Mental health is one of the nation’s most pressing societal issues. Every year, one in five New Yorkers will experience a range of mental health challenges, from depression and anxiety to PTSD and schizophrenia. Every day, people deemed mentally ill are jailed against their will, denied due process in the justice system, and priced out of access to quality treatment. New York City is taking steps towards changing the culture and treatment around mental health, yet we still see persistent discrimination and stigma, especially in Brooklyn's communities of color.
On Dec. 13, BRIC TV, in partnership with The Marshall Project and Brooklyn Community Services, brought together the voices of those who struggle with mental health, those who treat mental illness, and those on the front lines of securing mental health as a civil right for all. The Brooklyn Poetry Slam team opened the event with a special performance.