NO MORE WHISPERS
Community Campaign Shines Light
on Mental Health and Suicide
M
subject of suicide prevention, to foster hope and understanding
between those caught in the throes of despair and their loved
ones. In addition, there were displays and educational materials
from ‘Attitudes in Reverse ® ’, the National Alliance on Mental
Illness, Mental Health Association and other partners.
The event also featured the ‘In Their Shoes™’ Exhibit, a dis-
play consisting of 269 pairs of shoes to represent New Jersey
youth, ages 10 through 24, who ended their lives between
2013–2015; a butterfly release, held to honor friends and family
members who were lost too soon; pet therapy dogs and other
community partners including the National Alliance on Mental
Illness Healing Through Art Campaign, who presented about
mental health education. The festival ended with a performance
from the 1960s American rock band, Vanilla Fudge.
The Festival of Hope was the event of Atlantic Health
System’s No More Whispers Campaign, which has focused on
getting people to talk openly about a condition that affects one
in six U.S. adult lives, according to the National Institute of
Mental Health. ❖
ore than 100 community members – as well as numer-
ous representatives from Atlantic Health System and
community mental health organizations –
recently attended Chilton Medical Center’s first Festival of Hope.
Made possible by a generous donation from the Reiser
Family Foundation and a collaborative effort between Chilton
Medical Center and Atlantic Behavioral Health, the free, com-
munity-focused event was designed to promote education about
mental health awareness, depression and suicide prevention, and
the importance of access to mental health care.
“We tend to speak openly about physiological diseases, like
cancer, but that’s not the case for those struggling with anxiety
or depression,” said philanthropist Manny Reiser. “Our society
is still in the dark ages when it comes to mental health.
We need to get people talking so we can help and prevent
needless tragedies.”
Kevin Hines, who survived a suicide attempt from the
Golden Gate Bridge, was the guest speaker. Kevin has traveled
the country, bringing his unique, firsthand perspective to the
Chilton Magazine holiday 2018