When United Advocates for Children and
Families (UACF) decided last year to embark on a
statewide campaign for early detection and intervention,
we could not have foreseen the spontaneous emergence of
controversy that has engulfed a local community, and is
now ricocheting throughout the media and across the
country. Who could have ever imagined that a simple
donut would be the catalyst to ignite an unparalleled
public outcry on stigma and discrimination pertaining to
mental health. Yet! That is indeed the case.
It’s a fact
that an estimated 50 million Americans experience a
mental disorder in a given year, yet people with mental
illness would rather tell their employers they have
committed a petty crime and were in jail than admit to
being in a psychiatric hospital. Why? Because of the
stigma that is associated with mental illnesses.
Stigma results in fear, mistrust, and violence against
people living with mental illnesses. Stigma prevents
people from receiving needed mental health services.
Stigma is a barrier and discourages individuals and their
families from getting the help they need due to fear of
being discriminated against.
So, when we were
informed that a new donut shop in Campbell California
had named their business ‘Psycho Donuts’ with the theme
of being a “light-hearted insane asylum” we moved
quickly, following the lead of a local coalition of
concerned organizations, to engage the owners of the
business and express our horror at this insensitive and
uncaring act.
Worst yet, the names of the donuts go
over the edge: Serial Killer, Bi-Polar, Massive Head
Trauma and Manic Malt. We also learned that the shop
includes a padded cell where children can take photos
wearing a straitjacket. The owners state that “Psycho
Donuts has taken the neighborhood donut and put it on
medication and given it a shock treatment.” This is a
shameless mockery of families, children and youth
suffering silently everyday with mental illness. They
need Hope, not Jokes and Hurting Words!
With the support
of the UACF Board of Directors, I called the owners and
requested a meeting, which subsequently became a TV
debate in San Francisco, scheduled for July 22, 2009.
By the time this newsletter is mailed, the debate will
be over; but not the cause. We must continue to
inform the public, and this business in particular, that
mental illness is not a joke. We are asking our members,
affiliates and the community-at-large to rally and
root out stigma wherever and whenever it surfaces.
How can you help? In less than 5 minutes
you can join our online campaign and make a difference
from the comfort of your home. Simply click on:
http://uacf4hope.donorpages.com/personalsolicitation/uacf
Together,
let’s take a stand on behalf of our families, children
and youth; Stop! Mental Health is Not a Joke!
