Patty Duke Coming to OKC May 1For Country Club Luncheon
It’s been 17 years since now-retired mental health worker Jerry Risenhoover, Norman, sat down for an hour with Oscar-winning actress Patty Duke in Boulder and heard her story of mental illness and subsequent recovery.
Listening to Duke had special meaning for Risenhoover as both were living with bipolar disorder.
Inspired by the emotional visit and Duke’s autobiography, Call Me Anna, Risenhoover returned home convinced that what he and others with a diagnosed mental illness needed in Oklahoma was their own consumer-owned and operated advocacy organization.
On May 1, Patty Duke will be in Oklahoma City to visit the organization she inspired Risenhoover and a friend, Bob McDonald, to initiate 17 years ago. Until she was invited to visit and to speak at a luncheon benefiting the Oklahoma Mental Health Consumer Council, Duke was unaware of the Consumer Council or its work in helping thousands of Oklahomans with mental illness live healthy and productive lives. Staff members who work with mental health service consumers are consumers, themselves. Fifty-one percent of the organization’s board members are required to be consumers. McDonald is the first consumer to serve on the board of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
Duke will speak at a luncheon 11:30 a.m. on May 1 at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. A patron party honoring Patty will be held the evening before in the home of Barbara and Roger Simons. A recent kick-off coffee announcing the event was held in the home of Judy and Tom Love.
Oklahoma has the highest rate of severe mental illness per capita in the nation, and is in the bottom five states in spending for mental health services. To assist consumers, the Council provides the following programs:
- WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) – gives consumers the wellness tools to reach and maintain recovery
- Judicial advocacy/jail diversion – advocates for consumers involved in the criminal justice and corrections systems for non-violent crimes
- Annual Statewide Conference – brings together more than 500 participants to inspire and educate
- Adult Consumer Satisfaction Surveys – compiles information from consumers at all 83 community mental health centers to improve service throughout the state.
- Mental Health Day – Gathers more than 1,200 mental health consumers and advocates at the Oklahoma State Capitol
- Newsletters – Keep the mental health community updated on relevant issues
- Service Line – Handled over 9,000calls in 2007
- Key Leadership Institute – Provides consumers with tools necessary to advocate effectively for their own services and recovery
The Consumer Council has other programs in crisis intervention, grievance mediation, consumer networking, conflict resolution and disaster/trauma training.
Risenhoover was elected the first president of the Consumer Council, serving for three years without an office, budget or staff. George Kotwitz succeeded Risenhoover, and during his leadership, the Council received a $25,000 grant which allowed the group to establish an office and hire Jo Hill as the first executive director.
Kaye Rote has led the organization as executive director since 1996. Current board president is Larry Kelley. Jim Buchanan is vice president.
Patty Duke has been referred to as the “bipolar disorder’s original poster girl” because of her willingness to discuss her own mental illness, to advocate on behalf of people with this disease and to help erase the stigma that mental illness often carries in society.
A past president of the Screen Actors Guild, Duke has delighted and challenged audiences for more than 45 years with her work in movies and on television. Her Oscar-winning portrayal of blind, mute, and deaf Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker launched Patty as one of America’s finest young talents. Still a teenager, she went on to enjoy success in The Patty Duke Show before establishing herself as one of television most versatile and beloved actresses.
Duke’s autobiography, Call Me Anna, was followed by A Brilliant Madness. Married to firefighter Michael Pearce, she makes her home in Northern Idaho and spends a great deal of time and travel speaking on the topic of mental illness.
For luncheon reservations or further information, please call 604-6975