2015 Erasing the Distance

Erasing the Distance

Rebecca’s Dream and Erasing the Distance will re-mount their co-produced theatrical production TELL ME WHAT YOU REMEMBER, a true story of one family’s life-altering battle with depression, using their distinct journey to illustrate the universal truth of how deeply depression can impact those who suffer, and those who love them.

TELL ME WHAT YOU REMEMBER will be seen at Filament Theater for a 9-night run from November 11-15 and 19-22 in order to provide more people with the opportunity to experience the production. It will be a ticketed, full theatrical production that will include an interactive lobby installation.

2014: Families for Depression Awareness

Rebecca’s Dream is proud to announce our 2014 Grant Recipient: Families for Depression Awareness

The project funded by Rebecca’s Dream will create, promote, and present a new webinar on bipolar disorder which includes: A free webinar for families highlighting bipolar disorder in adults, treatment, getting help, and family communication. After the webinar, participants who complete a survey will receive a free brochure, “Bipolar Disorder: Stories of Coping and Courage” featuring stories of families who have successfully managed the disorder and background information about bipolar disorder.

The webinar will be presented in September, 2014 reaching at least 500 people.

2014: Erasing the Distance

Erasing the Distance will receive the 2014 portion of the 2013/2014 Grant for Tell Me What You Remember. Rebecca’s Dream commissioned a world premiere theatrical production focusing on the Depression in Families Project.

The work was co-produced with Erasing the Distance Theatre Company of Chicago. This production brings to life the true story of a family’s struggle to manage depression through three generations. The production highlights the progress they made living with this disease and shares their courageous decision to break the silence and fight the stigma of mental illness. The work premiered at the Filament Theatre in November 2014, presenting six critically acclaimed sold out performances.

2013: Elyssa's Mission

Elyssa’s Mission

Rebecca’s Dream granted funds to Elyssa’s Mission. To provide resources to support at-risk teens and prevent suicide by teaching them that depression is a treatable illness. Elyssa’s Mission offers hands-on support to area schools, religious and community organizations to help educate students, staff and parents on how to recognize those teens most at risk.

Elyssa’s Mission much like Rebecca’s Dream enables Elyssa and Rebecca, respectively, to not just touch others’ lives but also, in many cases, to save them.

The main focus of Elyssa’s Mission is bringing the SOS Signs of Suicide program into area middle schools and high schools and assisting schools with program implementation. This program is able to assist school communities to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, as well as help them to identify at-risk teens and subsequently link them to needed services.

With funds granted by Rebecca’s Dream, five new schools will be supported by Elyssa’s Mission SOS program.

2013: Erasing the Distance

The production will be created September 2013-December 2014. It will be the closer to Erasing the Distance’s 2013-2014 artistic season, as a fully –staged, ticketed production for the public on December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16, 2014 at Theater Wit in Chicago. Opening night for this world premiere performance will include a catered reception.

The mission of Rebecca’s Dream to promote awareness and compassionate understanding of depression and bipolar disorder as real diseases could not be better aligned with Erasing the Distance. Over the course of our collaboration together, we have continued to find this to be true. Both of our organizations know many people hold powerful, ingrained, negative beliefs regarding mental illness. It is seen as a character weakness and something that people should just be able to get over or pull themselves out of on their own.

Storytelling can go a long way in challenging those notions and beliefs –and give audience members different perspectives to consider. Rebecca’s Dream and Erasing the Distance are deepening their partnership and collaboration in disarming the stigma associated with mental illness.

2012: Families for Depression Awareness

People must understand that these illnesses strike our youth and need to be prepared to help them at a young age. Educating teens, as well as parents and other adults in their lives, about clinical depression in young people, its treatment, and how to seek help, is of urgent concern. Depression is the leading cause of suicide and suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds nationally. In order to intervene effectively, adults must be aware of the signs and symptoms and know how to talk to teens about depression.

This Grant enables Families for Depression Awareness to complete its two proposals to Rebecca’s Dream:

Speak Out Against Stigma and Teen Depression
Rebecca’s Dream awarded the first grant in June of 2011

Rebecca’s Dream and Families for Depression Awareness continue to work toward ending the stigma of mood disorders while educating teens, parents, teachers, friends and family members that these are real medical conditions.

2012: Erasing the Distance

The following venues hosted “Good Enough.”

• North Park University through Swedish Covenant Hospital
  Performed for students and area residents as well as Swedish Covenant Hospital mental health staff and medical staff.
• Norwegian American Hospital
  Mandatory viewing for mental health staff and medical staff.
• Bethany Methodist Hospital
  Mandatory viewing for mental health staff and medical staff.
• Illinois Institute of Technology
  Through Active Minds—students, the community and local Active Minds chapters were invited to attend.
• Alexian Brothers Hospital
  Performed for mental health staff and medical staff

2012: Families for Depression Awareness

Rebecca’s Dream funded Families for Depression Awareness for the Speak Out Against Stigma project which recruited, trained, recorded, and promoted speakers who told their personal stories relating to mental health care access and parity stemming from social stigma. This program helped people understand the barriers to treatment and access issues.

2011: Erika's Lighthouse

Erika’s Lighthouse

Erika’s Lighthouse Rebecca’s Dream grant award provides funding for a study guide to accompany and enhance the new video “Real Teenagers Talking About Depression.”

This project targets 8th graders through high-school sophomores in an exciting and innovative way, allowing teachers the opportunity to explore the subject in more detail.

The mission of Erika’s Lighthouse is to help break the stigma surrounding depression so that those suffering can get the help they need.

2011: Families for Depression Awareness

Families for Depression Awareness

Families for Depression Awareness will use the funding for the project “Speak Out Against Stigma.” Photographs of speakers together with their stories will help break the stigma of silence surrounding depression and bipolar disorder.

The emphasis will be on mental-health care experiences emphasizing the impact of depressive disorders on families and the need for effective diagnosis, treatment and health care coverage.

Interviews will appear through print, audio and video formats for long-term access and promotion in the public media and press. The mission of Families for Depression Awareness is to help families recognize and cope with depressive disorders through education, training and support.

2011: Erasing the Distance

Erasing the Distance

Erasing the Distance will use the grant award to help create a custom theatrical production sharing 5 true stories of young women impacted by depression and bipolar disorder.

This original production will occur during Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2012 at a major Chicago theatrical venue, on multiple days/evenings and performed by members of the professional acting ensemble of Erasing the Distance, including facilitated dialogues and free access to mental health information and resources.

The mission of Erasing the Distance is to use the power of performance to disarm the stigma of mental illness, spark dialogue, generate understanding and ignite the healing process.