
Speak up. Stop the Stigma. Normalize Mental Health with MHC.
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We are The Changemakers, a small group of five students from the University of North Texas (UNT) on a mission to raise mental health awareness and education in America.
Mental Health Collaborative (MHC) is committed to breaking the silence about mental illness through education and awareness. MHC provides Mental Health Literacy Programs in schools, communities, and organizations in and around Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Join us today by donating to MHC and supporting those who need it most. Learn More - Mental Health Collaborative.
Let’s Face It - No One Wants To Talk About Mental Health
We live in a society where those experiencing mental illness are frequently discriminated against and oppressed by mainstream culture. Instead of an open and honest dialog, there is bullying and hurtful insults. Instead of education and understanding, there is willful ignorance. Instead of the warm embrace of humanity, there are threats of violence. As if hearing the line from the popular movie Mean Girls, “You can’t sit with us,” many feel the sting from those who go out of their way to exclude others who are different. It doesn’t have to be this way. Your struggles do not define you. Your mental illness does not define you.

Mental Health Looks Different for Everyone
Mental health looks different for everyone, and seeing those we care about battle mental illness can be difficult. Some may show little or no interest in those things that once brought joy and fulfillment. Some may feel down, depressed, or hopeless, often leading to a loss of energy, trouble sleeping, or a loss of appetite. Many face traumatic life experiences like divorce, unemployment, the loss of a loved one, or maybe one of those close to us is suffering from disease - this was the case of one of our team members who tells the story below:
As the eldest daughter, watching my father struggle with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) took a toll on my mental health, putting me into a state of depression and anxiety. The utter shock of his diagnosis, combined with the daily agony he endured, left me completely helpless. Balancing the responsibilities of adulthood with the constant fear of losing him at such a young age deepened my emotional disturbance. Yet despite the darkness, the unconditional support of loved ones served as an aid, always reminding me that I wasn’t alone in this journey.

Staggering Statistics:
- 1 in 5 U.S. adults experiences mental illness each year
- 1 in 25 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
- 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
- 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34
- Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are 4x more likely to attempt suicide than straight youth

1 in 25 adults experience a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, or clinical depression, with schizophrenia and borderline personality disorders being two of the most challenging and painful to live with. Many suffering from severe mental illness are our family members or close relationships - our mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents, children, friends, neighbors, spouses, or significant others. Mental illness does not discriminate. It impacts us all. Yet, with so many living with mental illness, why does the stigma continue to silence us? Yet, the silence is deafening.
Mental Health Collaborative (MHC) Is Here to Help
MHC is a non-profit mental health organization focused on decreasing stigma, increasing knowledge, and giving people the skills they need to flourish. It provides an evidence-based, grade-level tailored curriculum to classroom facilitators, including teachers, coaches, and caregivers, giving them the tools to tackle the subject with their students. In addition to schools, MHC provides educational tools to businesses and organizations to foster a positive and supportive culture.

MHC has found that 90% of school administrators or teachers report that they don’t have the adequate knowledge required to address student mental health needs. MHC’s mental health literacy curriculum includes the following:
- Understanding how to access mental health help.
- Decreasing the stigma associated with mental health issues.
- How to identify specific mental illnesses.
- Providing accessibility to seek treatment.
5 Ways To End Mental Health Stigma

Donations to MHC majorly impact local communities through education and programs. Every dollar raised goes toward MHC's dedicated mission of helping communities. Diversity and inclusion are key focus areas of MHC, ensuring that mental health education reaches those who need it most.
MHC provides the education and resources needed to empower each of us to support those in our circle of influence in times of mental distress or illness. With MHC, we can increase education and awareness throughout the Hopkinton, MA community and beyond.
Your struggles do not define you. They refine you.

A Final Word About Suicide
If you or someone you know are faced with a mental health crisis, please call or send a text message to 988. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7 call, text, and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crises or any other kind of emotional distress.
How to Lean More About MHC:
Web: mentalhealthcollaborative.com
Facebook: @mentalhealthcollaborativema
X: @mentalhealthcol
Instagram: @mentalhealthcollaborative
YouTube: @mentalhealthcollaborative
LinkedIn: @mentalhealthcollaborative
References:
https://themixedreview.wordpress.com/2018/05/31/photo-series-visualization-of-the-manifestations-of-mental-health-disorders/
https://med.stanford.edu/fastlab/research/imapp/msrs/_jcr_content/main/accordion/accordion_content3/download_256324296/file.res/PHQ9%20id%20date%2008.03.pdf
Mean Girls. Directed by Mark Watersi, performances by Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, and Amanda Seyfried, Paramount Pictures, 2004.
Fundraising team: The Changemakers (5)

Jules Thetford
Organizer
Plano, TX
Mental Health Collaborative
Beneficiary
Brad Fullerton
Team member
Anosh Fatima Rizvi
Team member
Emily Burns
Team member
Nadia Corona
Team member