( ENSPIRE Health And Wellness ) Misha Mck, A Mental Health Advocate Who Provides Support and Assistance
ENSPIRE Contributor: Camila Lizardo
Misha Mck is a mental health advocate dedicated to supporting and helping different individuals facing various mental illnesses. She is a co-founder of the Suicide Watch and Wellness Foundation (SWWF), which aims to increase awareness about mental health issues, specifically the rising rate of suicides in America. The foundation prioritizes early intervention, therapy, and compassion to combat the stigma surrounding mental illness. They focus on showing the importance of providing support to those in need to help them with their mental health issues.
Misha Mck, born in East Orange, New Jersey, is not only a mental health advocate but also an accomplished actress. She has appeared in numerous films and TV shows such as “A Man Called Hawk” in 1989, “He’s My Girl” in 1987, and “Me & Mrs. C.” from 1986 to 1987. While studying at Syracuse University, Mck auditioned for the Broadway play “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When The Rainbow Is Enuf” at Syracuse Stage. Her performance in this play made her a member of the Actors Equity Association, where she felt inspired to further pursue her passion for acting.
Mck as an influential acting figure could understand the power that movies and TV shows hold in reaching many people. Mck decided to use certain social media to raise awareness about mental health and give a voice to those in need. Throughout her career in film and TV, she has focused on creating and being part of multiple different projects that highlight social issues and support different communities and individuals.
Additionally, Misha Mck has been hosting “Wake Up With MISHA” which is a local weekly morning show, that can be watched on WATP, Channel 16, this morning show always starts the morning with a positive message. In this show, inspiring stories about different people, businesses, and groups in the community doing good things are shared. The show includes interesting interviews and educational segments to give viewers a boost of positivity and motivation.
ENSPIRE spoke with Misha Mck, here’s what she had to say regarding mental health.
In what additional ways do you plan to utilize social media to increase awareness about mental health?
One very important way we plan to utilize social media to increase awareness about mental health is through our CARES 60-second campaigns for television and radio. These campaigns are designed to promote awareness about topics such as bullying, helping others to realize their self-worth, and self-esteem, and to rid the stigmas surrounding suicide and mental illness. In the African American community suicide is a taboo topic. It exists but so do the stigmas surrounding suicide, especially in the church which is a huge social platform and judgment zone for mental health issues.
What was the main reason why you decided to start your morning show “Wake Up With MISHA?”
WAKE UP WITH MISHA was developed to create for my audience an opportunity to live by POSITIVITY RULES and to WAKE UP knowing that tomorrow is always another “positive” day. However, we have to believe it to achieve it!
What sources do you suggest for individuals looking for support with their mental health?
We believe that “Together We Can Make A Difference”. When individuals are stressing about their mental health, one of my top suggestions is to seek local therapists, those who understand the “power of the arts”, that will get to the root of the patient’s issues, not necessarily going straight for the medication.
Let’s give them a pen and paper before the pill. There are all types of innovative therapies. There is therapy in the ARTS! Dance Therapy, Music Therapy, Drama Therapy, Equine Therapy, Pet Therapy Gardening Therapy, etc. The list can go on and on. And remember, always reach out to family and friends or anyone who is a phone call away and CARES!
In what ways do you intend to provide support for individuals who are facing mental health issues?
Most African Americans are groomed to keep a “stiff upper lip”, “tough it out, pray”, and “the devil is a liar”. These stigmas and mantras make it nearly impossible for African Americans to crawl out from under this perpetual rock of pride and suffering in silence. Here at Suicide Watch And Wellness Foundation we have created CIRCLE UP exercises, a peer-to-peer development program developing the self-esteem of individuals. We work through the stigmas surrounding suicide and mental illness to free our mental capacities realizing how important each person is no matter what age, gender, or nationality, we are all capable of helping to cultivate and create a mentally, physically healthier, happier, and peaceful society.
In what ways do you believe acting can be linked to raising awareness about topics such as mental health struggles?”
I don’t only believe; I know that acting can be linked to raising awareness about topics such as mental health struggles. Let’s take a look at some films that have delved deep into the mental frailties of their characters, such as Conrad in ORDINARY PEOPLE. Conrad, portrayed by Timothy Hutton suffered from SURVIVORS GUILT. This mental challenge became prevalent after 17 people were killed in the mass shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
After that horrific tragedy.
Two students took their own lives because of SURVIVORS GUILT. The psychiatrists in ORDINARY PEOPLE, Dr. Berger portrayed by actor Judd Hirsch helped Conrad realize that the death of his brother was not his fault.
The movie DEAD POETS SOCIETY gives an example of how parents can drive their children to be punished over the edge, too much pressure to be someone the child has no desire to be, thus left with feelings of hopelessness turning into desperate measures of escape often, sadly, ending in suicide. Unfortunately, this is an example of suicide by revenge toward the parent! These two movies are just two examples out of Hollywood’s many that try to give solutions by showing the mistakes, neglect, and ignorance of how a life can be saved if we only pay attention! In the world of film and television, there are so many clues and tips, if taken seriously that can become a catalyst for someone to help SAVE A LIFE, maybe even your own!
What inspired your involvement in co-founding the “Suicide Watch and Wellness Foundation”?
I was inspired to co-found Suicide Watch And Wellness Foundation because; I was shown that there was a need for something to be done to try and stop young people, old people, every day, and extraordinary people from taking their own lives every 11 minutes.
I knew that through our TV programs, IT’S A BRAND NEW DAY WITH MISHA McK, WAKE UP WITH MISHA, COOKING UP A BETTER LIFE WITH MISHA, our CARES Campaigns, our school Anti-bullying programs K-12 and our outreach to senior citizens, our veterans and people with disabilities we have created a platform for others to share their stories ridding the stigmas surrounding Suicide and Mental Illness. Even though we are reminded every day of the many people who are taking their own lives every 11 minutes, it’s still a brand new day for you. So let’s all take a minute to CARE enough and SAVE A LIFE!
Misha Mck, as a co-founder of SWWF, is dedicated to assisting those in need of mental health support. Through her advocacy and involvement widely, and in charities, she uses her platform to advocate for positive change and spread messages of hope to support those individuals dealing with mental illness who need help.
Misha McK has raised over 2 million through her Mental Health Awareness campaigns for multiple known charities like St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Her caring nature and dedication are evident in her support for these causes. Mck has shown to be deeply committed to mental health advocacy.
To find out more about Misha Mck and SWWF, you are open to visit her website “Suicide Watch and Wellness Foundation”
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