bankston, Judge Laurine Blake, Coby Chase, Lisa Reece, Lisa Shields, Gail Utter and Bill Wilson.
“This is something we know is a great need here in Fannin County. Everyone knows someone who has or is currently facing challenges tied to mental illness. We don’t want anyone to feel like they are the only ones. This touches all of us,” said Cindy Bankston, Glaser Family Charitable Foundation Executive Director. “The goal of this launch event is to publicly emphasize that our community cares and to spread the message that the first step towards getting help is being able to talk about it.”
A study commissioned by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute revealed three out of every four Texans either suffer from mental health issues or are affected by someone who does.
“Silence is a preventable barrier to support and care that throws a shadow across behavioral health. We have made mental health awareness a priority of the Texoma Behavioral Health Leadership Team," said Grayson County Sheriff Tom Watt, Chairman of the Texoma Behavioral Health Leadership Team (TBHLT).
The goal of the Okay to Say™ campaign is to increase public awareness that most mental illnesses are treatable and to offer a message of hope and recovery to Texans and their families. Changing the conversation and perceptions around mental illness can ultimately lead to: growing understanding, advocacy and support for those with mental illness; improving access to community services for diagnosis and treatment; and accelerating progress in the quality and delivery of mental health care. It should be okay for any person to raise a hand and say they need help, or say they or someone they know is or has received treatment for a mental illness.
“The first step to getting help is realizing that it’s okay to say you have a mental illness or know someone who does,” says Andy Keller, MMHPI President and CEO. “By talking more openly about mental health, we can lead the way, as individuals and as a state, in getting people the help they need to get better and live their lives, not their illness.”
The event follows the initial Texoma Launch held January 18, 2017, at the Hilton Garden Inn-Denison.
“We hope to see more communities across Texoma, like Bonham, launch this campaign,” said Michelle Lemming, Texoma Health Foundation CEO. “It is exciting to see the diversity of businesses, churches, civic groups and families that are sharing their stories and joining together.”
About Okay to Say™
Okay to Say™ is a community-based campaign launched by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and its partners to increase public awareness that most mental illnesses are treatable and to offer a message of hope and recovery to Texans and their families. The statewide effort has received support from George P. Bush, Mark Cuban, Emmitt Smith and thousands of other Texans. Individuals are encouraged to add their name, even anonymously, to pledge their support at okaytosay.org. Individuals can even share stories of how mental health issues have affected them or a loved one and include statements of support, photos and videos.
About the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute
The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute is a nonpartisan organization that supports the implementation of policies and programs to help Texans obtain effective, efficient mental health care when and where they need.
For more information about the Institute, please visit texasstateofmind.org. To join the Okay to Say movement, visit okaytosay.org.
photos by Allen Rich