I spend half my time comforting the afflicted, and the other half afflicting the comfortable.

— Wess Stafford

It can be difficult to speak truth to power. Circumstances, however, have made doing so increasingly necessary.

— Aberjhani

It is not loving to impose our own grid onto others. We need to understand their situation and their needs accurately, and this comes from listening to them, not coming in with our own assumptions.

— Matt Perman

It is time to embrace mental health and substance use/abuse as illnesses. Addiction is a disease.

— Steven Kassels

It's just as important to be around people that influence stable mental health as it is working towards it.

— Kierra C.T. Banks

It’s not by story alone that successful advocates urge others to take action. Advocating with our personal stories takes a specific kind of preparation. It requires practice with elements of persuasion, public speaking, media interview skills and storytelling—not to mention healthy does of fortitude and commitment.

— John Capecci and Timothy Cage

Joyfully we undertake our daily work.

— Lailah Gifty Akita

Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different from racism.

— Shannon L. Alder

Mom hadn't met Ramon; her advocacy was more arm's length - petitions, the website, letter writing, meetings with politicians. Her friend Hanna had formed a close friendship with Ramon though, visiting him as often as she could. Hanna told me that Ramon's greatest regret was that he wouldn't get to see his daughter grow up. And Jeremy's dad, who had that opportunity, was just throwing it away. It made me furious, and I couldn't let it go.

— Robin Stevenson

Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth.

— William Faulkner