Most humans pull, pluck, and pick at their hair, skin and nails in small amounts. But when these behaviors become excessive, they are considered disorders and can cause a lot of suffering.

Most people keep mental disorders like Major Depression, PTSD, and Social Phobia a secret, because they fear being—

• Rejected by family & friends
• Harassed
• Fired or not hired
• Denied child custody

So far, attempts to end this discrimination and fear have been led by a few strong individuals. But strength also comes in numbers. Every year, 50 million U.S. adults have a mental disorder—if just one out of every 50 admits this, without shame or embarrassment—

• Others will learn that mental disorders don’t come from personal weakness, and don’t make people violent or unpredictable.
• More people will feel comfortable seeking treatment. Two thirds of people who need treatment don’t ask for it.
• We will help each other stand up to discrimination.

So, if you have a mental disorder or illness—

Join anonymously. Wait for 999,999 others. Come out together, one million strong.

Publication of the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in May 2013 will mark one the most anticipated events in the mental health field. As part of the development process, the preliminary draft revisions to the current diagnostic criteria for psychiatric diagnoses are now available for public review.

Give an Hour™ is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), founded in September 2005 by Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a psychologist in the Washington, D.C., area. The organization’s mission is to develop national networks of volunteers capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions that arise within our society.