Mental Health Awareness Day Flash Mob

Transcript of Independent Perspective 1798 with Michelle Scheib on the Mental Health Awareness Day Flash Mob on 5-10-24 

00:00:00 Speaker 1 

Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL). Our guest today is Michelle Scheib, director of Independent Living of Niagara County (ILNC), and I'm your host ErnieChurchwell. Welcome to the program, Michelle. 

00:00:16 Speaker 2 

Thank you for helping me. 

00:00:18 Speaker 1 

It's our pleasure. You're here because you are the creator of something that has become something of an institution in Western New York, the Mental Health Awareness Flash Mob. But I gather that this was actually born when you were at a previous organization, what was that? 

00:00:42 Speaker 2 

It was previously when I was at Restoration Society, I came up with the idea in 2013. 

00:00:49 Speaker 1 

And it was actually prompted by a tragedy, I believe. 

00:00:54 Speaker 2 

Yes, it started when I heard the story of Jonathan Ramos, who was 22 years old, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia and a student of University at Buffalo who died of suicide. It sparked me to start the mental Health Awareness Day. 

00:01:08 Speaker 1 

Well, although the origin is sad, what you have done with it is very impressive so that people have the information at their fingertips. When and where is it and what takes place there. 

00:01:24 Speaker 2 

So, it is May 10th, which is a Friday. It is from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the downtown Central Library, 1 Lafayette Square. 

It is hosted by Restoration Society, Western New York Independent Living, Mental Health PEER Connection and the Buffalo Erie County Library. We received donations by Wellness Collaborative of New York, Practice Association and Mental Health Empowerment Project. 

00:01:49 Speaker 2 

We are having Dennis George, the quizmaster, DJ Pauly, Step Block of Sedlock Sounds and Lighting and we're having Jocelyn Bio and Fitness Ability coming back to help teach us the flash mob and then we'll also have tables for information for people to find out more about mental health services in the community. 

00:02:10 Speaker 1 

Ah, so if someone wants to know more about mental health services, they just need to come up to your table and pick up some literature. Will there be people at the tables to answer questions? 

00:02:22 Speaker 2 

Yes, they were all the people at the tables to answer questions. There will be people everywhere to answer questions. Everyone will be wearing lime green or green color because that is the color of mental health awareness. 

00:02:36 Speaker 1 

Oh and many people are accustomed to the original notion of a flash mob, which is you're just walking through a crowd of people and all of a sudden a whole bunch of them freezes stiff while people are going, What on Earth is this? But I gather that you found a way. You and your colleagues. 

00:02:56 Speaker 1 

And should say have found a way to make it more interesting. What all is going on with this year's flash mob?

00:03:03 Speaker 2 

So, we will be on the outside parts of the library facing Lafayette Square and we do the whole front thing and there'll be we doing the dancing, we'll do the dancing at noon with the hopes of people on lunch. We'll be wondering what is going on and why is all this noise coming from. 

The library which is supposed to be quiet and want to see what's happening, and we'll be out there dancing. 

00:03:28 Speaker 1 

And I believe this is also a dancing anniversary of some sort. 

00:03:33 Speaker 2 

It is actually Fitness Ability is going to do the 40th anniversary of the flash. 

00:03:40 Speaker 1 

Ah, well, why not? If any good reason for dancing and making merry is fine with me, is there any other aspects to this that we haven't explored yet? 

00:03:54 Speaker 2 

Yes, it's free, free, free, free, free and more free. 

00:04:00 Speaker 1 

OK. Well, I guess that pretty much drives home the point. I'm sure that people will have questions about this. How should they contact? 

00:04:12 Speaker 2 

They can contact Adam Salon at Restoration society 716-832-2141 and it is ext. 223. 

00:04:23 Speaker 1 

Alrighty. Well, it sounds like an interesting activity and you don't even need to pre-register to attend. Just come on down. 

00:04:32 Speaker 2 

Yes. 

00:04:34 Speaker 1 

Thanks so much for being with us, Michelle. 

00:04:36 Speaker 2 

Thank you for having me. 

00:04:38 Speaker 1 

It's been our pleasure. 

You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today has been Michelle Scheib, director of ILNC, presenting this exciting event. And I've been your host, Ernie Churchwell.