George Bush declared the Decade beginning January 1, 1990 as the "Decade of the Brain", and since that time we have all been fighting even more diligently to eliminate the negative stigma against mental illness.

In 1993, a family member started the Silver Ribbon Campaign for the Brain.  This campaign is to "fight stigma and to break down the barriers to getting help".  The founder of the campaign, Jean Liechty, has spent countless hours and tremendous effort to promote and further the Silver Ribbon Campaign.  Tipper Gore has said that the Silver Ribbon Campaign "is a wonderful idea and a great representation of the advances that we are making toward ending the discrimination and prejudice of mental illnesses".  Silver Ribbon Lapel pins are currently being produced and worn by countless individuals to show their support in the fight against the stigma towards persons with mental illnesses.

When I first acquired my Silver Ribbon Pin, I cried.  I cried because the Silver Ribbon Pin represented something tangible that I could touch and feel and know that somebody cared. I wear it everyday, everywhere, to remind myself of the people who care and to educate others. People ask me what the pin represents and how they can get one.  In my opinion, the Silver Ribbon Pin, indeed, "opens the minds" of others which is the epitome of what NAMI represents.

Similar to the AIDS stamp and the Breast Cancer stamp which display the red and pink ribbons, respectively, the Silver Ribbon Campaign is also trying to gain approval by the US Postal Service for the issuance of a first class stamp with the Silver Ribbon symbol.  Our goal is 50,000 letters to be sent to the Executive Director of Stamp Services, David E. Failor.  As the Volunteer Northern California Coordinator for the Silver Ribbon Campaign, I have pre-written letters for your convenience and Silver Ribbon Lapel pins.  Please contact me (Heather Lepper) at silver@cwo.com or call the NAMI-Sacramento office at (916) 875-4952.  If you choose to send a personal letter of support for a first class stamp bearing the Silver Ribbon symbol, you may write to (sample letter):

David E. Failor
Executive Director Stamp Services
1735 N Lynn St Suite 5018
Arlington Va. 22209

You may also visit the Silver Ribbon SUPPORT page.  No matter how small a contribution may seem, even the tiniest of things can make a difference....a signature on a letter and the wearing of a Silver Ribbon Lapel pin have changed my life forever. 

Heather Lepper and Misha

"Seek First to Understand, Then To Be Understood". ---Stephen R. Covey