Jessie Close, sister of Glenn Close, joins Jack Ford to discuss mental health issues
“Those of us who are mentally ill are human. We have the same feelings as everybody else…they might just get exaggerated.” – Jessie Close, Mental Health Advocate
On Tuesday, October 26, mental health advocate Jessie Close and journalist Jack Ford will discuss the importance of easing the behavioral health stigma at the Trinitas Health Foundation’s Peace of Mind Event. This virtual event will help raise funds to expand Trinitas’ inpatient unit for adults dually diagnosed with intellectual/developmental disabilities and severe mental illness (DDMI) —New Jersey’s only inpatient facility that cares for these patients.
“This annual event is aimed to ease the stigma around behavioral health and mental illness,” says Gary S. Horan, FACHE, President & CEO of Trinitas Regional Medical Center. “I’m looking forward to hearing from our guest speakers on the importance of changing the public’s persona on mental health.”
Mental Health advocate Jessie Close wants to change how people talk and think about mental illness. An ambassador for Bring Change to Mind, a not-for-profit organization founded by Jessie’s sister, actor Glenn Close, Jessie fights stigma and misunderstanding to create a clearer picture of mental disorders. Her own struggle with bipolar disorder and alcoholism provides the backbone to a courageous story and an enlightened perspective on the state of mental health in America.
Life has been a whirlwind for Jessie, who lived with anxiety, confusion and paranoia. As a teenager, she dropped out of high school and contemplated suicide. Jessie recalls, “I lived many years without medication, then, at age 45, I was put on two medications for bipolar disorder. One medication caused me to develop Steven-Johnson’s Syndrome. I stopped that medication and took only an anti-depressant which caused a manic state. I drank to calm the mania.” She was an alcoholic and mentally unstable. Then her eldest son, Calen, was diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder, a form of schizophrenia.
The “Peace of Mind” Campaign has previously enjoyed the support of mental health advocates like Patrick Kennedy, Mariel Hemingway and Zak Williams, among other efforts that have contributed to more than $4 million raised for the renovation of the behavioral health facilities at Trinitas. But this year’s efforts are as important as ever before, if not more so.
“Awareness around behavioral health and the need for philanthropic support has increased drastically over the years,” says Laura Ciraco, Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Trinitas Health Foundation. “Patients can wait anywhere from 1 to 2 days to a month for treatment on our DDMI, and that situation became far worse during the COVID-19 pandemic when we had to limit the number of patients we could treat in an effort to prevent contagion. Along with our event co-chairs Susan Head, Jill J. Sawers, and De Snook, we are happy to be able to host this virtual event this year and bring another fantastic speaker directly to your homes.”
Trinitas operates one of the most highly respected and comprehensive departments of Behavioral Health & Psychiatry in New Jersey. Services are offered along a full continuum of care, with specialized programs available for adults, children, adolescents and their families, as well as services for those with various substance use disorders. In addition to operating a 98-bed inpatient facility, the medical center provides almost 200,000 outpatient behavioral health visits annually.
“The Trinitas Adult Dually Diagnosed Unit provides specialized inpatient care for people who suffer from intellectual/developmental disabilities and major psychiatric illnesses,” adds Ciraco. “As New Jersey’s only inpatient facility that cares for these special patients, we always have a wait list. When a crisis hits, patients and their families should not have to wait for critically needed care. Your support is urgently needed to expand our facilities so we can provide timely care to every patient who needs our expert assistance.”
The event will begin with a VIP Virtual Reception with a Book Reading from Jessie Close at 6:00 p.m. and will continue with a discussion with Jessie Close and Jack Ford at 7:00 p.m.
For ticket information, or to register, visit Trinitaspeace.givesmart.com.
The Peace of Mind campaign will shorten the wait list by adding patient rooms. If you would like to make a gift, please go to www.trinitasrmc.org/pom, or call 908-994-8249.
About Trinitas Health Foundation
Trinitas Regional Medical Center continues a long-standing tradition of healing, comforting, and nurturing - the essence of health care. The Trinitas Health Foundation gathers support from friends and neighbors to make this work possible. Gifts to the Foundation help the hospital upgrade facilities, expand services, and provide exceptional care for our patients.
Contact Information
Doug Harris
908-994-5138
dharris@trinitas.org
Yolanda Fleming
908-994-5139
Yfleming@trinitas.org