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MENTAL HEALTH FLAG TOUR STOPS IN NEW YORK
From the website of Lt. Governor Mary O. Donohue at http://www.state.ny.us/governor/ltgov/press99/may03_04.htm. FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE LT. GOVERNOR RAISES MENTAL HEALTH FLAG IN SUPPORT OF MENTAL ILLNESS
AWARENESS Lt. Governor Mary O. Donohue today raised a mental health flag at the State Capitol as part of a nationwide effort to bring awareness to the plight of the mentally ill. The flag was designed and hand-painted by Kristy Worthen of Arkansas, a bipolar disorder patient, to draw attention to the need for improvement in the lives of people with mental illnesses through access to information, resources and appropriate medications. Kristy Worthen is touring the nation telling her story. "I am proud to add my signature to the flag and join the growing chorus of voices drawing awareness to mental illnesses across New York State and our Nation. Kristy's willingness to speak on behalf of herself and other sufferers make her a role model and show the world that there is hope and there is help," said Lieutenant Governor Donohue. "I created my flag as a symbol of hope for all people who have been diagnosed with a mental illness. It is my desire for the flag to focus attention on each state's mental health needs. I want to let others know there is hope and there is help for people who have been diagnosed with a mental illness," says Worthen. The awareness campaign is a joint effort between the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). The NLGA which is seeking to rally public awareness of the need to improve the lives of people with mental illnesses through the "Mental Health Flag Project" was launched by Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Winthrop Rockefeller. After signing the flag and meeting Kristy Worthen, Rockefeller was certain her flag, which depicts the symbol of a beacon from a lighthouse and the inscription "Shedding Light on Mental Health Issues," could become a national symbol of hope. To date the flag has flown in 26 state capitals and has been signed by President George W. Bush. "Awareness about the neurobiological brain diseases called mental illness can be the first step to diagnosis, treatment and discovery," said David Seay, Executive Director of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of New York State (NAMI-NYS). "We salute this flag for its important symbolism, Kristy Worthen for creating it and Lieutenant Governor Donohue for raising it here in Albany today. NAMI-NYS and our sister NAMIs all across the nation are proud sponsors of the Shedding the Light Tour," Seay added. New York State Legislators, representatives of NAMI-NYS, and mental health advocates joined Lieutenant Governor Donohue in recognition of the needs of patients of bipolar disorder and the numerous other mental health disorders. Sponsors of the "Shedding the Light Tour" include the National Lieutenant Governors Association, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Mental Health Association, Southwest Airlines, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and Marriott Hotels. News from The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill-NYS at http://www.eisinc.com/eis-cgi-bin/displaystory.cgi?story=NAMINY.015&btdate=Friday+April+30 News from The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill-NYS
BIPOLAR DISORDER PATIENT BRINGS MESSAGE OF HOPE TO THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN NEW YORK Lieutenant Governor Mary Donohue signs mental health flag in support of mental illness awareness at a special ceremony on the capitol steps ALBANY, NY -- (04/30/2004; 1000)(EIS) -- Lieutenant Governor Mary Donohue will raise a mental health flag at 1:30 p.m. on May 3, 2004 at the capitol building in an effort to bring awareness to the plight of the mentally ill. The flag was designed and hand-painted by Kristy Worthen, a bipolar disorder patient, to draw attention to the need for improvement in the lives of people with mental illnesses through access to accurate information, resources and appropriate medications. Kristy is touring the nation telling her story. "I created my flag as a symbol of hope for all people who have been diagnosed with a mental illness. It is my desire for the flag to focus attention on each state's mental health needs. I want to let others know there is hope and there is help for people who have been diagnosed with a mental illness," says Worthen. The ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. and the public is invited to attend. Lieutenant Governor Donohue is participating in the efforts of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) as well as NAMI-NYS. The NLGA is seeking to rally public awareness of the need to improve the lives of people with mental illnesses through the "Mental Health flag project" launched by Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Winthrop Rockefeller. After signing the flag and meeting Kristy Worthen, Rockefeller was certain her flag, which depicts the symbol of a beacon from a lighthouse and the inscription "Shedding Light on Mental Health Issues," could become a national symbol of hope. To date the flag has flown in 26 states and has been signed by President George W. Bush. "Awareness about the neurobiological brain diseases called mental illness can be the first step to diagnosis, treatment and recovery," said David Seay, Executive Director of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of New York State (NAMI-NYS). "We salute this flag for its important symbolism, Kristy Worthen for creating it and Lieutenant Governor Donohue for raising it here in Albany today. NAMI-NYS and our sister NAMIs all across the nation are proud sponsors of the Shedding the Light Tour," Seay added. Sponsors of the tour include the National Lieutenant Governors Association, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Mental Health Association, Southwest Airlines, AstraZeneca and Marriott Hotels. Representatives of NAMI-NYS, state legislators, and mental health advocates will be present in support of this recognition of the needs of patients of bipolar disorder and the numerous other mental health disorders. |
Copyright 2003 Kristy Worthen
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