TWENTY-FIVE AND COUNTING!

The 25th anniversary is a great milestone in the life of any organization, especially a small nonprofit like The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry. Our mission is:

• To increase public awareness of the signs and symptoms of psychiatric illness, the availability and methods of treatment, and sources of assistance for people with mental illness;
• To enhance the quality of assistance to people with mental illness, by improving access to care, and changing perceptions of mental illness to increase understanding of treatment and cure;
• To support research to improve care for the psychiatric patient;
• To remove any stigma of mental illness which may inhibit or prevent proper care, through educational and public service activities; and
• To serve as a clearinghouse for information about all aspects of psychiatry, and as a bridge between psychiatric medicine and the general public.

To achieve these goals over the past quarter century, the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry has implemented a variety of initiatives. Because we operate on an extremely limited budget, we often partner with other organizations to maximize the impact of our expenditures. We may also provide seed money for projects that accomplish one or more of our aims. The following are some examples.

MARYLAND FOUNDATION FOR PSYCHIATRY CAMPAIGNS AND ACTIVITIES

Collaboration with the Maryland Psychiatric Society on Public Events

• The play “Three Roses” depicting the effects of domestic violence (2001)
• Film “A Beautiful Mind” about Nobel Prize winner John Nash (2002)
• The play “Night Mother” on the topic of suicide (2003)
• Film “The Hours” and discussion by Kay Jamison, Ph.D. (2003)
• Concert/lectures by Richard Kogan, M.D. on mental illness in famous musicians (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2016)

Collaboration with the Maryland Institute College of Art

• YouTube video “Love from Depression” targeting college students (2009-Present)

Collaboration with Single Carrot Theater, Baltimore Crisis Response and NAMI-MD

• DVD entitled “Homelessness and Mental Illness: Profiles of Hope and Recovery” (2013)

Collaboration with the Maryland Public School System

• Prizes for best essay by a 9th or 10th grader on mental health topics (1999-2005)
• Prizes for best poster on mental illness by a middle or high school student, which was reproduced and widely distributed for display during Mental Illness Awareness Week (1991-1993; 1999)

Collaboration with the Baltimore City Schools, Mayor’s Office and Baltimore City Bar

• Peer conflict mediation and violence reduction programs in Baltimore City Schools in partnership with the Maryland Bar Association (1992-1995)

Collaboration with Sheppard Pratt and Historic Towson, Inc.

• Seed money for a documentary that was broadcast on Maryland Public Television, “The Building of a Sanctuary,” describing the early history of Sheppard Pratt Hospital (2003)

Collaboration with “This is My Brave” and Green Door

• Support for a December 2016, 2017, and 2018 monologue-based production featuring people sharing their stories of living with and recovering from mental illness to help reduce stigma

Media and Internet Outreach

• “Sunday Rounds” radio call-in programs on WBJC featuring various psychiatrists speaking on psychiatry-related topics, some of which included alcohol and drug abuse, managed care, modern views on homosexuality, and domestic violence (1996-2000)
• A website www.mdpsychfoundation.org (and Twitter feed) that provides public education and attracts visitors from around the world (2001 - present)
• Radio messages on WBAL with timely information on psychiatry and mental illness; visitors can also listen to these spots on our website, some of which include opioid overdose, mental illness among prison inmates, anxiety, guns and mental illness, mental health parity, suicide prevention, mental illness and violence, disasters and crisis, army suicides, holiday depression, recession depression, bullying, post-traumatic stress disorder, and “Who Are Psychiatrists and What Do They Do?” (2005-present)
• Web-based campaigns in the Baltimore Sun that run concurrently with the radio ads (2014-present)
• Oral history project interviewing senior psychiatrists, exploring the impact of changes in the profession on psychiatrists in the 20th century (2007 - present)
• Anti-stigma “1 in 4” metro transit poster campaign, “mental illness is more normal than you think” (2011-2014)

Monetary Prizes to Recognize Worthy Endeavors

• Award for poem expressing suffering related to mental illness (1992)
• Outstanding Merit Award for a program or person in the community who has made a notable effort that supports the goals of the foundation (2004-2011)
• Advocacy Prize for best local or regional anti-stigma article or letter to the editor (2016-present)

Speakers Bureau to Increase Understanding

• Developed slides and a team of speakers to deliver CME presentations on Depression, Anxiety, Panic Disorder and OCD to non-psychiatrist colleagues (1992-2000)

Research Seed Money

• We will consider research projects that are limited in scope and service-delivery oriented.