National Shattering Silence Coalition

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      • AL: Holly Strayer
      • AK: Krista Schooley
      • AZ: Crystal Fox
      • CA: Jacqueline Janssen
      • CT: Melissa Valdivia
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      • FL: Joanne Schmitz
      • FL: Jack Wood
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      • KY: Angeline Davis
      • MA: Lynda Cutrell
      • ME: John Nutting
      • MI: Carla Van Farowe
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      • OH: Darrell Herrmann
      • OR: Breanna Smith
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  • JOIN
  • DONATE
  • WHO WE ARE
    • ABOUT US
    • STRATEGIC ROADMAP
    • TEAM
    • BOARD OF DIRECTORS
    • STATE DIRECTORS >
      • MEET YOUR 31 DIRECTORS
      • AL: Holly Strayer
      • AK: Krista Schooley
      • AZ: Crystal Fox
      • CA: Jacqueline Janssen
      • CT: Melissa Valdivia
      • DE: Heidi Nasstrom Evans
      • FL: Joanne Schmitz
      • FL: Jack Wood
      • IN: David Doerner
      • GA: Daniel White
      • HI: Chad Koyangi
      • IL: Cindy Tank-Murphy
      • KY: Angeline Davis
      • MA: Lynda Cutrell
      • ME: John Nutting
      • MI: Carla Van Farowe
      • NH: Mara Briere
      • NJ: Chip Angell
      • NC: Beth Wallace
      • OH: Darrell Herrmann
      • OR: Breanna Smith
      • PA: Marcie Sohara
      • PA: Carter Hawley
      • RI: Ruth Scott
      • SC: Susan Lea
      • TX: Julie Plank
      • UT: Sherri Wittwer
      • VA: Mary Troy
      • WA: Leanna May Franklin
    • PARTNERS
    • NATIONAL SOLIDARITY WALL
    • SOCIAL IMPACT
    • CONTACT US
  • IMPACT INITIATIVES
    • CRISIS TO CARE
    • BEYOND STIGMA
    • MOBILIZING DIRECTORS
    • SMI PEER ALLIANCE
  • MEDIA & INSIGHTS
    • PRO & PEER TALKS
    • TREATMENT SAVES, NEGLECT COSTS: THE EVIDENCE >
      • SEE THE EVIDENCE
      • SHARE YOUR EVIDENCE
    • FRONTLINE PERSPECTIVES
    • NATIONAL POSITION PAPERS
    • EVENTS & OUTREACH >
      • SYMPOSIUMS
      • CONFERENCES
    • CAMPAIGNS >
      • BEYOND STIGMA CAMPAIGN
      • STILL HERE CAMPAIGN
      • THE SANDY PRUETT PROJECT
    • PODCASTS
    • BLOG
    • IN THE NEWS
    • PRESS ROOM
  • RESOURCES & ADVOCACY
    • UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOSIS GUIDE
    • SMI CAREGIVERS GUIDE
    • POLITICAL ADVOCACY GUIDE
    • HELPING IN CRISIS GUIDE
    • TREATMENT TERMS GUIDE
    • QUARTERLY RESOURCE GUIDE
    • EDUCATION & ADVOCACY TOOLS
  • SUPPORT GROUPS
    • THE ANCHOR
    • THE HIDDEN SENTENCE
    • SURVIVORS OF LOSS
    • SMI CAREGIVERS
    • SUCCESS CIRCLE
    • REPLANTING LIVES
  • JOIN
  • DONATE

ready to fight for change?
Guide to advocating
​for essential policy reform

join us in shattering the silence with our latest guide

If you have a loved one living with a severe mental illness (SMI) or schizophrenia, you have the power to change how they are treated in our country.

Compiled by our Policy Action Committee (PAC) members, the 10-page Guide to Advocating for Policy Reform provides the essential tools and guidance you need to become an effective advocate.

This guide is your compass for navigating the path to legislative and systemic equity for your family member.

Download your free PDF guide now or view our electronic flip book — no sign-up required. If this resource helps you on your journey, please share your experience with us using the form below!
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Download Free FULL PAGE PDF

Your voice is a catalyst for change: share your story

Whether you are a family member, an individual with lived experience, or a caring ally, we want to hear your truth.

​For too long, severe mental illness has been hidden in the shadows of stigma and shame. But isolation ends when we speak. When you share your experience, you are not just telling a story—you are joining a movement. You are validating someone else’s pain, empowering policymakers, and helping us build a world where immediate, compassionate care is the standard, not the exception.

Every voice contributes to the collective roar for change.

How your story helps:
  • It Educates: Your experience helps policymakers understand the real-world impact of current laws.
  • It Connects: It helps another family member or individual feel seen and understood.
  • It Powers Our Advocacy: Your words are the undeniable proof we use to demand action.
  • It Verifies Impact, Securing the Future: Your testimonials serve as vital proof of our social impact.

Ready to find your voice? Follow the steps below to submit your story or testimonial. ​
Submit My Catalyst for Change Story


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JOIN our coalition

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Disclaimer: NSSC is not liable for any information, service or product obtained from this site. No legal or medical advice is provided. Information on site is not a substitute for professional healthcare. Please consult your healthcare provider for medical advice. Support groups are confidential and for educational and supportive purposes only. All views expressed in media posts and perspectives are those of the contributing authors and not necessarily NSSC or its affiliates.

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