BY KATHERINE PONTE
Sharing examples of recovery can inspire the hope that makes recovery possible. When I was deeply depressed, the examples of Stability Leaders gave me hope that I could recover, and now I want to bring that hope to others by sharing my recovery journey. Our examples contrast brightly against the shadowy helplessness and hopelessness of stigma. Working towards a common goal of full and meaningful inclusion in society, we can combat the discrimination and prejudice that has historically excluded, segregated, and marginalized us. We are grateful for the support of institutions advocating on our behalf, but we must be more active participants in developing and executing their initiatives.
My advocacy started with self-advocacy. It has been integral to my recovery.
I created my Recovery Journey video to spread hope at a grassroots level using my story. It was a difficult process from writing to practicing, to filming the video. I wanted to represent our community to the very best of my ability. I wanted it to reflect our great courage and strength and to cut down limiting stereotypes. I wanted parents, family, and friends to see that their loved ones could also recover.
The most difficult part of making the video was the initial decision to publicly share my story. I knew that the video could help others, but I was afraid that coming out so publicly might limit my ability to advocate for our community. I was afraid that people might define me based on my illness, attach a label, apply a stereotype. I feared that I might be viewed as having diminished capacity which would mute my impact. I also wondered if I might be a more effective advocate as an ally rather than someone with lived experience. In short, stigma threatened to get in my way again. It was not out of my own shame or embarrassment that I hesitated, but out of concern that stigma would undercut my effectiveness as an advocate. I had to stand up to stigma again. So now my story is out. If stigma tints how people view my message, then I have to continue to show them the reality of mental illness through example.
As I have shared my story and learned about others, I have also observed something of a paradox in mental health advocacy and organizations. I rarely see people active in public and private mental health initiatives, who disclose a mental illness themselves. Surely some must have an illness but have chosen not to disclose it, perhaps for the same reasons I considered against sharing my story publicly. I understand their reasons and blame stigma for obscuring their example. Further, our community largely appears led and organized by those without mental illness lived experience. It perpetuates some of the social stigma we with mental illness face. I appreciate the well-intentioned efforts and valuable impact of these figures, but we cannot allow our absence, real or perceived, to continue. We need to have more visibility and ownership of mental health advocacy efforts. Our lived experience is essential to these initiatives and needs to be more fully represented. Otherwise, stigma will keep it overlooked and undervalued.
I want to advocate as a person proudly and publicly living with a serious mental illness. I want to collaborate with others – peers, loved ones, clinicians, academics, scientists, policy makers, executives in the private and public sectors. Stigma has limited our participation in the broader mental health community and in our society at large. We must be centrally involved in the design, development, and implementation of mental health initiatives. Our lived experience enriches and empowers each other and our community.
I know there are many of us out there. I want to be further inspired by their examples. To them I say, “you are not alone, we need you and you need us”. We need each other to combat stigma, to make others like us realize they can overcome it. We need each other to advocate for ourselves. The Stability Network is about the possibility of hope and recovery. We are a message of empowerment. We need to share that message with as many people as possible. We need to make our presence and interests better known and respected in the workplace, in the boardroom, in policy debates, in society at large.
Katherine Ponte is a mental health advocate and entrepreneur and lawyer based in New York City. She is the founder of ForLikeMinds, the first online peer-based support community dedicated to people living with or supporting someone with mental illness. She has degrees from two leading Canadian universities and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is a qualified New York Certified Peer Specialist-Provisional and Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner. She is also a member of the Stability Network and National Alliance on Mental Illness-New York City Board of Directors. She is in recovery from Severe Bipolar I Disorder.
Katherine Ponte is a mental health advocate and entrepreneur and lawyer based in New York City. She is the founder of ForLikeMinds, the first online peer-based support community dedicated to people living with or supporting someone with mental illness. She has degrees from two leading Canadian universities and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is a qualified New York Certified Peer Specialist-Provisional and Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner. She is also a member of the Stability Network and NAMI-New York City Board of Directors. She is in recovery from Severe Bipolar I Disorder.
