My friend, the Rev. Alan Johnson, was one of the 150 guests invited to the White House’s summit on mental health yesterday. Here is his report. Thanks Alan for being our eyes and ears!
Are you listening, America? The White House is talking!
Who would have thought that over 150 people from across our country who are working in the trenches for better mental health would be invited to a whole day in the White House? But it happened! The White House brought together mental health advocates, educators, faith leaders, veterans and local officials for The White House Conference on Mental Health.
President Obama was the first one to speak to us at the conference, and he empathetically stated that we must “do a better job recognizing mental health issues in our children, and making it easier for Americans of all ages to seek help.” The President was not only speaking to those of us gathered, but to the whole country,where the overwhelming stigma on mental illness blocks people from even acknowledging there is mental illness and keeps them from seeking help. In this climate of embarrassment and fear, the President acknowledged there needs to be education to overcome the misunderstanding of mental illness and support to come out of the closet to speak with authentic stories of one’s own mental health challenges.