Bring Change 2 Mind

Bring Change 2 Mind is a non-profit organization founded by actress Glenn Close to increase awareness about, and provide provide support for, people afflicted with mental illness and their families. Even though one in six adults, and approximately one in six children, are diagnosed with mental illness, stigma remains attached to mental disorders that is as challenging as living with the conditions themselves. Bring Change 2 Mind hopes to educate the public to reduce misconceptions about, and bias against, mental illness. The organization was launched in 2009 in cooperation with the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, Fountain House and members of the International Mental Health Research Organization.http://www.bringchange2mind.org/index.php/about-us

Close, her sister Jessie, who suffers from bipolar disorder, and Jessie's son Calen Pick, who suffers from schizo-affective disorder, appeared on Good Morning America and The View on October 21, 2009, to discuss the initiative.http://www.bringchange2mind.org/

Glenn Close volunteered with a nonprofit organization called Fountain House to learn more about mental illness and better understand more about her sister and nephew's diagnoses. The involvement of families is critical to the success of a patient's treatment for mental illness, just as it is with any disease. Mental illness also takes a toll on families, just as any other disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that mental illness will be the second leading cause of death and disability by 2020. It is the hope of Bring Change 2 Mind that their awareness campaign will help to educate families and communities about mental illness, provide support and correct misconceptions before that happens.

• Provide people who have misconceptions about mental illness quick and easy access to information that combats stigma.
• Provide people who have mental illness, and those who know them, quick and easy access to information and support.