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Victory! Cedar Fair closes FearVR Ride
After our calls and emails to Knott’s Berry Farm and Hollow Studios, the online petition, and posts, articles, and letters from the Orange County chapter of NAMI, Pete Earley, Ron Thomas, and Los Angeles Times writer Steve Lopez, Cedar Fair Entertainment, the parent company of Knott’s Berry Farm, California’s Great America, and Canada’s Wonderland Park have…
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Response from Knott’s Berry Farm
I received a response from both Knott’s Berry Farm and the maker of the virtual reality game they are showcasing this Halloween.
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Stigma is Alive and Well at Knott’s Scary Farm
Knott’s Berry Farm is an amusement park in Orange County, California. I’ve been there several times, as a child and as an adult with my kids, including Tim. Every October they turn the park into Knott’s Scary Farm, decked out in all the finest in Halloween regalia. This year, they announced a new virtual reality…
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Four Reasons Why Fighting Stigma Is Important
There is some sentiment among advocates for persons with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder that movements like Mental Health Awareness Month and fighting stigma is a waste of resources because it doesn’t help get treatment and resources to the most severely mentally ill. I disagree. I think awareness and stigma fighting are…
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A Parent’s Perspective – Elizabeth Loan
Years ago I worked for a school who only served kids with moderate to severe disabilities, primarily Autism. Part of our training was a series of lectures from other health professionals, support service agencies and other assorted individuals who worked in the field. One of the trainings was titled, “A Parent’s Perspective.” It consisted of…
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Gus Deeds, 60 Minutes, and the Why of It All
Did you see Senator Creigh Deeds on 60 Minutes last night? If you didn’t, stop reading and watch it, below, before you read on. Such a tragic story, and such a damning and pointed message at society: Gus was a great kid. He was a perfect son. It’s clear the system failed. It’s clear that…
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Suck It Up, Buttercup
Have you met my friend Adrienne? Not only is she smart, talented, beautiful, and a great mom, she’s also an amazing writer who was honored at this year’s BlogHer as a Voice of the Year. She’s also, very often, the voice in my head that keeps me from saying stupid shit out loud to people…
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Dear NBC Nightly News and Brian Williams
Dear Producers and Brian Williams: I am shocked and saddened that last night, Brian Williams said Ariel Castro is “the face of mental illness.” No, he most certainly isn’t. Not only did a psychiatrist testify that he IS NOT mentally ill, but the horrific things he did are NOT a byproduct of any mental illness.…
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Ignoring The Thin Line Between Stability And Psychosis
Back in March of this year, Congressman Tim Murphy, Republican of Pennsylvania, sponsored a hearing to the House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on violence and severe mental illness. Many people were called to testify, including author Pete Earley, NIMH Director Dr. Thomas Insel, parents of persons with…
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Why I Speak Up Against Stigma
I spend a lot of time on social media sites, Facebook and Twitter mainly. Today I read two posts that show you why I continue to speak out about childhood onset mental illness, and why it’s important that, if you can, you speak out too. First, on the Facebook page for a great blog called…