Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

Make Silver as Recognizable as Pink, Red or Yellow

How often in the course of a week do you see a pink ribbon, a red ribbon, or a yellow ribbon? Can you name or explain what each of these ribbons signifies? Have you thought of how much your awareness of the issues these ribbons represent has been increased? Do you know how valuable the pink and red ribbon campaigns have been for raising funds for research and advocacy, not to mention their overall effect on raising awareness?

Very valuable.

Now. Have you heard of the Silver Ribbon? Have you seen one when out and about (and we’re not talking the NAMI convention or at your doctor or therapists office)? Do you wear a Silver Ribbon? Do you know what the Silver Ribbon represents? Have you given a Silver Ribbon to a family member, friend, coworker, or stranger? While over 200,000 Silver Ribbon pins have been distributed by NARSAD Artworks and over 100,000 letters have been written to the United States Postal Service advocating creation of a Silver Ribbon First Class Postage Stamp since 2000, the Silver Ribbon has yet to reach the level of immediate recognition that these other ribbons have.

But, we can do it. And, we will do it.

In a nutshell, the Silver Ribbon promotes public awareness of the need for support of people with brain disorders and disabilities www.silverribbon.org. The Silver Ribbon Coalition is represented by advocates for all types of brain disorders (hence, "Coalition"), not just neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This aspect of the Coalition is a subtle but important tool for destigmatization because it underscores the fact that schizophrenia is a brain disorder before it is "mental illness", an expression that as we all know can be stigmatizing.

Okay. So, imagine a grocery store line where someone sees your Silver Ribbon and asks, "What does the Silver Ribbon represent?" Or, alternatively, where you see another person wearing a Silver Ribbon. Before you know it you’re sharing stories, you about schizophrenia, him/her about his child with autism. This is how we break the silence. Creating opportunities to share our experiences. This is how we get others to view schizophrenia for what it is – a very serious brain disorder. This is how we get others to financially support advocacy and research endeavors for schizophrenia or just to simply become more knowledgeable.

To see how you can help make the Silver Ribbon visible, and all it stands for promoted, please visit:

Silver Ribbon for Brain Disorders: Many Ways to Help...