Wings Across Alabama

Wings Across Alabama

Submitted article by the Alabama Press Association

ALABAMA--Having conversations about mental health is more important than ever. The pandemic has certainly taken a heavy toll on many, but its impact has also resulted in the emergence of mental health narratives previously stigmatized or devalued. The topic of mental health narratives has proven beneficial and is now here to stay.

Wings Across Alabama with funding from SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration) is developing a digital resource hub with mental health empowerment stories and peer support informational videos open to the general public and mental health providers. Wings are set to launch their resource hub in Spring 2022. 

If you have mental health and or substance use disorder diagnosis and have thrived in recovery, Wings Across Alabama wants to hear from you! Participants will be steered through an interview, consent and storytelling preparation process before recording narratives in person. Wings wish to highlight diverse population disparities through topics including but not limited to: 

  • Veterans who have thrived despite challenging family environment or had a difficult adjustment back to civilian life after being deployed and returning home
  • LGBTQ+ participants who thrived after coping with stigma, discrimination and/or violence
  • Demographically rural participants who overcome challenges of access to care to find empowerment in their story and community
  • Empowerment despite stress from racial inequalities, stigma or expression of gender identit

Did we leave you out? Every story is unique and powerful! So send us your story highlighting how you were able to thrive in mental health recovery. Self-advocate! Don’t miss your chance to lift and motivate your peers while helping reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

Submit your mental health “thrival” empowerment 

story now at

 WingsAcrossAL.org/Empowered 

or email Dalana Brooks MA, CPS, CPTSD, Program Director a short summary of your journey to dalanawbrooks@icloud.com. If you have any questions or would prefer to speak with someone through the story submission process, feel free to call 251-244-8339. 

Together. We Thrive. 

www.WingsAcrossAL.org

Wings Across Alabama is 501(c) peer run mental health advocacy organization whose programs utilize peer support as a central approach to recovery,  Wings understands the unique challenges of mental health because they have lived with it, developed coping skills for overcoming and have been able to sustain recovery for meaningful, fulfilling lives. 

Leave a comment