West Hartford, CT – May 10, 2022. For Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2022,
Mental Health Connecticut (MHC) wanted to learn more about the impact of stigma, in all
its forms, along with how and where people are finding support. MHC created the
#LetsFaceIt
campaign, highlighting 31 Connecticut residents, one each day in May, with unique
experiences, who can share the impact of stigma and how they found ways to heal and move
forward. Through the campaign, MHC hopes other Connecticut residents will know they are
not alone and that there are resources and options for reaching out to find support.
Along with the awareness campaign, MHC is also raising $31,000 for
Write On!
, a unique program designed for individuals who want to find their voice and share their
truth through the healing power of writing and storytelling. Janet Reynolds, creator of
Write On!, conducted the interviews for the campaign and Cara Paiuk of Face Forward
Headshots provided the photography.
ConnectiCare
, a leading health plan in Connecticut since 1981, has signed on once again as MHC’s
primary sponsor, with a generous donation of $22,000. As a longtime partner of MHC,
ConnectiCare chose to support the campaign as a part of its ongoing commitment to
creating healthier futures for Connecticut residents.
“Supporting MHC is one of the many ways we give back to the people of Connecticut. We
believe in total person health which includes physical, mental, and emotional health. As
we emerge from the pandemic, the need for mental health support is greater than ever.
We’re very proud to help MHC reach this important fundraising goal,” said Karen Moran,
President, ConnectiCare.
A global pandemic and social unrest has provided the collective experience of traumatic
events and the need to elevate mental health as a priority. Particularly pressing is the
need to help individuals understand that they are not alone, and there is no one way to
respond to life’s challenges, especially stigma. MHC sees the pervasiveness of stigma
every day and how it shows up in many forms. Facing stigma head on is critical to
finding ways to heal and move forward.
“At MHC, we see the power of sharing stories and experiences as a means of prevention,
intervention, and as a source of support. It’s clear that organizations such as
ConnectiCare and others recognize the importance of preventative measures for our
health, which is critical now more than ever,” said Luis B. Perez, President & CEO
of Mental Health Connecticut.
As our Media Sponsor,
WTNH
is profiling a new individual each Monday in May on Good Morning Connecticut. Tune in at
9 a.m. to hear meet 4 of the 31 individuals share a bit about their lived experience and
why they decided to be a part of MHC’s #LetsFaceIt campaign.
Mental Health Awareness Month was created in 1949 by MHA to raise awareness about mental
health conditions and the importance of good mental health for everyone. This year,
Mental Health America’s campaign for May is “Back to Basics,” providing foundational
knowledge about mental health conditions and information about what people can do if
their mental health is a cause for concern. For more information, go to:
https://mhanational.org/mental-health-month
.
As we share these stories each day in May, MHC is asking community members to help raise
funds for Write On! Learn more and start fundraising at:
https://www.mhconn.org/letsfaceit/
About Mental Health Connecticut
With a person-centered approach to care, Mental Health Connecticut's mission is to
partner with individuals, families, and communities to create environments that support
long-term health and wellness. We measure success by our ability to support the recovery
journey and help individuals obtain a safe home, achieve whole health, realize a
meaningful purpose, and develop connections in the community. Established by Clifford
Beers in 1908, MHC is committed to the mental health and wellness of all Connecticut
residents through advocacy, education, and service. MHC is CARF-accredited and a
Platinum Level Bell Seal recipient of Mental Health America’s Workplace for Mental
Health certification. For more information about MHC, go to:
www.mhconn.org
About ConnectiCare
ConnectiCare is a leading health plan in the state of Connecticut. ConnectiCare has been
dedicated to making Connecticut a healthier place to live and work since the company was
founded in 1981. ConnectiCare has a full range of products and services for businesses,
municipalities, individuals and those who are Medicare-eligible and leads the individual
market in the state. ConnectiCare subsidiary, WellSpark Health, is a national wellbeing,
disease prevention and management company. ConnectiCare is part of the EmblemHealth
family of companies. For more information, visit
www.connecticare.com
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