Trigger warning: suicidal thoughts
Actress/producer, Glenn Close, is taking an interest in mental health awareness and the reason is very personal. Her sister, Jessie, came to her and said, "I need help because I can't stop thinking of killing myself." Close revealed, "it was like a bolt out of nowhere."
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Jessie was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 50 and Jessie's son, Calen Pick, was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 2001. Close told CNN, "most families are dealing with some aspect of mental health [...] When you look back, I saw evidence of Jessie's mental distress when she was very young. She would rub her fingers... when she was anxious, until it was raw, sometimes bleeding. And now, that would be a major red flag."
Growing up, Hillbilly Elegy actress expressed that their family "had no vocabulary for [Jessie's mental distress]" nor would they discuss it. Thus, Close would make it a priority of hers "to fight to end the stigma."
Close, along with Jessie and Calen, started the non-profit organization, Bring Change To Mind, in 2009. The organization "advocates mental health awareness and support in schools and communities." The non-profit also "creates multimedia campaigns and develops youth programs to encourage a diverse cultural conversation around mental health," with a goal of encouraging understanding and empathy.
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As many know, the pandemic affected a plethora of people's mental health. Close expressed, "especially now, because our collective mental health is under such stress... it should be something that really connects us, this need to take care of our brains. It makes us human." With this in mind, Bring Change To Mind has held national club meetings via Zoom and Close has even attended many of them.
Ultimately, Close believes mental health needs the "same normalization" as other battles like cancer. "We need to talk about our mental health as easily as we talk about our physical health. And we need to get funding for it on every level," she mentioned.
Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-8255.