Beverly Jackson's Contact Details

Beverly Jackson's Company Details

America Out Loud

Atlanta, GA, US • Not Available Employees
City Government/Municipal Government

America Out Loud connects and challenges citizens to reenvision mental healthcare and mental health rights in their communities. Through its Dialogue and Deliberation program, America Out Loud enhances citizens' knowledge about mental illness and preventative care, and offers the opportunity for citizens to implement policy change in workplaces, schools, churches, and other environments.Why America Out Loud ?While today's mental health advocacy organizations offer a wide variety of services, from subsidized counseling to free support groups to educational seminars, there is little focus on society's institutions and how they perpetuate mental health stigma. In middle schools, high schools, and colleges, students are given stressful workloads and high expectations, but are offered little mental health outlets. In workplaces, employees often hide their mental illness, anxiety, and/or depression — in fear that they will be treated as less capable, or even let go from their position. In many churches, neighborhoods, and other communities, citizens with mental illness suffer from a culture of silence and stigma.America Out Loud seeks to challenge these institutions through the practice of "deliberative democracy."Deliberative democracy is a citizen-centered form of government which provides mediated and equal spaces, known as "deliberative forums", for citizens to deliberate over challenging issues and to draft a solutions report for community decision-makers.