WASHINGTON (8/15/17)—The National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery (NCMHR)—a coalition of statewide organizations run by persons labeled with mental illness, representing 26 states and the District of Columbia—is horrified and saddened by the recent events in Charlottesville, Virginia.
In response to the tragic events in Charlottesville, the NCMHR has issued the following statement:
“We who have been labeled mentally ill stand in unity with all the oppressed people of this society. We stand with those who experience, or have experienced, the trauma of racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-immigrantism, ableism, and all other forms of ‘othering’ people not like ourselves. We condemn the gathering of white supremacists in Charlottesville and the violence that their creed of hatred produced.
“We advocate for a period of peace and reconciliation similar to that practiced by South Africa through dialogues of mutual respect between groups that are often played off against one another by those who are governed by greed and power. We believe that such dialogues, where respect for differences supplants hatred and fear, can help rebuild cohesive, compassionate communities. We have learned these lessons through our own recovery from trauma and we want to share what we have learned with society at large.”
The National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery (NCMHR) works to ensure that individuals with lived experience of a mental health condition have a major voice in the development and implementation of health care, mental health, and social policies at the state and national levels, empowering people to recover and lead a full life in the community.
Contact: Daniel B. Fisher, M.D., Ph.D, NCMHR Board President, info@ncmhr.org , 877-246-9058
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