3WS Announces New Book in Support of Mental Illness Awareness Week
Join National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and 3WS to help Shatter the Stigma during Mental Illness Awareness Week
Although conversations around mental health and chronic illness are evolving, we live in a world where there is still no solid allyship or communal language to support those who are struggling. People living with illness face misconceptions, judgements, and isolation. Shatter the Stigma is a board book for teens and adults that seeks to offer support and understanding to survivors, while providing a mission and guide for the able community to be more effective and empathetic allies. The powerful words of Jesi Davis Rodriguez and the endearing art of Lisa Manuzak Wiley offer a roadmap for anyone seeking to bridge the gap between wellness and disability.
The Creative Team
Jesi Davis Rodriguez lives with her husband and son in upstate New York. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her teens. Her illness became severe and debilitating, but after treatment she was able to recover enough to go to college and graduated with a bachelors of fine arts in musical theater. Then, as an adult she developed Lupus and was diagnosed with the genetic condition Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome. Her dreams of a career on the stage had to be set aside to protect her health, but in learning to deal with her conditions and navigate the health system, Jesi found a new passion in paying it forward and supporting others who struggle with similar issues. She is a writer and a chronic and mental illness advocate and coach. Jesi is grateful for the broken road that lead her to this new life. And even though the challenges she faces on a daily basis are great, she is always glad that she never gave up.
Lisa Manuzak Wiley is an artist and illustrator who was born and raised in Hawaii. She works on video games and children's books, and currently lives in Southern California with her husband, their corgi, two fluffy kitties, and a lot of plants.
About Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) 2022
This year's MIAW is centered around the theme "What I Wish I'd Known" where NAMI will focus on the power of lived experience. Each day throughout the week, they will be elevating the voices of people with lived experience to talk about the components of their recovery where they learned something that could have helped them sooner.
The topics include: What I Wish I’d Known About:
- Monday Oct. 3: Stigma
- Tuesday Oct. 4: Medication [National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding]
- Wednesday Oct. 5: Therapy
- Thursday Oct. 6: Disclosing [National Depression Screening Day]
- Friday Oct. 7: Caregiving
For more details go to Mental Health Awareness Week
The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email them at helpline@nami.org.