Call for Submissions: Stories on Mental Illness

Familiar Minds—a new blog dedicated to eliminating the stigma of mental illness—needs story submissions from anyone who either is dealing with mental illness or has been affected by someone close to them who suffers from the disease.

The blog's founder, Tracey Capers, executive vice president of Programs and Organizational Development at Bed-Stuy Restoration Plaza, wants to encourage an open a dialogue around this silent killer, a disease that is often avoided or covered up within many families.

Through the sharing of personal accounts by those suffering with mental illesss or the accounts of their families, the goal of Familiar Minds is to start a real dialogue on the taboo topic, providing encouragement and support to the many families suffering in silence.  

Capers lost her brother to suicide shortly after his diagnosis with paranoid schizophrenia close to 20 years ago.

A letter from Tracey:

Dear World,

About 20 years ago,  I lost my brother Tim to suicide.  Tim, a handsome, young black male at 28 was an engineer and recent graduate from Rensalaer Polytechnic Institute.   A year prior to his death, Tim was diagnosed with  paranoid schizophrenia.  This diagnosis inaugurated what proved to be a most surreal year for the family. 

Over time, as I healed, I was able to discuss and share what happened to my brother little by little. To my surprise, I encountered several close and dear friends that had stories to tell - of their mothers, brothers and their own battles with mental illness. 

How could it be that I could call someone my best or dearest friend (my brother) and not know the depth and pain that he was suffering at home? I often wonder, if I had known, how would I have responded? Would I have been a sympathetic, understanding ear, or would I have cowarded with ignorance? I also think back and wonder if these stories were shared, would I have been able to notice the warning signs of my brother’s illness and would I have been better equipped to support him.  I will never know for myself, but I am inspired that there might be a way to touch someone else who might be dealing with mental illness in their family. I want them to know that they are not alone, there is help.

This blog is the starting point for a book project that will compile essays written by people with mental illness and/or by the family members that support them.  Toward this end, I am inviting submissions of abstracts of between 250-500 words. Abstracts will highlight potential content for a larger essay.  Suggested content might include but not limited to the following topics:

·         first signs of mental illness and early diagnosis;

·         racial, ethnic, religious, and social economic influence on conversations, reactions and perspectives to mental illness; and

·         how perceptions and perspectives on mental illness have evolved and changed over time.

Submissions should accompany a brief biography on the author.  

Please submit your abstract and biography to familiarminds@gmail.com no later than October 15. Submissions should include "Familiar Minds Call for Abstracts" in the subject line.  Please provide day time telephone number where you can be reached.

Beginning in November, select excerpts from abstracts will be published on the blog. It is anticipated that 15-20 writers will be invited to submit longer essays for the anthology book project. 

Thank you for your interest in this project. Together, we are creating the opportunity to eliminate the stigma of mental illness in communities everywhere. 

Yours Truly,

Tracey