ACADEMY AWARD WINNING ACTRESS SPEAKS OUT ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

Dr. Grupe with Patty Duke (Anna Pearce)

The seed of an idea for a radio program on recovery from Mental Health and substance abuse challenges began in October 2007 some months after the publishing of an autobiography revealing my personal addiction recovery. Since then, an amazing number of guests have shared their personal transformations on the program. Academy award winning actress Patty Duke (Anna Pearce) spent an entire hour on the radio show that I co-hosted weekly with Donna Wood, CADC. What a wonderful life changing story she shared!

The weekend before the interview I read her autobiography “Call Me Anna”. A remarkable book which all should read. Patty (Anna) and her husband Mike Pearce recently came to Oklahoma City to support an important fund raising event coordinated by the Oklahoma Mental Health Consumer Council. What a thrill to have this picture taken with such an accomplished actress! After all, I’m still a kid at heart who remembers spending many hours viewing the Patty Duke Show back in the 1960’s.

Singer/composer Paul Williams receives award at the Oklahoma State Capital

Dr. Grupe presenting award to Paul Williams

Dr. Grupe presented singer/composer Paul Williams with a special award from the Oklahoma Citizen Advocates for Recovery and Treatment Association at the Oklahoma state capital, fall 2008.

It was such a delight to meet and visit with the composer of such a number of enduring pop hits from the 1970's including several of the Carpenters hits, most notably "We've only just begun" which I used as part of the theme during my presentation of the award to Mr. Williams. The amazing progress being made by many advocacy agencies and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is best summed up in "we've only just begun."

The massive movement toward universal availability and quality of treatment for both mental health and substance abuse challenges in Oklahoma is rapidly gaining momentum as more folks from all walks to life are willing to share their recovery stories.