Actress Glenn Close's Anti-Stigma Campaign Joins NAMIWalks Raising Funds for Hope and Recovery from Mental Illness

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Apr 01, 2010, 04:00 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., April 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is pleased to welcome the BringChange2Mind campaign created by actress Glenn Close as a partner in supporting NAMIWalks that begin this spring.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100216/NAMILOGO)

The partnership—in which BringChange2Mind teams will participate in selected NAMIWalks—will support a common mission to battle the stigma often associated with mental illness.

Last fall, BringChange2Mind launched an extensive mass media campaign of public service announcements. On April 17 in St. Louis, Close will throw the first pitch and sing at the Cardinals and Mets baseball game. Fans will see a campaign PSA on the scoreboard. St. Louis's NAMIWalk is scheduled for May 29.

"BringChange2Mind provides a new source of energy for the grassroots community focus of NAMIWalks," said NAMI Executive Director Michael Fitzpatrick. "They are fun events which involve individuals with mental illnesses, their families, friends and a broad range of supporters."

"NAMIWalks are about hope and recovery. Glenn Close and her campaign are making a terrific contribution to our movement."

"NAMIWalks are a new grassroots dimension for the campaign," said Close. "It is a natural fit. Last year, I was proud to participate in NAMI Maine's walk. I know about NAMI's work in local communities through the help it has given my own family members."

Funds raised by the BringChange2Mind teams will be shared equally between the organizations.

Many NAMIWalks are held around Mental Health Month in May. Others occur in October around Mental Illness Awareness Week.

Locations currently scheduled to include BringChange2Mind teams appear below.

About NAMI

NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI has over 1100 state and local affiliates that engage in research, education, support and advocacy.

About BringChange2Mind

BringChange2Mind.org is a not-for-profit organization created by Glenn Close, the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (CABF), Fountain House, and Garen and Shari Staglin of IMHRO (International Mental Health Research Organization). The idea of a national anti-stigma campaign was born of a partnership between Glenn Close and Fountain House, where Glenn volunteered in order to learn about mental illness, which both her sister and nephew suffer from.

CALIFORNIA

Fresno 5/1/10

Huntington Beach, 10/2/10

Los Angeles/SantaMonica 10/2/10

San Diego 4/17/10

San Francisco 5/22/10

Ventura 5/12/10

CONNECTICUT

Hartford 5/15

DELAWARE

Wilmington 5/1/10

FLORIDA