Breaking the Silence 2022

More than 600 guests and advocates joined Community Alliance at the Holland Center on October 11, 2022 for a special evening with beloved actor Sean Astin renowned for his roles in The Goonies, Rudy, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Stranger Things and more.

With candor and compassion, Sean delivered a message of hope as he spoke about his mother, Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke, and her struggles with bipolar disorder. Diagnosed in her thirties, Duke spent the following decades as a tireless advocate for mental health awareness.

In continuing her legacy, Sean urged everyone in attendance to use their own voices to build awareness around mental health issues and for Community Alliance’s whole person approach to mental health and wellness.

The event capped a wonderful day with Sean that began with a private event for individuals currently receiving services at Community Alliance. Over 150 clients attended and participated in an engaging dialogue with Sean. They shared with him their own experiences and perspectives on mental health care.

His message to them: Continue to speak up. Talk about your struggles. Ask for help.

“The only way we can change anything,” he said of combating the stigma around mental illness, “is to lead by example.”

Our sincere thanks to all our sponsors and supporters, and to those in attendance at this year’s event.  With your help and the help of advocates like Sean Astin, we are ‘Breaking the Silence’ about mental illness and extending help to more individuals and families across our community.