“Anxiety runs deep in my family,” says actress Torrey DeVitto during The Chicago School’s Social Impact Leaders Awards Luncheon held on Thursday, March 29.
As an avid mental health advocate, DeVitto chose to share some of her family’s and her own experiences dealing with mental health issues.
“I started experiencing anxiety myself when I was a teen,” DeVitto says. “As I got older, I realized that when someone has a physical problem they go to the doctor … On the flip side, most people weren’t doing the same with anxiety disorders and stress.”
After confronting her own anxiety, DeVitto found strength in speaking about it openly and has made an impact, especially on teenagers. When meeting her, teens often don’t want to talk about television shows; they want to talk to her about how she copes with anxiety.
“No matter what road or avenues people take to help soothe their own struggles, it’s time that we all should be allowed to walk down this path without judgement and stigmas,” DeVitto says. “It is time to end the stigma on mental health issues.”
At The Chicago School’s Social Impact Leaders Awards Luncheon, held at the Sofitel Hotel Magnificent Mile, the crowd came out to honor those who are working to heighten awareness of mental health needs and increase access to care.
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Close to 200 guests gathered together, including The Chicago School trustee Dr. Richard Chaifetz, Dr. Beth N. Rom-Rymer, and Marilyn and Larry Cohen.
The Chicago School’s Social Impact Leaders Luncheon was also an opportunity to raise money for the Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Health Education, scholarships for clinical psychopharmacology and public health programs, and excellence in education and training on the Chicago Campus. Silver sponsors included Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois; The Community Solution Education System; and Dr. Fred Pestello, the president of The Saint Louis University Community.
Dr. Michael Horowitz, The Community Solution Education System president, introduced and gave Dr. Chaifetz his award.
Dr. Michele Nealon, The Chicago School president, presented awards to Dr. Rom-Rymer and the Cohens.
Participants in the event drawing won a variety of prizes, including a one-week stay in Switzerland, behind-the-scenes experiences at the Field Museum and Brookfield Zoo, and Chicago Cubs tickets.
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