#b#Tricia Baker: Woman of Worth#/b#
Tricia Baker of Plainsboro co-founded Attitudes in Reverse along with her husband Kurt and daughter Katelyn soon after they lost their son/brother Kenny to suicide. Their mission is to save lives by educating teenagers and young adults about mental health, related disorders, and suicide prevention.
Baker’s efforts have now been recognized through L’Oreal Paris’ Women of Worth awards, which go to “women who are true to themselves and their passion of making a difference in their communities.” Baker, as an honoree, will receive a $10,000 donation for AIR. She is now one of 10 finalists for a grand prize of $25,000. Votes may be submitted daily through Wednesday, November 20, at www.TriciaBaker.com.
“We are a 100 percent volunteer organization, and I am proud of what we’ve accomplished in just three years with our limited financial resources,” Baker said. “We are thrilled and very grateful for this recognition and financial support from L’Oreal, which will help us make much more progress toward eliminating stigma and ensuring that all young people with mental health disorders receive treatment so they can live healthy and successful lives. We are excited about the possibility of receiving significantly more funding, which would enable us to do so much more both locally and beyond our state borders — and even throughout the nation.”
The funding will enable AIR to educate many more students with its classroom presentation and its new “In Their Shoes” exhibit, which is designed to build empathy for young people who experience mental and emotional struggles; train more dogs to be emotional support animals and match them with individuals with psychiatric and other disabilities through the AIR Dogs: Paws for Minds program; expand its Annual Miki & Friends Walk & Run for AIR event; and exhibit at other community events to build more awareness of mental health and suicide prevention, as well as awareness of AIR as a resource.
“While other nonprofit organizations that focus on mental health provide valuable education, support, and other services, AIR is unique in its proactive and preventive approach. Tricia strategically focuses on the 14 to 24-year age group, based on the fact that this population is most vulnerable to the development of mental health disorders and risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors,” wrote Shauna Moses, member of AIR’s board of directors, in her nomination of Baker for this award.
“AIR is also unique in its use of dogs to encourage people to engage in conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. In fact, Tricia’s mission and determination are largely founded on the fact that these topics are not discussed as they should be. Open discussion is necessary to educate individuals of all ages to eliminate stigma and ensure people’s willingness to seek help when needed,” Moses added.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among college and high school students. Stigma is one of the most prominent barriers to seeking care for a mental health disorder.
“Clearly, education is absolutely essential to save lives. I admire Tricia and her family for taking on this vital cause and I am proud to be working with them,” Moses said. “In the short amount of time that I’ve known Tricia, I have witnessed the impact she has when she engages people in discussions, whether it’s during a school presentation or while exhibiting at a community event. I have no doubt the dogs initially attract attention; however, I strongly believe Tricia’s warmth, openness, and passion keep people engaged in conversation and foster interest in mental health and AIR.”
“Everyone’s support is priceless — just as the lives we help save are priceless. We appreciate the efforts of our board members, other volunteers and many Facebook friends,” says Baker. Visit www.attitudesinreverse.org.
#b#WW Doc Named a Leader in His Field#/b#
Jerry Bagel, M.D., a board certified dermatologist at Windsor Dermatology in East Windsor, has been named one of “Castle Connolly Top Doctors” for the 12th consecutive year. Bagel, a West Windsor resident, is affiliated with the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro practicing in dermatological specialties such as atopic dermatitis, exfoliate erythroderma, psoriasis, and other skin diseases.
