| Mental Health America Bell of Hope Memorial |
In Loving Memory of On November 3rd 2008, I will mark the 26th year of the day my brother took his life. Paul was 26 when he ended the terror. My brother was diagnosed with a mental illness and lived in torment until he just couldn't take anymore. Paul tried several times before November 3, 1982 unsuccessfully, to end the misery. The reason I became a Compeer volunteer was because of my brother, Paul. I knew that the services provided free by volunteers bringing the healing power of a human connection into the life of a scarred, courageous soul trying to cope with an illness, a mental illness was powerful. You see Compeer was not around where we lived, when my brother struggled but I think that if it was and Paul had a friend through Compeer that it could have made a big difference! Years passed and one day while at a library, I saw a Compeer brochure. I picked it up, glanced at it briefly, and then said to my wife, "I think that I'd like to volunteer for this organization." Little did I know at that time, what kind of impact this decision would have on the course of my life. Today, people diagnosed with a mental illness can have HOPE because many things have changed for the better since Paul left this realm of existence. Mental health treatment and attitudes are continually changing for the betterment of us all. Just like when CANCER was so feared and the word RECOVERY was never uttered in the same sentence as CANCER, so it is now becoming with mental illness. Recovery is a word that is used often when describing some of the amazing journeys that people share with us all in this present time. Keep hope, live strong and be well because we can!
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