Thank you so much.
That introduction was really overwhelming and, the most positive way, so thank you.
Hi, everyone.
My people.
It is an honor and a privilege to be here today at NAMI's national day of action.
Looking out at all of you is so inspiring.
It is great to see so many people dedicated to improving mental health and the lives of
others.
Seeing people of awe ages from all over the country come together gives me so much hope
that changes is possible.
Those of us here today know mental illness has no prejudice.
It affects people of every race, age, gender, religion, and economic status.
It doesn't discriminate between republicans or democrats either.
That's why we are here today.
We need to send a simple message to our nation's leaders, mental health matters, and must be
taken seriously.
It is time to act for mental health and pass comprehensive mental health bills this year.
We're here because groups like NAMI helped us understand that our voices really do matter.
Our stories really do matter.
We have the power to make a difference, and we have the personal experience needed to
be taken seriously.
We know what it means to have our lives, or the lives of people we love get off track
because of mental illness.
We understand that mental illness is serious and can be absolutely devastating.
We also know mental illness can be treatable when we have access to appropriate, comprehensive
care.
I know it is largely because of our personal experience with mental illness; each of us
is here today.
As I learn more about my own illness and the experience of others, I realize how much we
all have in common, even if mental illness has made a few headlines because of my career.
There is, there's a number of ways in which I have been very lucky, yet, even with access
to so much, my journey has not been an easy one by any means.
During my darkest times, I didn't know why I was alive, and I definitely didn't like
myself.
I had very low periods that would so emotionally draining, that I couldn't find the strength
to crawl out of bed in the morning.
I was withdrawn, disconnected, and very angry.
There were stretches of time where I felt nothing but shame.
I would medicate myself with drugs and alcohol, in an effort to feel normal.
Not better, just normal.
I didn't understand why somebody like me with all the resources and reasons in the world
to be emotionally well; I couldn't find happiness.
When I finally got diagnosed with a bipolar disorder, it was a relief in so many ways.
It helped me to start make sense of my bipolar depression and all the harmful things I was
doing to cope with it.
Getting the right diagnosis didn't happen overnight.
Through the process of being misdiagnosed and misunderstood, I learned how important
it is to be open with your doctor, so you get to the root of what is going on as soon
as possible.
The journey to living well with bipolar disorder is a process for me involved seeing a therapist,
being honest with myself and others, following my treatment plan, and taking care of my victims.
It requires comprehensive care.
Living well with bipolar order takes work and doesn't happen at once.
There wasn't one day when the light simply came on, I said, I'm cured, I'm better.
Sometimes the first, second, or even third medication we try isn't one that works the
best.
But we owe it to ourselves to keep trying.
The reality is that you're not a car who goes into the shop and gets fixed immediately.
You need ongoing maintenance.
There will always be work left to do.
I can only do the work now because I truly believe that I'm worth it, and today I'm so
grateful for my life, and I want to preserve and protect it.
It is my personal mission to share with others of all ages people who are children, that
are fans, people that don't know my music at all, but hopefully my speech today can
have some impact.
It is my mission to share this with the world and to let them know there is life on the
other side of those dark times that seem so hopeless and helpless.
I want to show the world there is life, surprising, wonderful, and unexpected life after diagnosis.
I'm proud to say that I'm living proof that someone can live, love, and thrive with bipolar
disorder if they get connected, with professional resources, and accept support as soon as possible.
That's why I'm participating in the mental health listening and engagement tour, getting
to meet people like you and learning more about the issues that face the mental health
community, us.
I hope to do my part to make things a little easier for others and to reduce the shame
associated with mental illness.
I want to do what I can to make things better for others by becoming the strongest and most
informed mental health advocate that I can be.
Today we have a chance to make history with NAMI, an organization that has been the forefront
of advancing mental health in this country for decades.
We've seen increased attention to our country's broken mental health system over the past
few years, but we've seen very little action.
Today our message is very clear; it is time for Congress to act for mental health by supporting
the passage of a comprehensive mental health bill this year.
I understand that the details around comprehensive meant at that tall health care are complex.
I'm not a policy expert, in any way, shape, or form.
I do know the basics of comprehensive care make good sense, common sense.
Comprehensive care means that as a nation, we step up our efforts to prevent suicide,
which is currently the second leading cause of death for young adults in the United States.
Comprehensive care means that if a man with mental illness gets diabetes or cancer, his
doctors work together to determine what is the best approach for his mind and victims.
Comprehensive care also means that when a woman leaves as a psychiatric hospital, there's
a process in place to make sure she gets the care that she needs, so she didn't end up
back in jail, hospitals, or on the streets, or worst of all, even dead.
At the heart of it, comprehensive care means that our mental health systems reach people
early, and far more often, fewer people fall through the cracks and suffer alone.
I'm so proud to be here with you today; together, as mental health advocates, we can make our
voices heard.
Our shared message is simple, like you said, keep it simple.
Support passage of a comprehensive mental health bill this year.
So go out there and make today count.
Together we will make a difference as we act for mental health.
Don't forget to tweet and post throughout the day.
We all know that gets the word going.
I'm about to right now, you know, not sitting on an important panel.
I'm so proud of this community today, and I want the entire world to know that I'm proud
of everyone in here, and I'm also proud of myself for getting the help that I need, and
you can have that too.