Meet the Bloggers

Samantha Walker

I am currently a Junior Communications Major at the University of Maryland.  As a teenager, I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa and Chronic Depressive Disorder. Although my situation put a hardship on my teenage life– while my friends were going to high school, playing sports, and going to the  mall, I was in the hospital learning “coping skills” — I feel completely fortunate that my parents were able to see I needed help, pay for my medical treatment, and take time off work to drive me to my appointments and be involved in my therapy.  Now, a young adult managing her mental illnesses, I am equipped with the resources to live a full life.

My situation is unique.  For adults whose mental illnesses surface later in life, it can be extremely difficult to find the time, money, and support to get help. 

I care to educate and eradicate Mental Health Discrimination because I know first hand how burdensome having a mental illness is.  Our mission is to change society’s view of mental illness and call out the “stigma” against mental health conditions as discrimination. This way, more people will be encouraged to seek treatment and policy will make treatment more available to people with mental illnesses.  

Kristen Lizzio

My name is Kristen Lizzio and I am a Junior Communications Major at the University of Maryland. People struggle with mental illnesses on a day to day basis, and it is extremely important to stop the stigma associated with those suffering from one. Mental health is especially important to me as my childhood best friend was diagnosed with depression in middle school. Personally being by her side through such hardships, I see how important it is for others to be informed and educated on these illnesses. The stigma related to mental illness needs to be changed within our society and allow those who face these conditions to seek proper treatment and overtly speak about their mental health.

Rachel Quigley

I am a senior Communications major at the University of Maryland. I am originally from Boston but have been spending most of my time in Maryland for the past three years. During my first year of my time at UMD, I was considering majoring in Early Childhood and Special Education, and thus took many classes on this topic. I learned a great deal about how individuals with mental illnesses are educated and live. Not only are adequate education strategies lacking for these individuals, but they are automatically put into categories in society based on factors that they cannot control. Additionally, my grandfather recently suffered through a battle with Alzheimer’s disease, a mental illness, for many years. My family was lucky to give him the care he needed but many people do not get this type of experience. The stigma of having a mental illness, taking care of your own mental health, and being able to openly discuss these topics is something that needs to be improved in this society.