Mission Hospitals and NAMI Sponsor a Celebration of Courage

These 45-inch tall daisies will line Biltmore Avenue in support of NAMI’s work.

By Darlena Moore

Maya Angelou once said that without courage, you cannot practice any other virtues. Her words could not ring more true when dealing with the courage it takes to deal with mental illness. On September 10, 11 and 12, on the St. Joseph campus of Mission Hospitals, the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mission will partner to hold an event that is all about courage. This third annual Celebration of Courage will feature hundreds of vibrant 45-inch tall irises, tulips, and daisies that will line Biltmore Avenue and will be for sale to support NAMI’s work. The flowers represent Vincent Van Gogh’s famous painting, The Irises, created when he was institutionalized for mental illness.

Ten million Americans
suffer from a serious mental illness. Mental illness among minorities
often goes undiagnosed due to a lack of health insurance, mistrust of
medical professionals, or in feeling too ashamed or isolated to talk
about it. But this is where courage comes in, say Jim and Sharon Pitts,
members of NAMI, who know all too well how deep into the courage
reserves one must dig to deal with this issue. One of their children
was diagnosed with a mental illness as a teenager.

“It takes courage to venture into unfamiliar territory and this is the
challenge that mental illness presents for all of us,” says Jim. “It
takes courage to recognize the symptoms of mental illness in a loved
one or yourself. It takes courage to speak to your friend, doctor or
pastor, and courage for pastors to speak to congregations about
acceptance and understanding of mental illness. It takes courage to
have faith in family members who repeatedly fail at life’s task and to
believe that they can be redeemed. It takes courage to speak out
against injustices done to people who live with mental illness and to
try to learn new means of coping.”

“We are the proud sons and daughters of slaves,” adds Sharon. “We know
about strength and courage. Our foundation involves a sense of reaching
back to our ethnic strength and the courage of our community. We must
pull from this strength when it comes to recognizing and supporting
persons and families who live with mental illness. “

People who live with mental illness can lead productive lives with
early and proper diagnosis and treatment. Mary J. Blige, Ray Charles,
Janet Jackson, and Paula Abdul live successfully with different forms
of mental illness. Dr. Angelou’s words on courage were right on. She
also said, “I speak to the black experience, but I am always talking
about the human condition — about what we can endure, dream, fail at,
and still survive.”

Mental illness is a human condition we must all work together to ensure that more of us not only survive – but thrive.

The Celebration of Courage opens at 9 a.m. each day until 6 p.m. During
the exhibit, flowers may be sponsored or purchased for $25 to support
NAMI Western Carolina. Sponsoring gifts of $50, $100, $200 or more are
also welcomed. Contributions to NAMI Western Carolina should be mailed
to NAMI WC, PO Box 8046, Asheville, NC 28814.

For further information on this event or on NAMI WC, contact Jim Pitts at [email protected] or (828) 258-5359.