Project Return: The Stephan Rivera Story, written by Wendy Almasy and Brian Canning is a true story that takes the reader on a journey that is unbelievable but true. Stephan Rivera has schizophrenia – but it doesn’t have him. His is a journey, albeit tough, from the barrios of the California desert in the sixties and seventies, to incarceration, lock downs, train rides to Canada, and 22 years living on Los Angeles Sid Row.
“Some people would look at Stephan’s story as a sad tale of woe, but he does not,” said Canning. “It would be easy to tell a tale of broken systems and living on the outskirts of reality, non med compliance, and so on…but we chronicle the story up until this year, and his on-going recovery. We think it is an American Success story…and now it is he, and his beautiful wife who are giving back to the communities from whence they’ve come.”
Both Canning and Almasy have been Mental Health advocates and feel that stories like this help to break stigma. “This is not the Soloist”, said Almasy. “This doesn’t have an angle like that to be trumpeted. Thousands of people have passed Stephan during his life on the streets. Many, like most on skid row don’t see faces, or sons, daughters or husbands. Our book seeks to give character to what some people see as discarded shells of life.”
The book is due for release for summer.
Help is a beautiful thing…and dealing with Cancer of a friend or family member can cause an enormous amount of mental stress. The Beckstrand organization in Orange County is there! Check out their upcoming events like the upcoming Pageant!
Get your Honky Tonk boots out and get ready to hit the dance floor to the sounds of Dwight Yoakam. Great wine, great food, great music, great people, AND you’re helping the more than 57 million people affected by mental illness!
http://www.imhro.org/
Have a sister who lives in New York? A friend in need returning from the military? The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has all kinds of resources including links to a suicide hotline
People walk for the lung, the heart and all kinds of issues…can the mind get some love? Yes! Click here and walk with the National Alliance on Mental Illness in October in Santa Monica. Have fun and make a difference!
Need resources in LA County? Gotcha covered! Check out this site or call 1-800-854-7771 Many languages are available.
For more than 60 years, DiDi Hirsch has been providing services including suicide prevention to Los Angeles County Residents REGARDLESS of ability to pay.
How do you deal with family mental health issues? What is Schizophrenia? Where can you find tips to help deal with mental health issues? The National Alliance on Mental Illness is a great resource. Check them out, and you might want to check out their local classes like family to family.
Joey Pantoliano and friends are mad as hell and they aren’t going to take it anymore! Stigma that is…check out the site and check out the resources and documentary Joey produced called, “No Kidding…Me Too!”
Last year, spearheaded by Nancy Carter and the staff at NAMI Urban Los Angeles, events took place all over LA that celebrated the life and the tireless efforts of BeBe Moore Campbell, acclaimed best – selling author and advocate.
After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, Campbell moved to Los Angeles and became one of the most prolific writers in America. Her “72 Hour Hold” is a must read for family members, as is “My Mommy is Angry”. Her contributions did not go un noticed. “BeBe was a sister, a savior and a saint.” Said Nancy Carter of NAMI Urban Los Angeles. “I can think of nobody else who is more deserving of an honor to have a month dedicated to her passion and perserverance”.
BeBe Moore Campbell passed away from complications due to brain cancer in December of 2007. Congress passed the proclamation honoring her in spring of 2008.
“This year, local events were planned.” Said Carter. “Next year, we are already planning for a comprehensive national celebration that includes education, music and art.”
Free Your Mind Projects is also currently developing similar events and media outreach around the country similar to our Los Angeles project (see Success Stories). Our next events are planned to occur again in Los Angeles and in New York and Washington DC as well as other major metropolitan areas. Please contact us at
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to inquire about events for your organization or area.
Co-founder Brian Canning congratulates Dr. Southard and Darrell Steinberg on their hard work for helping the mentally ill.
Copyright 2010 Free Your Mind Projects
Marci Shimoff - Author of best sellers “Happiness for no Reason”, and many other books and films such as Chicken Soup for the Soul and The Secret.
Tony Robbins – you know him – his programs work!
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