Sunshine from Darkness is honored to bestow our 2011 Luminary Award upon Olympic figure skater Dorothy Hamill.

In the public's eyes, skater Dorothy Hamill was "America's sweetheart." In 1976, she was the perky 19-year-old with the famous hairdo — "the wedge" — who won an Olympic gold medal for her dazzling figure skating at the Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria. Her life seemed to glide as easily as her skates. But as Hamill reveals in her frank new book, A Skating Life: My Story, that behind the scenes, she was in the grip of serious depression, which ran through her family.  

“It was a Tuesday afternoon… about 2 o’clock.  I was standing in my kitchen when I got the call.  I will never forget that day” says Dorothy Kreisman when asked about her daughter’s illness.  Diane was a sophomore at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. when she made the call to her parents that afternoon in early 1975: “Mom, something just doesn’t feel right with me…I don’t know what’s wrong…In class, I listen to the professor and I can’t retain what he is saying…When I read my textbooks, I can’t remember or understand what I just read.  Some days, I can’t even get out of bed.”  Diane Kreisman was then just 19 years old.  

For the first time in her life, she began feeling overwhelmed by high levels of anxiety and severe symptoms of depression that interfered with her ability to carry out her normal, day to day activities and perform well in school.  Her parents, Norman and Dorothy, describe that afternoon as the start of a long journey that eventually took them from Long Island, New York to sunny Sarasota, Florida more than 11 years later.

We are happy to share information on mental health related events sponsored by our many community partners as part of our mission to increase public awareness about mental health issues.

This Saturday, May 8 from 1 to 3 p.m., Mental Health Community Centers is sponsoring a free seminar on Personality Disorders at Waldemere Auditorium, located at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, 1700 S. Tamiami Trail.

Reserve your seat online by clicking here or by call 953-3477. Continuing education hours are available.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the first annual Diamonds in the Rough Mental Health Awareness Luncheon at Michael's on East, April 29, 2010.

Event organizers Emily Walsh Parry and Marlene Hauck did a fabulous job putting together an elegant, feel-good luncheon for a great cause. Champagne was served to the many guests who mingled around beautiful white hydrangea centerpieces.

The first Diamond Awards for achievements in raising awareness went to honorees Norman, Diane and Dorothy Kreisman after an informative and entertaining presentation by guest speaker Beatty Cohan (photo above right with Vanessa Schadt by Stephanie Hannum).

11:00 a.m., Thursday, April 29, 2010 at Michael’s On East
“Revealing the Sparkle: 3 secrets that will change your life”
with Beatty Cohan Hosted by SUNSHINE FROM DARKNESS
Benefiting the International Mental Health Organization (IMHRO)

Share some quality time with Beatty as she helps us all dig into the things that might be blocking our unique sparkle within. This nationally recognized psychotherapist and coauthor, with her husband Elliot, of For Better, For Worse, Forever – Discover the Path to Lasting Love (Chandler House Press, 1999, 3rd ed. 2008) is highly regarded for her expertise, insight and straight-talking engagement of real issues that so many of us face – including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, addiction and relationship difficulties. This exquisite pair of earrings, an original design by Judith Ripka who has donated them to Sunshine from Darkness, will be the grand raffle prize for one lucky winner.  Raffle tickets will be sold in advance and at the event. The winner need not be present at the luncheon.

We all know someone who is affected by mental health issues. Tribuo, Inc., a local not-for-profit dedicated to giving back to the community and raising mental health awareness, has a healthy and fun way to give hope to those in need: The 3rd annual Siesta Key Beach 5K run/walk for Mental Health Awareness on Saturday, April 17.

Tribuo is happy to welcome back the Manasota Track Club, sanctioning the race again after the fabulous job they did last year, as well as the many wonderful sponsors donating to the raffle for registered participants. You can pick up your registration package at Fit2Run, another big supporter, between April 14 and 16 or at the beach the day of the race — come early!

Tribuo and Sunshine from Darkness would love to have you walk or run with us for this worthy cause.

Our annual symposium this year was a great success! The free community education program dubber "Journey to Wellness: Lifelong Recovery from Mental Illness" was from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sat., Jan 9, 2010 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center in Sarasota.

The program featured Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health. Insel and the NIMH announced that a trio of genome-wide studies – collectively the largest to date – has pinpointed a vast array of genetic variation that cumulatively may account for at least one third of the genetic risk for schizophrenia. One of the studies traced schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, in part, to the same chromosomal neighborhoods.

Gary Foster also spoke. Foster was a producer of “The Soloist” a film starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey. Jr. that told the story of a talented musician struggling with schizophrenia  living on the streets of L.A. and his unlikely friendship with a journalist who tries to help.

Look out for news about next year's symposium coming soon!

Bob and Lee Peterson, the founders of NARSAD Florida, and Parlane Reid M.D., Director of Bayside Center for Behavioral Health, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, speak against stigma and on behalf of openness and the importance of research.

Emily Walsh, who suffers from depression, and Diane Kreisman, who has schizophrenia, speak about their illnesses.