The “Battling Mind Striders” will continue efforts of “compassion and advocacy”
From Jacob Witter, Lead advocate and co-founder pictured with supporters
The month of May 2025 was our 1st BMS (Battling Mind Striders) Schizophrenia Awareness Month. It has given me a new perspective about schizophrenia and other mental health issues. I’ve learned the importance of compassion and advocacy. It’s important that we all work together to end the stigmas attached to mental health issues. People don’t understand it unless they experience it or know someone with it. Those who know me are huge advocates and have used compassion to understand the issues I go through. Understanding is another term I’m using to let everyone know that those with mental health issues have different triggers that can cause issues in our lives. Something as simple as a cough can cause a trigger emotion. I’ve learned that not all schizophrenics are the same just like everyone is different. Remember to never give up because it’s more important for you to be here then to have those that love you attend your funeral.
I wrote something for the last event for Schizophrenia Awareness Month. I’ve been taking time to reflect on myself, the issues I go through, and what I need to do to help others and even myself. I’ll be taking the month off in June as The Battling Mind Striders have been doing a lot this past year. However, in September we’re doing a take-out pulled pork dinner, and in October for World Mental Health Day, we’ll be doing a volunteer clean-up event @ Hart Comfort House of Allegany County, NY.
“Welcome to the final event of our Schizophrenia/Mental Health Awareness Month.
The goal of The Battling Mind Striders was to create awareness and work to end the negative stigma of having a mental health diagnosis. BMS started as an idea of becoming an outlet for like-minded people that wanted to advocate, learn, and support our mental and physical health – we did this by having weekly walks. You don’t have to have a mental health diagnosis to be a part of BMS.
Thank you for attending any of the events we’ve held this month. I’ve learned a lot from each event. I want to say “Thank You” to everyone that has given support and those that helped me create this group and these events. Thanks to my family, my friends, and my new friends and to the community…and of course, thank you to God. We are blessed to be a part of something bigger than ourselves – it’s been an amazing year since BMS was first started.
Special thanks to Hart Comfort House and to Catholic Charities for supporting me during our very first keychain fundraiser and awareness walk in 2024. These two organizations accepted me as a volunteer, and it’s been a blessing ever since. They help me so much.
Congratulations Crystal!”
Thank you to my mental health teams because without them and their advice and counseling, I wouldn’t be on the medication I’m on and I couldn’t lead the life I am now on my own. I have an Xbox, a rowing machine and an elliptical machine. I even ran my first virtual ultra marathon in January. I’ve fought through some up-hill battles, but I did it. I’ve been blessed. Don’t ever give up!
I want to mention a few things happening in the future (if you want to help…just let me know).
On September 28 at the American Legion here in Wellsville, we’ll be doing a pulled pork take-out dinner.
In October, we’ll be doing a Volunteer Fall Clean-Up Day at Hart Comfort House here in Wellsville.
My number and email can be found on the BMS flyer if you want to volunteer, if you have any questions or if you want to donate to the BMS High School Scholarship fund. I’d appreciate it if anyone would be willing to write a brief statement about what you learned from this event or any other event you attended. Please email me your statement ASAP.
Our BMS walking group will be starting up again on June 7 at 10:00a.m. at the Catholic Charities building on Pearl St. Check out Facebook for more info, too.
After the movie, we will draw the name of the winner of the bucket of prizes – so stick around. Please know that I’m always here for you and please remember never to give up!
Now… let’s begin the movie!”
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The movie, “A Beautiful Mind,” ended our Awareness Month by helping people understand the struggles schizophrenics go through. It’s important to remember that not all schizophrenics are the same. So, when you are learning about schizophrenia and even other mental health diagnoses, know that everyone experiences things differently even those who don’t have a diagnosis. I’m blessed for having the chance to sponsor all these events and I’m proud of myself for getting out of my comfort zone and do what I needed to do to use coping mechanisms that help me every day.
Read the previous news in the Sun about the 1 mile walk:
Quotes from those who attended the month-long events:
Tina Francisco: I’m so proud of my nephew Jacob. I’ve watched him go through some darkest valleys. It has been a struggle, but he has accepted his diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. It’s a challenge for him every day, but with his Faith in God and the army that surrounds him (his family, medical team, counselor friends) he is overcoming. He has a heart of gold and has a desire to be a blessing and help those who struggle with mental illness. Thank you so much Jake for not allowing this illness to consume you but to make you a stronger person. It’s been a joy to see you give to your community. If you’re struggling, know you’re not alone and you are loved.
Megan Freeman: Mental health matters — and so does understanding.
Schizophrenia runs in my family, and I’ve seen firsthand how deeply it impacts lives — not just through the condition itself, but through the silence and stigma that too often surround it. That’s why walking with Jacob today meant so much. He’s not only living with schizophrenia — he’s living with strength, honesty, and hope. Let’s stop the stigma. Let’s start the conversation. Mental health is health. And no one should walk through it alone.
Shayna Clark: My friend deals with schizophrenia every day and I experience mental health issues too. It’s great to have a friend that I can talk to and learn from through us living with not the same mental illness, but we are able to talk to one another about issues we experience
Tim Witter: Schizophrenia is very important to me because my son lives with it. He battles everyday but is doing so much better now since being on Clozapine. I rely on God for support as him living with this disease has changed my whole perspective on mental health. I just want anyone out there to know that if you’re struggling to reach out.
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I want to say thank you to everyone who attended these events and supported the Awareness Month. Thank you to the community and organizations that helped make this month a success. Just remember, when you feel like giving up, DON’T!
