ABOVE PHOTO: Phyllis Hyman (AP Photo/Rene Perez)
By Kenny Gamble
On [June 30], 1995, I received a call that saddened me to my core.
Nothing was average about Phyllis. She commanded a room like not many people I’ve ever met. She was beautiful, intelligent and had all the charm in the world when she wanted to use it.
Over the years that Phyllis worked with us, I got to know her on many levels and the issues she had in her personal life seemed to outweigh the aspirations she had in her professional career. She experienced much success during her career, but I truly believed she had just started to scratch the surface.
Living with the bipolar disorder was a difficult challenge for Phyllis, and we all did our best to help navigate her through the pain that haunted her. She will forever be missed and we can only pray she’s at peace.
I think we all know someone who may have or is going through challenges with mental health, but it’s important we are informed of these different disorders so we can get our loved ones the help they need to live a healthy and productive life.
Sometimes even when you know what you have to do to remain healthy, you make choices that can alter your mind state just long enough to have a permanent effect. On this day, highlighting the week of the ladies from the PIR family, we celebrate the life and legacy of one of the greatest vocalists and performers to ever do it. We love and miss you Phyllis.
For more information about Mental Health Awareness, here is one of many options to become more informed. The time to focus on this issue has long passed, so let’s start the conversation and help each other out. visit: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net
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