Newsletter Volume 1 No. 3 - October 2000
The event planning is proceeding very well, with all of the ingredients falling into place to guarantee everyone in attendance a very "special" experience. We have internally set up a "Wow" meter, which simply means that you should keep track of how many times you turn to friends and colleagues to say the word "Wow" during the event. Personally, I will not be happy unless you record at least 10 "Wow" experiences during the course of the evening.
As you are already aware, David Foster will be producing the "Music" for the event. Having attended many "David Foster Events", I know you will experience several "Wows" during his performance. One that I will ask you to watch for is when he plays his song "Man in Motion", which he wrote for a very special guest the original "Man in Motion": Rick Hansen. We will be treated to a few very inspirational message from Rick.
Rick Hansen
Many more "Wows" will come through another guest Dale Chihuly. For some 30 years, Dale has dazzled critics and international audiences with his glass art. His celebrated genius has been expressed as both singular and plural achievements he has stretched the medium glass, and has revolutionized of the American Glass movement. His work is exhibited in 165 museums around the world. You may immediately recognize the glass ceiling of the Belagio Hotel lobby in Las Vegas as one of his works. Named a National Living Treasure, Dale Chihuly has been honored in an everlasting way for his significant accomplishments
More good news…We are very close to being sold out! At the time of this writing, we still have some tickets left in each category. Platinum: $2,500; Gold: $1,500; Silver: $1,000. If you are planning to attend, I would recommend reserving your tickets as soon as possible. Please call Andreanne at 480-675-7228. A leading pharmaceutical firm in the forefront of research, Janssen Pharmaceutica, has agreed to fund two awards we are initiating, and will be presenting those awards at the dinner, to two recipients. The first award for $25,000 will go to the individual who did the most in the calendar year 2000 to raise the awareness of just how prevalent mental health is in our society. The second award for $25,000 will go to the individual or individuals who discover a major breakthrough in either a drug or a treatment to aid mental health patients.
One of my former Directors at Samoth Capital Corporation, Robyn Allan, has agreed to volunteer her time, to chair a committee to seek out and select a short list of possible recipients for both funds and these awards, to ensure that all the funds raised are meeting with the disbursement goals of the Foundation. Robyn has had an extraordinary career thus far, serving on various boards and committees. Earlier in her career, she was President of the Insurance Company of British Columbia and oversaw a dramatic turnaround from losses to multi-million dollar profits. Currently she heads up her own consulting company, and on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Foundation, I want to thank Robyn for accepting this very challenging role.
Robyn Allan
One thing that has developed from all the time I am spending on better understanding mental health issues is just how deeply they affect so many people and how many of us are touched by this invisible killer. It seems that almost daily, we see the results of mental health disease making headlines in the papers all over North America. A recent articlet in the Vancouver Sun, October 10, 2000, stated, "A Canadian report says the problem is hurting the global economy with massive productivity losses and immense human suffering." The news report goes on to say, "Mental health disorders in Canada currently represent nearly 14% of the total volume of operating profits of every Canadian business enterprise."
The research cited by the article shows that mental disorders haunt about 15% of the world's population. This figure rises to 40% when stress-related disorders are included. The article ends with a quote from Phyllis Gabriel, author of the International Labor Organization's new study of Mental Health in the Workplace, "The stigma attached to mental health problems prevents people from seeking help."
Here in Phoenix, Arizona, the situation is no different. A large front-page article in the October 16 issue of the Arizona Republic stated that $322,000,000 would have to be appropriated each year for Maricopa County to properly meet mental health needs. This year, only $111,000,000 was given to treat the county's mentally ill. This leaves a shortfall of about $211,000,000. State Senator Sue Grace stated, "Money spent to help the mentally ill is money well spent, a good investment." With the new medications, we're seeing improvement in many mental health patients. If we invest in treatment, we'll see more and more of these people working and living productive lives.
Articles like these are appearing in every newspaper in North America and all over the world. Mental health disease has risen to epidemic proportions. We only have the numbers of "reported" cases on which to base our statistics. How many people suffer, but go untreated and unreported? I believe that we are only aware of the tip of the "mental health" iceberg.
With all the stresses occurring in our modern-day living, we simply see and hear about the more violent cases, such as public displays of rage and violent random acts of victims who destroy themselves and others. Most of the time, these cases are not diagnosed as mental health victims. We have many drugs to help people. With the ignorance and stigma that surround mental health issues, however, we still see that the majority of people who are suffering are going untreated.
It is my opinion that we will never defeat this disease if we wait for the governments of our countries to "solve" all of the mental health issues. We must act as individuals, and each do our bit to raise the awareness of how prevalent mental health disease is in our country and all over the world.
We must speak out when we are aware of someone suffering, and help him or her get treatment. Collectively we have the funds; now we need to focus the attention of everyone, including governments, researchers, large corporations, and each of our own family members. We must "spread the word" that anyone suffering from depression of any kind is just like any other patient who suffers from any other disease the important difference about this disease is that it is totally invisible…therefore you must recognize it by its symptoms. Anyone who acts depressed at times and/or suffers from constant insomnia is a likely candidate for treatment.
The Todd Thomas Foundation has already received several generous donations, in both dollars and volunteer help, and for these we are truly thankful. I am looking forward with anticipation to our first event. Hope to see you there!
Always remember… Together we WILL make a difference!
Peter H. Thomas, Chairman
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