O
n June 1, 2013, siblings Libby Mascaro and Samuel
Kane lost their mother, Mary Lou, to suicide. Mary
Lou had battled bipolar disorder for 25 years, and had
continually suffered from the stigma that often accompanies
mental illness.
Following their mother’s death, Mascaro and Kane pledged to
use their tragic loss as a platform to help eradicate the fear and
shame often tied to mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar
disorder, anxiety and depression.
“When she died, I vowed that I would help try to end the
stigma associated with mental illness because no single person
should have to suffer not only from their actual illness, but also
from the abandonment that can occur,” says Mascaro, 39, of
Upper St. Clair.
They channeled their determination into action. While at a
National Alliance on Mental Illness conference in 2014, Mascaro
asked if a gala had ever been held in Pittsburgh solely for mental
health awareness.
“The general consensus was that there had not been one in
Pittsburgh. So, we decided then and there we were going to do
it,” says Mascaro.
After a year of planning, Pittsburgh’s first annual Green Light
Gala was held on Dec. 1 at the Heinz History Center. The event’s
mission: to raise awareness that mental illness is both common
and treatable, and to eliminate the stigma associated with the
d isease.
Nearly 300 people attended the gala, which was catered by
the Common Plea. The nine-piece Move Makers Band provided
entertainment, and a live auction was held for a painting donated
by renowned Pittsburgh artist Johno Prascak. Mascaro and Kane
co-chaired the event along with NAMI Southwestern PA board
member Kathy Testoni.
“One of our goals was to create an atmosphere of fun and
conversation, even though we were discussing a topic that is
often hard to talk about,” says Mascaro.
The gala raised approximately $136,000 for NAMI.
“It was exactly what my sister and I had envisioned—a fun
and light evening, centered around a very tough subject,” adds
Kane, 41, of Mt. Lebanon. “It was a time for us to see that our
mother did not die in vain and that strides are being made to
eradicate the archaic and unnecessary stigmas associated with
mental illness.”
Approximately one in five adults—or nearly 20 percent of
the U.S. population—suffer from some degree of mental illness,
according to NAMI. Nearly 60 percent of those never seek
treatment.
“I lived my life with [my mother] and her illness for many
years and I saw the daily struggles she experienced,” says
Mascaro. “I truly believe the stigma associated with mental
illness is what killed my mother.”
Mascaro adds that she and her brother saw firsthand how
people who suffer from mental illnesses don’t typically benefit
from the same type of support those with physical illnesses
receive. Her mother, a former nurse, struggled to maintain her
job, as well as relationships with friends and family.
“No one sent her a card or flowers. No one brought her
dinner or took her out to lunch. It was very hard to look at my
mother, who was beautiful and kind, and think that she was sick,”
she says. “My mother was incredibly kind and loving and sweet
and smart. She was a nurse for many years and a grandmother
who adored and loved her two children so very much.
“If she [had been] losing her hair or losing weight or fatigued
and tired all the time and missing work because of a physical
illness, the outcome would’ve been different. She would’ve been
surrounded by friends and family. Everyone would comment on
how strong she was for fighting an illness. She did not get any of
that, simply because she had a mental illness.”
Her brother agrees, pointing out that mental illness can seem
“foreign” to anyone who doesn’t have firsthand experience with
it.
“Witnessing our mother’s treatment from the public and from
some family and friends was almost as bad as dealing with the
illness itself,” Kane says. “There is a terrible misconception that
those with mental illnesses are weak or can ‘snap out of it’ if they
want. It is deplorable.”
The Green Light Gala was a way to initiate a much-needed
discussion about mental illness, according to the siblings.
“We would have been happy with a decent amount of money
raised, but the most important thing was the people there who
talked about mental illness and started the conversation,” says
Mascaro. “I’ve had many people reach out to me and tell me how
thankful they are for my brother and I being so open about our
mother’s suicide and for having the gala. I know we’ve helped
many people and it’s just the beginning.”
For more information about NAMI or to find help for mental
illness, visit namiswpa.org. ■
“No one sent her a card or
flowers. No one brought her
dinner or took her out to
lunch. It was very hard to
look at my mother, who was
beautiful and kind, and think
that she was sick.”
Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2017 | icmags.com 27