About Us: The genesis for North Carolina Mental Hope can be traced back to the overwhelming response received from a commentary in the Asheville Citizen-Times in October 2005. That commentary, "Can we find hope for childhood mental illness?" and others, if interested, can be read at ncmentalhope.org/columns.html.

It was obvious the words touched a nerve and put into words the numbing frustration, heartache and suffering of many parents. On February 28, 2006, North Carolina Mental Hope was incorporated as a North Carolina non-profit. In August of 2006, the IRS granted its 501(c)3 status.

Thanks to grants from the Janirve Foundation, the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, the National Alliance on Mental Illness through NAMI Western Carolina, and individual donations, our journey to increase public awareness and support of mental health has begun.

It won't be an easy nor a fast journey. We are not the first decade, the first century, nor even the first millenium in which a blind eye has been turned to the incredibly devastating toll of mental illness on individuals and society. But our humanity demands that we not ignore it, that we do everything we can to bring the public's attention to it and support those affected by mental illness however we can, whenever we can. To view a few of our past year's activities, click here. And then please consider making a donation by clicking here.

Mission Statement : "North Carolina Mental Hope's mission is to increase public awareness and support of mental health and to decrease stigma surrounding mental illness through the effective use of news and other communications media."

For more information, please write david@ncmentalhope.org

Our gratitude for their support go to:

• Janirve Foundation
• Community Foundation of WNC
• NAMI Western Carolina
• Mission Healthcare Foundation
• Pepsi
• Louise Taylor
• Renita Courts
• Bonnie Schell
• Jim and Sharon Pitts
• Orbit DVD
• Image 420 Screen Printing
• Nicholas Stratas, M.D.
• Diane Bauknight
• Martha Brock
• John & Mary Lane Travis
• Wendy's
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy of WNC
• Family Support Network
• Buncome County Sheriff's Department