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Reducing the Stigma: a personal story of how laughter and music have allowed me to talk openly about mental health
I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2004. I stopped taking
my prescribed medication and went through a psychotic episode that
lasted more than a year. Unfortunately, while not in my right mind,
I committed crimes that were highly publicized both in the
newspapers and on TV. I spent time in jail and was committed to
Central State Mental Hospital for a total of 21 months.
Thankfully the courts found me not guilty by reason of insanity
(NGRI). I was granted a "Conditional Release" and began receiving
services at Colonial Behavioral Health (CBH) who helped provide me
with housing. As part of my treatment with CBH, I attended People's
Place for approximately 16 months. People's Place is a
recovery-based clubhouse day support program where adults with
mental illness go for peer support and to learn life skills.
After two years of Conditional Release the Courts granted me an
unconditional release on December 10, 2009. Since then I have been
using my story to help others better understand mental
illness.
Through my experience, I learned that many people I had known for
years were aware of my illness and crimes but didn't seem to know
what to say when we ran into each other. Because of my previous
professional work as a comedian, I found that people felt more
comfortable with me and my mental health disorder if I used humor
to break the ice.
So I joined the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) after
being released from the hospital and began facilitating consumer
support groups. I've learned that humor is well received with all
of my friends at NAMI. I believe everyone likes to laugh and
laughter helps some people feel more comfortable communicating with
someone who has a mental illness. It's my experience that humor is
one thing that breaks through the "uncomfortable barrier."
Another way I have used humor is when I speak with first
responders, mostly law enforcement personnel, in Crisis
Intervention Team (CIT) trainings. I have helped with dozens of CIT
trainings throughout Virginia since 2008. Having worked the streets
as a firefighter/paramedic for more than 20 years, I relate to some
of the challenges that first responders encounter on a daily basis.
I have found that humor helps me to educate people on topics like
hearing voices, visual hallucinations and aggressive behavior all
of which I experienced during my psychotic episode. I often tell
people it's much more fun to laugh rather than to cry. I believe
laughter has a therapeutic effect similar to music.
While at Central State Hospital I noticed that many people who
were having symptoms of mental illness like pacing or rocking back
and forth and talking to themselves would benefit from listening to
music on a Walkman radio. I witnessed many of these symptoms get
better or in some cases cease while they were listening to music. I
like listening to K-LOVE Radio www.klove.com. Their slogan is
"Positive, Encouraging K-LOVE" I also like the fact that they have
Pastors on staff available 24 hours a day to provide prayer for
listeners at no cost. Their music always seems to put a smile on my
face.
I have continued to work with NAMI advocating for people who live
with mental illness in the community and at the legislative level
through the General Assembly. My story helps to educate people
about challenges that people who suffer with mental illness face in
and out of the correctional system. The Bible says, "Love your
neighbor as yourself" (John 13:34). My goal is help as many people
as I can through as many avenues as I can. I plan to continue
telling my story to help CIT, NAMI and the people I visit at
Eastern State Hospital.
A former firefighter/paramedic with 20 years of experience, in 2001 Bryan appeared on ABC's "The View" with Barbara Walters as one of the funniest firefighters in America. Bryan has worked in emergency services for most of his life and several years ago was recognized by his community for assisting in the arrest of bank robbery suspects fleeing the Williamsburg area. Bryan is on the Board of Directors for the Williamsburg Area National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and has spoken at many Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trainings throughout Virginia as well as CIT International Conferences. He is a tireless advocate promoting the CIT programs throughout Virginia. Bryan has spoken to hundreds of Virginia's first responders, sharing his unique personal insights on the importance of understanding the plight of persons suffering with a mental illness.