Hello, my name Carmy Santoro and I am Mike’s sister.

I am very proud of Mike’s accomplishments and even more proud that Mike decided to take his personal experience with mental health and use it to help others who are diagnosed with a mental illness. We are all unique and what works for one is not necessarily a recipe that works for everyone but there are elements that are always true such as NEVER LOSE HOPE, REMAIN POSITIVE and GIVING UP IS NEVER AN OPTION.

When Mike was diagnosed, our family did not know where to start in order to help Mike. It was over 25 years ago and things have changed and evolved since. There are resources now but unfortunately they are not well known.

There are great efforts being made by our political leaders to educate and break down prejudices about mental illness. You may have seen ads on TV or radio or billboards that invite us to break the silence of mental illness. Prejudice is the cancer of mental illness because at times it prevents people from seeking help for fear of being labeled as a mental patient. We all have a role to play in eliminating prejudice and accepting people with mental illness as being complete beings who have rights and dreams and also the right to dream of a better future for themselves.

MikesStory.com is a site that invites you to follow the story of Mike, who in spite of his mental illness is a person who contributes significantly to our society.

Welcome to you all and hope to meet you one day.

Till next time, keep well
Carmy Santoro