Theatrical performance “Minds Interrupted” shines spotlight on mental health {Thanks, AP}

During my first semester in college, I remember sitting in my dorm room and receiving a shocking call from a friend — she’d been forced to withdraw from school. Why? She’d had a nervous breakdown. She was later diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. For me, this shined a spotlight on the prevalence of mental illness.

The National Institutes of Health says 26.2% of Americans, or more than 57 million people ages 18 and older are diagnosed with a form of mental illness a year.

For those who don’t know mental illness firsthand but want to learn more about how it affects the lives of people, a new DVD is being produced which shares the experiences of eight Baltimore residents who have.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, Metropolitan Baltimore presented and recorded “Minds Interrupted: Stories of Lives Affected by Mental Illness” last night at Baltimore’s Center Stage before a live audience (tickets were sold out). The eight people who shared their stories through candid monologues wrote and edited their own stories. Organizers said some were funny, some sad, but all were eye-opening.

One of those who took the stage was be WJZ news anchor Denise Koch. Koch tells The Baltimore Sun she suffered from panic attacks shortly after the birth of her two daughters.

Event organizers hope that the eight monologues will put a face on mental illness and get more people talking about the importance of mental health.

DVD’s are $19.95 plus $4.95 shipping and handling. To place an order, call NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore at 410.435.2600.

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