Eight-time Academy Award-nominated actress Glenn Close is most known for her roles in films like Fatal Attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy, and The Wife. But in 2010 she became a fierce advocate for mental health, co-founding a nonprofit Bring Change to Mind (BC2M), dedicated to bringing an end to the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness.
Watch her TED Talk: My Mission to Change the Narrative of Mental Health.
Upon hearing that her sister Jessie was struggling with thoughts of suicide, Close said, “I had absolutely no clue, no clue what she was dealing with.”
She later found out that her nephew (Jessie’s son) had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder after experiencing a psychotic break at just 18 years old.
Close’s decision to speak publicly about her family’s struggles became part of the ethos of her nonprofit— to literally “bring change to mind.”
The Invisible Signs & Symptoms
People hide pain well. During her TED Talk, Close reminds listeners to follow up and to trust their instincts when checking in with family and friends.
“The thing you need to be vigilant about is a change in behavior that lasts… and even if they say yes, and you feel differently, you have to say it again: ‘Are you OK?’”
Through it all, Close reminds that persistence and compassion can open doors. Mental health is not a one-time thing — it’s a journey.
“It's a process and it's a long process, and you have to be very resilient,” shared Close. “You can't just treat people when they have a break and you give them a couple of meds. You've got to be in it for the long haul.”
The Power of Peer Support
The student-led mental health clubs started by Bring Change to Mind bring important conversations about mental health to high schools across the United States. In addition to supporting peer-to-peer programs, B2CM also runs awareness campaigns, Public Service Announcements, and a national storytelling movement aimed at ending the stigma around mental illness.
“When Calen came back from two years in a psychiatric hospital, none of his friends came back. They still haven't come back, even though he's become this advocate,” shared Close. “These stories... they do remind us of how big that stigma is still, as one of the biggest barriers to people getting the help.”
During the 2022-2023 school year, BC2M supported 480 high schools and 16 middle schools with over 10,000 student members.
“The thing that I'm very proud of are the kids, because it's peer-to-peer,” shared Close. “It's not high schools that write to us. It's the kids that write to us. They say, ‘We want, we need a Bring Change to Mind club in our high school.’ And I've met a lot of them, and they are phenomenal.”
What Will You Do Differently?
- Who in your life needs a follow-up checkin?
- What stigma might you be holding onto in your mind regarding mental illness?
- Are you willing to help bring change to mind for those around you?
Connect with more helpful resources on the BE-OK Resources Hub.