our volunteer-led team believes each and everyone of us can move humanity forward. 

​"I am driven by a deep personal connection to our mission. My family has lived through the struggles of a broken mental health system, but in that process, I came to understand that our pain was not unique—and for many, it was far more severe. The injustice of seeing loved ones criminalized for symptoms of their illness, the heartbreak of losing a child to a system that failed, or the agony of believing a loved one "chooses" homelessness—these are the realities that drive my work. There is a profound gap in support and guidance for families in crisis. I volunteer to help fill that void, and in doing so, honor the families who have lost so much, support those still fighting, and work toward a system that treats severe mental illness with the compassion and urgency it deserves."
​~ Ann Corcoran, Executive Director
"I know what it's like to be at a loss when a loved one becomes ill. When my son was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 19, the healthcare system failed us. A psychiatrist gave us a diagnosis and some medication, then told us he had no future. We were left to our own devices, with no idea where to turn. We struggled to keep him insured, trying to force him to stay in college when he was too sick to attend, not knowing he could take a leave of absence. But we were fortunate. My husband, a research scientist, was able to find information on the illness, and a friend connected me with a woman who had a similar experience. Her guidance was invaluable, helping us get our son the inpatient treatment he needed. This experience, which could have been a tragic failure, motivated me to become a resource for other families. I volunteer with NSSC to ensure they find the help and hope we were so fortunate to discover."
​~ Marcie Sohara, Assistant Director & Co-Chair, Steering Committee
"Imagine being taken to the emergency room and doctors refused to give you immediate lifesaving treatment because you were too sick to give your verbal consent. If you were having a stroke, heart attack or any other life-threatening emergency the doctors would not hesitate to immediately treat you. If you were suffering from a brain attack (psychosis) coupled with anosognosia, an inability to recognize you are sick which occurs in 50-98% of schizophrenia cases, and could not voluntarily consent to treatment, you would be left untreated until a legal hearing determined if you could get medically necessary, urgently needed care. This flagrant injustice has caused immeasurable suffering, homelessness, and premature death. I volunteer for NSSC because I believe it's time to act. It's time to align our antiquated laws with modern scientific progress and treat no-fault brain diseases like any other medical emergency. I am dedicated to using my public policy experience to dismantle these barriers to care so that those with treatable brain diseases can access the treatment they need and deserve and live their best lives in recovery."
~ Linda Mimms, Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy & Co-Chair, Policy Action Committee and Steering Committee
"My commitment to the National Shattering Silence Coalition is rooted in a fundamental belief: a treatable brain illness should never cause fear within a family. I have seen firsthand the transformative power of modern treatment for schizophrenia-related disorders, and I know that predictable tragedies can be prevented. I volunteer to raise awareness and break down the barriers to treatment, so that others can access the care and support they truly deserve."
​~ Eric Dias, Media Specialist & Member, Steering Committee
"Making the world a better place feels rewarding. In my 18 years as a mobile psychiatric emergency social worker, I have seen the tragic consequences of untreated serious mental illness—homelessness, incarceration, and even premature death. It is frustrating to witness people desperately in need of help be blocked by a system that doesn't prioritize them. Because my clinical role doesn't allow me to advocate for legislative change or public education, NSSC gives me the opportunity to help those who are unable to advocate for themselves and to work toward a better system."
​~ Lynn Nanos, ​Co-Chair, Communications Committee & Member, Steering Committee
​“NSSC gives my voice credibility to push for laws that ensure treatment before a crisis. That matters because families like mine have made call after call for help, only to be told ‘no’. It doesn't make sense. Living through this has taken a toll, and advocacy is how I hold onto hope, making myself part of the solution.”
​~ Beth Wallace, Education Coordinator
"I know what it’s like to feel powerless in the face of a broken system. When my son became ill, we faced an endless series of barriers to getting him the compassionate and timely treatment he deserved. The blatant discrimination and harm caused by the system's policies were deeply frustrating. I remember crying and praying, "Why doesn't someone fix this?" Eventually, I realized that "someone" was me. I began to research, learn, and find others who shared my conviction. One of the organizations I found was NSSC, being run by other volunteers who had come to the very same conclusion I did. We need to work collectively using the different skill sets and experience that we each have. NSSC has been working on doing what the name says, “shattering the silence” and I am happy to be supportive of this effort."
​~ Leslie Carpenter, Advocacy Mentor
"I am compelled to make a difference for those who are in the same boat I once was. I want to use my own journey of recovery to help other individuals and their families who are still struggling to get to shore. This is my way of paying it forward: sharing my strength and insight to illuminate the way forward for someone who needs more light on their path. I have faith that eventually, our fight will change the landscape for those with serious mental illness, and that is what keeps me fighting for our cause."
​~ Katie Dale, Co-Chair, Communications Committee & Member, Steering Committee
"Before volunteering at NSSC, the pain of losing my son to psychotic illness felt unbearable. The isolation and loss of control from trying to navigate a broken system on my own was overwhelming. At NSSC, I found a team and a community with a shared purpose, and it became a vital part of my grieving process. Sharing his story with others, both online and in person, has given me hope that our experiences can be a catalyst for change. NSSC not only exposes the flaws in the mental health system but also provides a sense of belonging, transforming my pain into a powerful force for action."
​~ ​Laura Balboni Craciun, Co-Chair, Policy Action Committee & Member, Steering Committee
"​We at NSSC are a collective of passionate advocates from across the country, united in our goal to improve the quality, availability, and delivery of mental health care services. We are driven by the reality that the current system consistently fails those with severe and persistent mental illness. By bringing our voices together, we are committed to making a real impact on policy and producing better outcomes for this vulnerable and underserved population."
​~ Mary Ellen Stuart, ​Organization Secretary & Member, Steering Committee
"I believe everyone deserves to feel cared for. My own misdiagnosis and subsequent battles with psychosis, mania, depression and suicide attempts taught me the vital importance of compassion and support. I was lucky to survive and have a family and friends who cared. Now, I am driven to pay that forward. As a pro bono advisor for NSSC, I am part of a movement to change a system that is inherently lacking in care and compassion. We are fighting to ensure our most vulnerable citizens realize there are people out there who care for them and are dedicated to changing policies that have failed them. I'm proud to stand with NSSC to give hope to those who need it most."
~ Kerry Martin, Director of Growth & Impact
"As a judge I have presided over thousands of cases of persons with serious mental illness who are either being hospitalized or need a guardian. These cases came to me long after it was clear that the person had a serious mental illness that was left untreated. I served on Michigan’s Mental Health Commission in 2004. We found that mental illness was treatable, recovery was possible and persons with a serious mental illness could lead satisfying, productive lives, provided intervention occurred earlier. However, the system was designed to wait for crisis. Early intervention, relying on assisted outpatient treatment offers the best hope for recovery. The National Shattering Silence Coalition gives voice to that principle and I am proud to support the volunteers from across the country who are working so hard to get the policy makers to understand this fact."
~ Judge Milton Mack, Judicial Advisor