The Faces Behind The Issues: North Carolinas Mental Health Advocates Speak Up

The Faces Behind the IssuesFour Advocates Strive for Change as North Carolina's Mental Health System Faces its Biggest Challenges

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North Carolina's mental health system has been hard hit in the past year. A letter from the Department of Justice accusing the state of violations to the Americans with Disabilities Act, abuse at the North Carolina Central Prison and budget cuts totaling $7.3 million between the 2009 to 2011 fiscal years have all made the news. But behind each of these issues is an advocate working to make things better for those North Carolinians living with mental illnesses.

A Story by Viviana Bonilla Lopez

www.vivianabonillalopez.com

About Us

2arrows Viviana Bonilla Lopez is a native Puerto Rican with a passion for writing, mental health awareness and journalism. She was born on June 30, 1992 in Saint Louis, Missouri, and moved to Houston, Texas two weeks later. At the age of six, she and her family returned to her beloved Puerto Rico where she lived until higher education brought her to the southern town of Chapel Hill. A sophomore at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Viviana is a Collegiate Correspondent for USA TODAY College and serves as Vice President of Publicity for the National Alliance on Mental Illnesss UNC-CH Chapter. Viviana is also a mentor in the Connected Learning Program, a program sponsored by the Universitys Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence and the Residence Hall Association that funds original student projects. Her original project, Rethink: Psychiatric Illness, is aimed at raising awareness about mental illnesses through publicity campaigns and a workshop.To date, her favorite journalistic experience was reporting on the anti-Obama protests that occurred during the presidents recent visit to Puerto Rico. Her multimedia and bilingual coverage of the event was published on hypervocal.com and the Center for Investigative Journalism of Puerto Ricos website. One of these articles was cited in a report to the United Nations by the National Lawyers Guild. Among her other favorites are an article for the Daily Tar Heel on a national, college student Chick-fil-A boycott and a feature story on a locally notorious mall rapper, who sings to customers in the largest shopping mall in Puerto Rico.
Artists

The Advocates

Peter Alfredson

The president and founder of the National Alliance on Mental Illness at UNC-Chapel Hill is working to make the campus a safe space.
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Shannon Morrow

This Peer Support Specialist and drumming facilitator is promoting empowerment as a method of healing.
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finding money.jpg

Verla Insko

Orange County's representative in the NC General Assembly admits legislators can do better.
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Laurie Coker.jpg

Laurie Coker

Consumer advocate Laurie Coker said it's not about recovery, but instead about discovering who you are and how you heal.
2arrows Contact
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787-644-3807

vivianabonillalopez_gmail.com

www.vivianabonillalopez.com

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The Advocates

Peter Alfredson

The president and founder of the National Alliance on Mental Illness at UNC-Chapel Hill is working to make the campus a safe space.
2arrows

Shannon Morrow

This Peer Support Specialist and Drumming facilitator is promoting alternative medicine as a method of healing.

finding money.jpg

Verla Insko

Orange County's representative in the NC General Assembly admits legislators can do better.

Laurie Coker.jpg

Laurie Coker

Consumer advocate Laure Coker said it't not about recovery, but instead about discovering who you are and how you heal.
About MeThe Advocates
NC Mental Health BlogContactPeter AlfredsonVerla InskoLaurie CokerShannon Morrow