“OCD Delaware, a newly established 501(c)(3) organization and affiliate of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), is aiming to change the face and understanding of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) within the state.

Newly founded by board members Mackenzie Reed, RN (president); Kathleen Rupertus, PsyD (vice president); Gina Raciti, PhD (secretary); Brian Ashenfelter, PsyD (treasurer); Amelia Serine, PsyD (pediatric outreach); Jeff Pincin, LPCMH (adult outreach); and Sidney Lodge (young adult representative), the organization joins alongside a network of 33 affiliates across 35 states.

Mackenzie, a registered nurse and advocate of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), spent years isolated to her bedroom due to the disorder.

“This is not an uncommon occurrence, and I want others to know there is hope and a way out — even when it may not feel like it. Establishing OCD Delaware, I hope, will play a major role in this.”

Joined in leadership by Rupertus of the Anxiety & OCD Treatment Center of Wilmington, the two bring a combination of lived experience and clinical expertise in furthering the mission of the IOCDF, which is to ensure no one impacted by OCD and related disorders suffers alone.

OCD affects approximately 2 to 3 percent of the population — more than 5 million people in the United States. Despite its prevalence, OCD often remains misunderstood, representatives said.

“Many people think OCD is about being clean or organized,” Mackenzie explained. “In reality, OCD is a serious and often debilitating disorder marked by obsessions and time-consuming compulsions that can surround any fear and significantly impact and isolate an individual from every aspect of their life.”

The launch of OCD Delaware comes in time for OCD Awareness Week, observed Oct. 12-18, a global initiative to reduce stigma, raise awareness and highlight the experiences of those living with OCD. As part of this year’s observance, Delaware Legislative Hall in Dover will be illuminated on Oct. 13 and 14 in recognition of OCD Awareness Week. The symbolic lighting is designed to represent hope, visibility and support for those impacted by OCD across Delaware.

For more information, resources or to get involved, visit www.ocdde.org or the International OCD Foundation at www.iocdf.org.