My mission to change the narrative of mental health | Glenn Close
Dec 19, 2023
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Glenn Close, the legendary actor and mental health advocate, shares her journey in combating the stigma around mental health. She opens up about her family’s struggles and the courage it takes to seek help, highlighting the importance of community support. Close discusses her organization, Bring Change to Mind, and the vital role of youth in mental health advocacy. She stresses the need for better resources and awareness, particularly for teenagers, as she encourages open conversations about mental health to foster understanding and support.
Glenn Close founded the organization Brain Change to Mind, which has established over 540 clubhouses across the US, providing peer-to-peer support for teenagers facing mental health challenges.
Improved resources and support for families affected by mental illness, recognizing signs like anxiety and depression, and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health are crucial aspects of creating a comprehensive mental health care system.
Deep dives
Glenn Close's Personal Journey and Advocacy
Glenn Close reflects on her family's experience with mental illness and the stigma surrounding it. She discusses how her sister Jessie and her son Kaelan's struggles with mental illness inspired her to start the organization called Brain Change to Mind. Through Brain Change to Mind, they have established over 540 clubhouses in 43 states, providing peer-to-peer support for teenagers facing mental health challenges.
Building Resources and Breaking Stigma
Glenn Close highlights the need for improved resources and support for families affected by mental illness. She mentions that the government has allocated $8.5 billion for establishing certified community behavioral health clinics across the United States. She also emphasizes the importance of recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental illness, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Close encourages people to be vigilant and offer support to those in need, even if they initially deny it. She concludes by emphasizing the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and creating a crisis of care system that provides long-term support.
Legendary actor and mental health advocate Glenn Close is on a quest to change how we think about mental health, starting with her decision to speak out about her own family's struggles — a brave choice considering the stigma that pervades the topic. In a sweeping conversation with TEDWomen curator Pat Mitchell, Close shares the inspiration behind the advocacy group she founded to combat the crisis, underscoring the transformative power of community and the critical need for comprehensive mental health care systems.