Via Hope Blog

Moving Events Online

Posted Wed, June 08, 2011 by Amanda B.

Event marketing is used by a host of non-profit organizations and social causes as a primary method of generating donations, volunteer commitments and community awareness.  Although effective, these events often consume significant financial and human resources to plan and successfully execute.  Furthermore, it is becoming more and more difficult to generate attendance as consumers are forced to divide… Read more

The R Word: Celebrity Advocates Speak Out Against Intellectual Disability Discrimination

Posted Fri, May 27, 2011 by Amanda B.

Sitcom stars of the moment, Jane Lynch and Lauren Potter from ‘Glee’ are using their fame to tackle mental health discrimination in a new PSA campaign.  The new PSA goes head to head with the hurtful use of the words “retard” and “retarded” in everyday language and encourages people to reach out and include those with intellectual disabilities. … Read more

Advocacy in the Justice System

Posted Sun, May 08, 2011 by Amanda B.

After my recent blog post about the increasing role of public service organizations in mental health and the recent forum post on the case of Michael D, I felt compelled to look at what advocates are doing to address issues around the justice system’s interaction with individuals affected by mental illness. Read more

Send Silence Packing

Posted Thu, April 14, 2011 by Amanda B.

Thus far I’ve mainly been talking about how to motivate mental health consumers and activists online.  However, regardless of how in-tune we become with technology, some of our most moving experiences will still occur in the physical world. I was recently reminded of this when I stumbled onto a mental health campaign called ‘Send Silence Packing.’  The… Read more

The Wrong Type of Talk Therapy: The Debate Around Online Reviews of Mental Health Services

Posted Wed, April 06, 2011 by Amanda B.

A recent article in the New York Times, The Wrong Type of Talk Therapy, highlights an interesting issue arising in the mental health arena as a result of online technologies.  The article discusses the future role of consumer review sites, such as Yelp, in mental health care services. Read more

Meet Jennifer Stark with the American Civil Liberties Union!

Posted Fri, April 01, 2011 by LgCohen

I would like to introduce everyone to Jennifer Stark. She is Huffington Post’s most recent, “Greatest person of the day.” And for good reason! She is an Equal Justice Works fellow at the American Civil Liberties Union. Ms. Stark has filed a law suit to offer access to legal representation for undocumented individuals with a mental illness or cognitive… Read more