Welcome

Thank you for visiting the Embracing My Mind, Inc. (EMM) website! You are appreciated for either seeking more information about your mental illness or a relative, or friend. We are currently facilitating programs in the Atlanta area, see "Program/Services" page for more details.

Let your presence be known by signing our "EMM Guestbook."

Mission

To provide peer support, advocacy, and education to low income and homeless individuals living with serious mental health concerns.

Vision

To be an oasis for serious mental illness support. EMM is dedicated to providing a safe environment for people living with, or who are affected by, mental health concerns. We connect people affected by serious mental health issues to community resources. After an individual leaves our program, they will feel confident that they will make healthier decisions not only for themselves, but for their community. Educating, motivating, and changing perceptions is EMM's goal for the populations affected by mental illness.
 
Objectives:

• Develop open dialogue and educate the community about serious mental illnesses.
• Change perceptions by overcoming stereotypes and stigma attached to serious mental illness through awareness.
• Dismantle fears associated with serious mental illnesses.

                                          

                                       Confusion... Alienation... Voices... Fear... Anxiety

                              

                                                        People affected by mental illness

A Message from the Founder

Welcome to our site! I hope you will find information to help you assist yourself or others.

First, if you have a mental illness, you are not alone. I started this organization because I too have a mental illness and I want to give back to the community. Let me briefly tell you about myself... I was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2007, I experienced a nervous breakdown and was  sent to the state hospital for three months. In the beginning I refused treatment, however, after I was mandated by the judge to medication compliance I slowly but surely regained my rationale and voluntarily took my medicine which helped me tremendously. My illness is in remission and I have my mind back! Now I am a NAMI Recovery Education Mentor and facilitate groups in the Atlanta area.

I strongly encourage others and people living with a mental illness to help our peers diagnosed with a mental illness or dual diagnosis. There are many ways you can help, here are some suggestions: offer financial support to organizations that provide mental health advocacy and support, advocating better mental health services politically by speech, letter-writing, etc., and educating yourself and others about mental illness; and conversing with people with a mental health concern to provide support. There are so many things you could do, so get involved and help us overcome mental illness together!

Finally, I would like to thank our supporters for giving us the opportunity to provide peer support services in their facilities, for mentoring and offering advice, and recommendations to fund and enhance the Strengthening Each Other program. Without the following organization's support, EMM would not be the same, thank you!:

• ADHD Coaching, Inc.
• Cafe 458 (Samaritan House of Atlanta)
• Coalition for People with a Mental Illness
• Empowerment Resource Center, Inc.
• Hope Through Divine Intervention, Inc.
• South Fulton Mental Health Center

Also, don't forget to sign the "EMM Guestbook," check out our calendar of events, and read my personal blog, Overcoming Schizophrenia. And remember if you have a mental illness you are not alone, people living with a mental illness can and do live fulfilling lives.

Take care,

Ashley
Founder