When Marlena “Marley” Breeding found out she and many others across the state were going to lose some of their mental health services, she decided to do something about it.

Yesterday, Breeding held her first rally to raise awareness for the need of more funding for mental health programs. She enlisted the help of some friends to set up a tent at Riverside Park in Mount Airy yesterday where people could sign petitions, talk to officials and advocates for mental health programs, and register to vote.

So far, Breeding’s petition has three or four sheets with 58 signatures on each. “And hopefully more will sign,” she said at the start of the rally yesterday.

The group planned to stay at the park until around noon, then they wanted to walk down Main Street holding up their signs that call for people to “support mental health” and “fight for our rights.” Throughout the morning, Breeding and others stationed at the rally greeted those walking by and asked them if they wanted to register to vote or sign the petition urging the government to restore funding for mental health programs.

Breeding picked the slogan “Fight for Our Rights,” because she wants more people to understand that those suffering from mental illness have rights. She wants politicians to know that when they cut funding for mental health, they are not just dealing with dollars.

“You’re dealing with my life,” she said.

With the help of a caseworker and programs such as the one available at the Gallery Group Studio in Mount Airy, Breeding said she has been able to come out of her shell. She wants others to have the same opportunity.

So she began circulating petitions, sending letters to newspapers, and planning the rally. She said through this effort she had to learn how to ask for help and how to speak up. For the rally, Breeding was able to get several local businesses to donate food and other items.

Donna Jackson, executive director of Uptown Gallery and Gallery Group Studio, said, “She’s really done all of this ... It’s just amazing how she’s been so driven.”

“Marley is trying to draw attention to the need,” said Ric Marshall, who came to the rally to speak with those who visited the booth. “With Marley’s help, hopefully more people will become aware. She’s enlightened me. What she’s doing today is a tremendous undertaking.”

Breeding has been an inspiration to Debbie Moberly, who came from Yadkin County to attend the rally. She works with several mental health committees and centers.

“Marley’s been a big help for a lot of people,” Moberly said. “She’s an inspiration. I wish there was more people like her ... There needs to be a lot more awareness.”

Moberly explained, “Because of the cutbacks, a lot of our consumers have lost their case managers, which is a big deal, because their caseworkers help them get out in the community.”

She said the caseworkers serve as advocates for those battling with mental illness. They may go with them to the grocery store to help them budget, take them to doctor appointments, help them find apartments. Breeding said a lot of people she knows in the area lost their caseworkers in July like she did due to lack of funding.

Diane Lievsay volunteers at the Gallery Group Studio, and she said many patients with mental illness can no longer come to the sessions at the gallery because their caseworkers are no longer there to bring them.

“It’s just sad, because they seem to love it so much,” Lievsay remarked.

She said the art therapy program has been a big help to a lot of people. “It’s a social outlet for them, and it allows them to express themselves.”

Marshall said of the funding cuts: “The problem of it is, you’re cutting things out of the budget that are affecting people’s lives.”

“We have to find a way to take care of the folks that they’re cutting funding from,” he continued.

The next step for Breeding is to go to Raleigh to speak before state representatives about the importance of funding mental health programs. She hopes to go there within the next month or two. She has also been asked to start a local chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness.

“I want to change everyone’s opinions about mental health rights,” said Breeding.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.