The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Walking to fight stigma
Mental health agencies host event to raise awareness
TORRINGTON — The group came into the center of town, carrying messages of hope and support.
Community members showed signs to the public as they walked through downtown, ending up at City Hall.
The annual Walk Towards Recovery, organized by Prime Time House, the Western Connecticut Mental Health Network and other service providers, was held Wednesday.
Torrington resident Beth Howe said she took part in the walk in an effort to help people understand the demands that come with mental health issues.
“I want to have people understand what we’re going through,” said Howe.
Willow Dealy, of Torrington, said she wanted people to take away that the community cared about mental health — in addition to service providers, the Torrington police and fire departments participated in the walk — and advocate for continued state support for mental health services.
“It’s really heartening to see people respond,” said Dealy. “It gives me hope.”
Attendees then gathered in the City Hall auditorium to share thoughts, essays, poems and songs, speaking of struggle and steps toward recovery.
Torrington resident Russell Classey talked of his battle with mental illness and suicidal thoughts and urged people to be kind to others. Persevere if the person is abrasive — they may be struggling with mental illness, he said.
“We are people too, people with interests, hobbies, loved ones, and stories to tell and we are doing our best to be strong and upright,” said Classey. “We as individuals decide how our society measures up, and
so I challenge each of us to improve by being more considerate and compassionate so that in due time we as a society may achieve a measure of true greatness.”
Daryl McGraw, director of the Office of Recovery Community Affairs for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, was the keynote speaker during the event. He spoke about his life, including giving up drugs and alcohol just over 10 years ago and the four years he spent in prison.
McGraw siad he was able to change his circumstances, sparked by reading “The Purpose Driven Life” while incarcerated, and said he earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree before beginning work for the state.
Recovery is a journey, not something that happens all at once, he said. The lived experience he earned prompted the chance to work for the state, and now, he’s reached his current position.
“We do recover, and we do amazing things when we put our minds to it,” said McGraw.
Mayor Elinor Carbone also issued a proclamation during the event, declaring Oct. 1-7 Mental Illness Awareness Week in the city. Carbone said the annual event had grown markedly in the four years she had been in office, and the support the group showed for one another was remarkable.
“I hope you feel that love coming right back to you from your community,” said Carbone.