The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Stamping out bias
Prime Time House holds Walk Towards Recovery
TORRINGTON — A large group of men and women from Prime Time House marched down Main Street Thursday morning, waving signs and urging people to honk their horns to support awareness of National Mental Health Awareness Day.
The group carried brightly colored signs, with slogans such as “I’m just like you” “I choose recovery” and “Stamp Out the Stigma,” celebrating the Walk Towards Recovery.
“We walk down Main Street in honor of all the strides made towards mental health, the much work that still needs to be done, the many individual and collaborative achievements people have made and World Mental Health Day,” Prime Time House members said.
“This walk is important to me because we don’t want to be stigmatized, or judged,” said Rena Fitzgerald, who has found employment and support
from Prime Time House. “I’ve had a job since 2011, and training, and I’ve met people from all over, even Denmark and Australia.”
Daryl Chandler also participated in the annual walk. “Prime Time House helps a lot,” he said. “I have my job, and I got some nice clothes. It’s a nice place.”
When all the walkers were assembled in front of City Hall, they made their way to the second floor meeting room for the celebration. Speakers shared testimonials about their life and mental health, while others read poetry.
“I’m happy to do this for the sixth year. It’s great,” said Althea M., who joined Mike L. as a master of ceremonies. “To me, recovery means living well, and breathing well. I’ve been hospitalized in three different continents, and more than 20 times, but I choose to be well today. Everyone’s affected by mental illness, whether you have it or not.”
Jason W. said mental health awareness changed his life. In his early school years, he was bullied and developed depression. “School was hard and people weren’t so nice,” he said. “I developed depression, anxiety and anger. But I found a place where I can be happy, here in Torrington. As our President (Franklin Delano Roosevelt) said, ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.’”
After the testimonials and poems, speaker Jen H. talked about the significance of World Mental Health Day, which was first celebrated in 1992 as an annual activity of the World Federation of Mental Health. It was intended to promote mental health advocacy and public education.
“It’s a day for educating and raising awareness about mental health issues,” she said, adding that this year’s theme is suicide prevention. “Every year close to 800,000 people worldwide take their own lives and there are many more people who attempt suicide ... it’s the second leading cause of death among people age 10 to 34. There is one death by suicide in the U.S. every 12 minutes,” she said. According to her speech, 18 to 22 veterans die every day by suicide, and 43 percent of patients seen in hospitals annually for suicidal thoughts and attempts are between the ages of 5 and 10 years old.
The program included a presentation from the Green TEAR Initiative. “Green represents hope and growth, and Tear stands for teach, empower, advocate and recover,” said the group’s communications director, Jennifer Knudsen. After her talk, Prime Time House presented a plaque and thanked the group for its support.
Green TEAR “aspires to engage citizens, community leaders, local businesses and service providers in the endeavor to increase awareness and understanding about ... mental health and addiction, assuring people who are struggling that they are not alone, and supporting all citizens in becoming informed advocates for overall wellness,” according to its mission statement. Green TEAR works with service providers and agencies including the United Way, AA and NA, FISH of Torrington, the Gathering Place and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
To learn more about Green TEAR, visit www.facebook.com/green tearinitiative . For Prime Time House, visit https://www.primetime house.org/