Left to right: Debra Wentz, CEO of NJAMHAA; Tricia Baker; Katelyn Baker; Miki; Kurt Baker
Attitudes In Reverse received the Inspiring and Innovative Partner award from the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies in recognition of the small, yet highly effective and growing organization’s mission to save young people’s lives through education about mental health, related disorders and suicide prevention.
“The founders of Attitudes in Reverse—Tricia and Kurt Baker, and their daughter Katelyn — … are truly inspiring because they embarked on this mission so soon after losing their son and brother, Kenny. While coping with this traumatic loss, they also faced discrimination. This propelled their mission to eliminate stigma through community education initiatives and to save young people’s lives through mental health and suicide prevention education,” said Debra L. Wentz, CEO of NJAMHAA.
In three years, their education program, Coming Up for AIR, has been presented to more than 14,000 students at middle and high schools and colleges in three states. AIR also launched its In Their Shoes campaign to build empathy and further encourage students to seek help for themselves and friends when needed. They have also created the AIR Dogs: Paws for Minds program which brings emotional support dogs into the lives of individuals with mental illnesses and other disabilities.
More information is online at attitudesinreverse.org.
