Shivaun (Age 5)  Brother Mike (age 4)  Sister Erin (age 3)

Two years ago, my husband and I had just finished dinner with my brother at a restaurant in our hometown. It was a beautiful spring night. A straight-A student and gifted athlete, Mike was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia at the age of 15. Now forty-three, he seldom felt comfortable venturing out in public due to the struggle and shame he still faced with the effects of his illness. That particular night, however, the three of us talked on a wide variety of topics and had a great meal. It was wonderful.

As we left the restaurant, we glanced across the parking lot. A group of young men from the Air Force Base were playing flag football. I turned to Mike to remark on what a good time they seemed to be having and saw his eyes welling up with tears. At that moment, it became clear to me how much he felt he had missed in his life due to his mental illness. It was a heart-breaking moment personally, yet the moment that inspired me to try and do something to help my brother and to create a dialogue about an illness that impacts every segment of our society.

Brainstorm is an in-depth look at an epidemic that will now impact one out of four Americans in his or her lifetime. Yet because of the tremendous stigma still associated with mental illness, very few people have been talking. That’s about to change.

Meet the brave men, women and children who are struggling to find acceptance in our society while living with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression. Along with their families, friends, colleagues and healthcare providers, they will share their hopes and dreams as well as their personal journeys toward recovery.

Sincerely,
Shivaun M. Palmer