Disruptive Woman to Watch 2014: Jen Hyatt

Millions of people struggling with mental illness face something of a Catch 22. They know deep in their psyches that they would feel better if they spoke to someone about how they’re feeling. And yet, taking that step to talk is tough, particularly in a 21st century society that still views mental disorders as a weakness instead of a treatable illness.
Imagine coping with a persistent state of depression. Taking any kind of action can feel insurmountable. It’s no surprise, really, that more than half of those in the United States who have some form of mental illness don’t seek help, or wait for years suffering in silence before they do. Conventional health care structures don’t necessarily lend themselves to those who have conditions that are often stigmatized, poorly understood, and completely invisible to the public at large but all too real to the sufferer.
A compelling desire to fulfill this unmet need led to the creation of the Big White Wall (www.bigwhitewall.us), which is being introduced to the United States this spring after a successful track record of changing lives for the better in other countries. The Wall’s uniqueness comes from its melding of social networking principles with clinically-informed services. It takes the best of the Internet and interjects state-of-the-art support. It offers privacy for those who fear named exposure. It provides immediacy for those who don’t wish to wait for help.
Big White Wall began with a virtual wall on which comm...

Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - September 10, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: dw at disruptivewomen.net Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs