There is hope and there is help. That’s the message that mental health speaker and accomplished country musician Jason DeShaw is imparting on July 2nd in Grapevine, TX.

Jason DeShaw is visiting the Lone Star state to bring a message of hope and recovery. DeShaw is a songwriter and musical performer born and raised in Montana.He was diagnosed in 2010 with bipolar disorder and alcoholism while on tour in Canada. DeShaw began the road to recovery and turned to music as a way to deal with his own mental illness.

What has emerged from DeShaw’s journey is a performance that is nationally acclaimed: Serenity in the Storm. This presentation weaves together his powerful story of recovery with songs of hope,and original music that follows the vein of Johnny Cash and Woody Guthrie.

Jason DeShaw has toured across the United States, Canada, and Europe and released five albums. In 2014, DeShaw received the Champions Award in Washington, D.C., from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), recognizing an individual with a mental illness who reduces stigma by “exhibiting courage, leadership and service on behalf of all people living with mental illness.”

The event will take place on July 2, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.It will be at the Palace Arts Center (Palace Theatre) on 300 South Main Street in Grapevine, TX. Presented by Metrocare Services of Dallas and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the event is FREE and open to the public.

“I saw Jason DeShaw’s presentation and it was the most moving and impressive thing I’ve ever witnessed in relation to helping people understand the essence and importance of mental disorders,” said Dr. Matt Byerly, Director of the Schizophrenia Research Program at UT Southwestern.

Ninety percent of the people who die from suicide are suffering from serious mental illness. Mental illness and addiction are epidemics in our society. Many people face their struggles alone, afraid to speak to others about their experiences. Open communication can have a positive effect on reducing the stigma and encouraging individuals who need help to seek it.

“Jason is a beacon of light in the dark world of mental illness,” said John Doran, director of public relations at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana. “Mental illness and suicide are all too real in America, and there is no better message of hope than from Jason.

“I’ve always been a fan of Texas. I was born into a cowboy culture in which I was taught to carry the load alone. We have to let people know that true strength is reaching out for help when it’s needed.” said Jason DeShaw. “Mental illness isn’t just a matter of health. It’s a matter of humanity.”