Guest Speaker! Promoting Awareness...

Sooo... excited to be the Guest Speaker at this event.
Here is the invite that has been distributed for guest to attend.
Thank you Jan Willis!


LIVING ABOVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES NOT UNDER THEM
Monday, OCTOBER 11, 2010 –11:30 – 1:00 PM
Holiday Inn * Rt. 30A N. Comrie Ave.* Johnstown
$13.00 Chicken & Biscuits, dessert & coffee
SPECIAL FEATURE: DOUBLE CROWN HOLDER
MISS MOHAWK VALLEY’S OUTSTANDING TEEN
2010 JUNIOR MISS FONDA FAIR
A High School Student, Actor, Singer, Composer
Shares her journey to the Pageant’s Crowns
With a platform of “Mental Illness Awareness”
For a sneak preview visit
WWW:mentalillnessawarenessny.blogspot.com

Complimentary Child Care is available
For information call Gloria (518)853-3126
Reservations Necessary and Cancellations Essential
Sponsored by Johnstown Christian Women’s Club

Breaking the Silence

A copy of the article they printed on me
in the Volume 7, Summer 2010 Edition of:
BTS E-Newsletter
BTS ADVOCATES BREAK THE SILENCE NATIONWIDE
School & Community Mental Illness Education Projects


BTS raises awareness about mental illness in the classroom and beyond!

Mental Illness Awareness Platform

Ashley McDuffee competed in the Miss New York Outstanding Teen Pageant and was the third runner up at the Miss New York State Scholarship Program. Bringing awareness and understanding for those suffering with mental illness was her platform. Ashley is a BTS advocate and will be bringing BTS to her school this Fall. Check out her blog and video at:

http://www.mentalillnessawarenessny.blogspot.com/

“Together we will make a difference that will change the way America thinks about mental illness in the future.” Ashley McDuffee

Mental Illness Awareness

Take a moment to think about how many people you know or hear about that suffer from a mental illness. Now remember high school. Being a teenager is hard enough, it’s even harder with a serious mental illness.

As a young woman I have grown up with mental illness close to my mind and heart. My grandmother was diagnosed bipolar/schizophrenic and both of my uncles are diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I have seen the effects it’s had on my family personally and I have seen the struggle that these individuals endure each and every day. I’m very passionate about bringing awareness to the New York media and supporting those who suffer from mental illness. I feel it has been in the shadows of closed doors for too long and needs to be discussed and understood.





I have already started to implement my ideas toward reaching my goals that I have set forth within myself regarding this issue. In my school I have been in contact with many faculty members including our guidance personnel, my principal and the superintendent in an effort to bring education on mental illness into our area schools, starting with mine. I presented my ideas to my entire high school faculty and was pleasantly surprised to see how many of them wanted to support me. My school now makes brochures available so that anyone who wants to discreetly receive information about mental illness may do so. I am working diligently to get a mental illness curriculum into all upper middle school and high school health courses by the start of the new school year. I’m also in the planning process with our guidance team to set up an assembly for all high school and upper middle school students to attend. The assembly will consist of a speaker that will share their personal experiences and help students gain an understanding towards mental illness. I also plan on using my appearances as a teaching tool to help educate people within my community.

Looking on, you will notice that there are many issues with causes and effects related to people with mental illnesses. Turn on your six-o’clock news and nightly you will hear of issues connected to this awful condition. What I would like to do is change the way the media and society portrays these individuals. It is unfortunate that when we watch the news or listen to it on the radio we only hear the reporter’s side of the story. We often mute the untold story of the victim themselves. Education is key and my plan is to make it available.

In regards to this issue, what America needs is knowledge. Knowledge is power. We as individuals are the educators. Together we will make a difference that will change the way America thinks about mental illness in the future.