Mental health has long been put on the back burner compared to physical health.
Anyone who breaks an arm, pulls a hamstring, or suffers from an illness is expected to receive treatment. There is not even a second thought.
But for those suffering from mental health issues, the idea of receiving treatment can be just as scary as the problem itself. Providers are hard to come by, evaluations and consultations can take hours, and the possibility of someone finding out about the issue is horrifying.
The Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation is hoping to start breaking the stigma associated with receiving mental health treatment. HCHF will present a dynamic community mental wellness event “Lessons from a Secret Warrior,” featuring speaker Joanne P. McCallie, a mental health advocate and NCAA Hall of Fame Basketball Coach. The event will be on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. There is no charge for the event, but reservations are required.
Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 30, McCallie learned how to manage her mental health and flourish during her 32-year coaching career. The 2005 Associated Press National Coach of the Year, “Coach P” led Duke, Michigan State, and Maine to over 600 wins before leaving the arena in 2020 to turn her full-time attention to mental health advocacy.
To reserve a spot at the PAC visit www.HCHealthFnd.org, www.highlandsperformingarts.com, or call the PAC Ticket Office at 828-526-9047.
According to statistics from the Keiser Family Foundation, 35 percent of adults in North Carolina reported suffering symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder in 2021. Of those, 21 percent reported facing an unmet need in terms of care either due to lacking providers in their area, not knowing who to contact, or some other hurdle that prevented them from obtaining care.
It’s time to talk openly about mental health and address mental health issues with the same urgency as physical ailments. Hopefully, HCHF’s event will be the first step toward ending mental health stigmas and creating a community where suffering from a mental illness is no longer accompanied by judgment