MISSD 2021 Fundraiser and Highlights
Dear Friends of MISSD,
I hope you, your family and friends are continuing to stay safe and healthy during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This year I am again grateful to the MISSD community for supporting our mission to reduce avoidable suffering and save lives. Together we have increased akathisia awareness and helped hundreds of thousands of healthcare consumers and professionals be safer. Please read the MISSD 2021 Highlights below for details on our many accomplishments your contributions fueled.
With safety at the forefront of what MISSD stands for, while disappointed, we once again will not see you and other MISSD supporters at our annual Chicago fundraiser. Instead, we will only have a mail-in and online “Stay Safe and Stand with MISSD” campaign. Most of the funds we receive are generated at this annual event and we hope you will contribute to help us reach new milestones for the coming year.
While September 20th marked our third International Akathisia Awareness Day, MISSD works every day to share this straightforward message that can save lives:
The public, health professionals and caregivers should closely monitor for any unusual behavior changes that may indicate akathisia when stopping, starting, or changing the dosage of various types of medication.
Would you please share this important message with others and support MISSD by making a tax-deductible donation online? The MISSD mission can also be supported, at no additional cost, when shopping online at Amazon by going to smile.amazon.com and identifying MISSD as the charity to which you would like to contribute.
We can’t wait to see you at the annual Chicago fundraiser next year! In the meantime, continue to “Stay Safe and Stand with MISSD!”
Sincerely,
Wendy Dolin, MISSD Founder
| MISSD 2021 Highlights • In 2021 MISSD created new akathisia billboards currently displayed in West Virginia and Illinois. Multiple media outlets provided additional coverage of our public health message. Feedback via MISSD.co has been significant, with one grateful viewer stating: “I saw your ad in Chicago today. I was driving here from Minnesota. I almost didn’t survive akathisia. Upon seeing the ad, I was so happy and started crying at the same time. Thank you for all your work. I definitely will be donating.” MISSD is exploring other states for future billboards. |
• MISSD created a third public health video “Akathisia: In Their Own Words.” It has had more than 84K views. More than 350K people have viewed our three educational videos. • A “quick-tips” sheet for healthcare professionals and consumers, which highlights akathisia symptoms, is in production and will be available for download at MISSD.co, on social media sites and via a QR Code. • A second akathisia online course, targeting medical professionals, (e.g., doctors, nurses, pharmacists), has been developed and is undergoing final review. It will be offered free of charge for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit. The “Akathisia 101” online course, available at MISSD.LearnUpon.com, continues to successfully teach mental health professionals, (e.g., psychologists, social workers), and the public, about akathisia. It is also offered free of charge for Continuing Education Units (CEU). • MISSD continues to use resources to expand our social media reach on Google and YouTube, significantly increasing our online visibility. MISSD received a Google Grant, which will further expand our online presence. • “Akathisia Stories,” the podcast series MISSD produces which features the lived experiences of akathisia sufferers and surviving family members, recently added new episodes and international coverage from “Stephens’ Voice,” an organization based in Ireland. • UpStart Strategic Partnership and Alliance recently awarded a $10,000 grant to MISSD and No Shame On U. The funds are being used to produce a ground-breaking video educating the public about suicide risks, including akathisia. The UpStart organization partners with leaders in the Jewish community to create new programming. • The award-winning documentary, “Medicating Normal,” interviewed MISSD board advisor, Kim Witczak, and founder, Wendy Dolin, on its Facebook Live series. Several people from the “Medicating Normal” documentary will be interviewed on MISSD’s “Akathisia Stories” podcast series. • MISSD participated in the online presentation, “Quieting the Silence: Suicide Awareness in the Jewish Community.” This successful presentation sponsored by the Blue Dove Foundation has had more than 3,000 views. Dolin also spoke at “Conversations that Uplift,” a three-part series featuring people who create positive change. |
