Herschel Walker Visits El Paso to Raise Mental Health Awareness

PRLog (Press Release) - Aug. 9, 2011 - Herschel Walker, former football player and Heisman Trophy winner, will be making appearances at area El Paso schools, universities and military bases August 17-18, 2011, to speak to audiences regarding mental health and chemical dependency  issues.   His message is, “Get help… I did.”

Leveraging his challenging personal experience with dissociative identity disorder, Walker, 49, will talk about his journey and how he managed to overcome his mental health challenges. During his visit to El Paso, he will encourage individuals to seek help for themselves or for those struggling with mental health or chemical dependency problems.

Walker, a former college and professional football player, played college football for the University of Georgia, where his advanced skills earned him the 1982 Heisman Trophy. His professional career with the National Football League included playing for the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants.

In 2008, Walker revealed his experience with dissociative identity disorder in an autobiography titled “Breaking Free:  My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder”. In his book, Walker shares the impact that caused him not to remember pinnacle moments of his life and nearly drove him to suicide on more than one occasion. Part of his recovery was the writing of his book.

Walker practices what he preaches.  As part of his effort to de-stigmatize mental illness, Walker volunteers at University Behavioral Health facilities and works with patients on nutrition and lifestyle to enhance their recovery.

“Herschel’s story regarding mental health illness is all too common. We see it every day with new patients,” said Kim Whitelock, CEO at University Behavioral Health of El Paso. “The difference is Herschel is a public figure, and his courageous act of bringing attention to the matter is critical for letting those who are suffering from mental health and chemical dependency problems to know that it’s okay—and help is available.”

While in El Paso, Walker will visit Fort Bliss. He will also speak with health educators at Ysleta ISD and at a Socorro ISD school assembly of nearly 1,000 students.

# # #

University Behavioral Health (UBH) of El Paso is a psychiatric hospital that provides mental health and chemical dependency care to children, adolescents, adults and senior adults. UBH has been serving the El Paso region since 2007 with evidence-based treatment proven to have positive outcomes for patients. Inpatient and outpatient care is provided through a wide range of specialty programs that are individually tailored to meet the needs of patients in the military, the women's population and the youth and senior adult population. As a community service, UBH El Paso provides free assessments. For more information, please call 915-544-4000 or visit www.ubhelpaso.com.