Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania and Support the Journey Launch I'm the Evidence/Mental Health Campaign (ITE/MH), a Grassroots Initiative to Raise Awareness of Mental Health Recovery

Individuals and Organizations Across Pennsylvania Help Spread Campaign Messages

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Mental Health Association in PA (MHAPA) and Support the Journey announce the launch this week of the I'm the Evidence/Mental Health Campaign (ITE/MH), a new grassroots initiative to raise awareness of mental health recovery and to celebrate people who are living examples of recovery, as well as those who support them.

The Campaign's goals are to increase awareness that people recover from mental illness; engage individuals, organizations, and communities in the support of recovery; and celebrate those with lived recovery experience and their supporters.  A poem, written by Support the Journey co-founder Karen Morton, expresses the values of the Campaign -- belief, hope, giving, connectedness, action, example, encouragement, and possibility. (See the full poem at itecampaign.org).

"Recovery is a journey that allows individuals to reach their full potentials; it is unique for everyone," says Sue Walther, Executive Director, MHAPA. "This Campaign was developed with the input of many people who walk that journey every day, supported by others in diverse and meaningful ways. MHAPA is proud to be a part of this Campaign and lend our support of recovery."

Although the Campaign officially launches this week, it gained momentum during the past year with organizations and individuals across Pennsylvania signing-on as early Partners (organizations) or Ambassadors (individuals) to help spread the Campaign messages. Supported by funds raised through a nominal Partner fee, fundraising efforts, and from the profits of ITE/MH products (which are sold and developed by Support the Journey), the Campaign makes ITE/MH materials available at no or low cost to Partners and Ambassadors, who in turn use the materials to recognize the Evidence in their communities.

Says Shelley Bishop, co-founder with Morton of Support the Journey, "ITE/MH was inspired by people who have been able to move beyond life challenges and the actions others have taken to support them. We have seen the transformative powers of hope, encouragement, example, and possibility and with the development of this cohesive and comprehensive Campaign, we hope to encourage these values in more communities, shifting perspectives and inspiring action along the way."

To learn more about the Campaign, visit itecampaign.org or call 717-346-0549; Toll Free: 866-578-3659.

SOURCE Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania

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