Amplify Austin 2015: Mental Healing

Sims Ellison, the namesake of SIMS

For some people, the term “mental illness” is just a phrase you might hear used on a PSA or the subject of a new batch of statistics. However, for many people, mental illness is their reality.

The “invisibility” of mental diseases is one of the reasons they can be difficult when it comes to treatment and education. Fortunately, with the push from Amplify Austin, several nonprofits may be able to ensure that its time in hiding is cut short.

The organizations featured in this year’s donation campaigns cover an array of issues, including prevention, awareness and providing a stable environment for adults and children with mental health diagnoses. Here’s a quick glance at the nonprofits that are on our radar.

• Austin Recovery Austin Recovery understands that addiction doesn’t just affect the addicted. With their new program, Center for Recovering Families, they work to heal families and communities in order to break the cycle of addiction. www.austinrecovery.org

• Center for Survivors of Torture This nonprofit addresses not only the medical and social needs of refugees and survivors, but the psychological needs as well. Funds raised for this group would go towards their children’s program, which serves the needs of 900 children in Austin. www.cstnet.org

• Brookwood in Georgetown Empowering adults with functional disabilities to serve their community through meaningful work, BiG has big plans. Funds raised would be used to enroll more adults into the growing organization. www.brookwoodingeorgetown.org

•NAMI Education, advocacy, and support for those affected by mental illness are at the core of NAMI's mission. They hope to continue by increasing awareness among caregivers, teachers, and students. www.namiaustin.org

• SIMS

Austin loves its musicians, and nothing makes that more apparent than SIMS (named for Nineties Austin musician Sims Ellison). By giving to this respected nonprofit, you help fund access to addiction recovery and mental health needs for musicians and their families. www.simsfoundation.org

• Wonders & Worries Grief is hard for anyone to handle, but it can be very difficult for children. This group gives children the emotional support to work through the illness or loss of a parent. www.wondersandworries.org

• Threads of Hope Access to faith-based holistic therapy for individuals and families, providing that essential ingredient (hope) when there sometimes seems to be none. www.threadsofhopetx.org

• VSA Texas Inclusive arts is the mission of VSA. With the support of this organization, people with developmental disabilities are given access to creative programs that empower them through the arts. www.vsatx.org

• HeartSupport Abuse, addiction and depression can also be issues for teens. 100% of the funds raised for these big hearts goes toward reaching young people around the country on the Vans Warped Tour. www.heartsupport.com

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Almost everyone knows someone affected by suicide. The Central Texas chapter of this national organization hopes to drastically reduce that number through education and outreach programs. www.afsp.org/centraltexas

Mental health is an issue that touches all people regardless of income, race or social background. Supporting the organizations that work to reduce the stigma associated with mental illnesses is not only admirable, but also necessary. And that’s something we can all get amp’d about.

Stay tuned to our Amplify Austin 2015 series at austinchronicle.com/daily for developing details on all things Amp'd.