Message from the President and CEO, Cass Isidro
Wishing You Wellness, Friends of the Amputee Coalition. Be encouraged! A personal note, an unexpected loving message, or an encouraging call from a support person in our lives for many can be the encouragement that comes in a season of discouragement, a time of feeling defeated, celebrating milestones but also healing from hard journeys. As we focus on World Mental Health Awareness I offer not only a kind word but a reminder that you are needed, you are valuable, and your well-being matters. The Amputee Coalition proudly serves as the only national organization whose mission is to support, educate, and advocate for people impacted by limb loss and limb difference, fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, and equity in all aspects of our work.
The World Federation for Mental Health, the founder of World Mental Health Day first observed the day in 1992 as an initiative of Richard C. Hunter, the then Deputy Secretary-General of the World Federation for Mental Health, and since has been one of many catalysts for raising awareness in the global community for change and elevating the conversation and various aspects of mental health care. The 2024 Global Campaign theme – ‘It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace’ expands the conversation and dismantles stigmas to openly engage topics of grief and loss, identity, anxiety, and depression. A few reminders from our Amputee Coalition Board of Directors and staff: You are not alone – you have a full community of support to lean on – The Amputee Coalition resources are available to help you on your journey.
As many of you know, the National Limb Loss Resource Center (NLLRC) is the centerpiece of the Amputee Coalition’s work, including youth engagement, peer support, workforce development, self-advocacy training, health resource development and training, and health and wellness policy development. The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Community Living (ACL), partners with, and funds, the Amputee Coalition to deliver these resources and services to individuals living with limb loss or limb difference and their caregivers. What a call of service we have before us as we continue to be a place for the Amputee Coalition community to connect as a place of welcoming, support, and vital resources for the various entry points that community members contact the Amputee Coalition. Every member of the Amputee Coalition team has an important role to play in successfully operating the NLLRC in delivering a wide range of resources and services to members of the limb loss and limb difference community and well-being is at the heart of all we do.
Amputee Coalition Resources to Utilize and Share:
- The Amputee Coalition Support Group Finder can be found on the Community Connections Resource Database where hundreds of Support Groups throughout the nation are listed and can be searched by geographic location
- The Amputee Coalition’s newly launched Virtual Young Adult Support Group is held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET specifically for individuals between 18 and 30 who have limb loss and limb difference and their families ensuring that no one traverses their journey alone. You can register
- Limb Loss and Limb Difference is a life-changing journey and the Emotional Recovery process can affect nearly every aspect of an individual’s life. The Amputee Coalition fact sheet on emotional recovery can be found
- The Amputee Coalition Virtual BIPOC Support Group held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET provides a safe space for individuals from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities who have been affected by limb loss and limb difference. You can register
- Peer Support connections are important if you have had an amputation, are scheduled to have an amputation, were born with a limb difference, or are a parent, spouse, or caregiver of a person with limb loss or limb difference, you may request a peer visit from one of our Certified Peer Visitors by visiting the Amputee Coalition webpage
Mental health is crucial to the healing journey for those living with limb loss and limb difference as well as the support networks that lean into support. Understanding, compassion, creating a supportive community that values fostering open discussions together, advocating for better resources, and enhancing peer-to-peer support networks not only grows awareness but celebrates the strength we have together.
We are not a national nonprofit that specializes in supporting emergency mental health services, the Amputee Coalition resources provided in our National Limb Loss Resource Center are built and dedicated to caring for the lives of those living with limb loss and limb difference who need us most and seek services. If you or anyone you know is in crisis or feel you might harm yourself or someone else, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For non-emergency information and resources, please call the National Limb Loss Resource Center at 888-267-5669 ext. 1. You also can call the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) helpline at 800-950-6264 M-F, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., ET. Or in a crisis, text “NAMI” to 741741 for 24/7, confidential, free crisis counseling.
For Amputee Coalition resources, and support, and to become involved with the limb loss and limb difference community please visit www.amputee-coalition.org and we encourage you to stay connected on all our AC social media platforms Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram. You can also create a profile and join AC Connect the premier online community for connecting the limb loss and limb difference community.
#WMHD #MentalHealthMatters #YouMatter #AmputeeCoalition #WorldMentalHealthDay #LimbLoss #Limb Difference