Bonnie Kelly, an MHC client, receives the PERSONAL COURAGE AWARD!
Bonnie Kelly, an MHC client, receives the PERSONAL COURAGE AWARD!
Bonnie Kelly is recognized by Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations for the 2011 Personal Courage Award. Kelly receives this special recognition because of her own courage in facing personal challenges presented by mental illness and at the same time providing effective leadership, advocacy, and support for a program that serves others.
More than three and one half years ago, Bonnie Kelly founded the SHINE (Supporting Health in Everyone) committee to address the urgent dental needs of Middle Tennesseans with severe mental illness. Kelly’s passion to help others was fueled by her own battle with Bipolar I Disorder and severe dental problems. “By the time I got to the dentist, she told me I had four abscessed teeth, and the best thing to do was pull all my teeth and get dentures.”
Knowing the enormous need for dental services for people suffering from the dual effects of serious mental illness and poverty, Bonnie reached out to Mental Health Cooperative, Centerstone, Park Center, Interfaith Dental Clinic, TSU Dental Hygiene School and consumer family members to assemble SHINE. “I wouldn’t have been able to sleep at night knowing that so many of my fellow consumers had this immense need,” she says. “I wanted to make a difference in their lives and became engrossed in this project.”
While battling recurring symptoms of her own severe mental illness, Bonnie has led the effort to accomplish the following:
• Dental Health Fair where more than 100 clients were given free dental screenings, and provided with dental health educational materials through booths, and activities.
• Coordinated two separate events at Park Center where TSU Dental Hygiene School students provided oral hygiene education classes and demonstrations that upon follow up visits revealed major hygiene improvements on the parts of clients.
• Three” Hands on Health Days” during which more than 50 clients with severe dental needs were treated.
Kelly received her award at a luncheon celebration on December 12th.
The Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations (TAMHO) is a statewide trade association representing Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) and other non-profit corporations that provide behavioral health services.
