| The National
Alliance on Mental Illness Works
to Fight Depression and Other Mental Illnesses
NOTEWORTHY NOT FOR PROFIT
Published in WE Magazine, Nov-Dec 2005 Issue
© WE Magazine 2005 All Rights Reserved
By James W. Jordan, Executive Director
The public is beginning to get the message that clinical
depression is a serious mental illness, and that we need to recognize
the symptoms and seek appropriate treatment.
It is estimated that I in 5 families will have a member
with a severe mental illness- schizophrenia, obsessive/compulsive,
bipolar, major depression or anxiety disorder- during the course
of their lifetimes. These are all disabling illnesses that are
biologically based. Mental illnesses touch virtually everyone.
Depression can affect anyone 
More people suffer from depression than you might think. Depression
strikes people of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnic groups. In any
given 1-year period, 9.5 percent of the population, or about 18.8
million American adults, suffer from a depressive illness. Nearly
twice as many women as men are affected by a depressive illness
each year. The following are some symptoms related to depression:
• Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed
• Change of appetite or eating patterns
• Change in weight
• Changes in sleeping patterns
• Loss of energy feeling tired all the time
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Extended period of sadness
• Thoughts of death or suicide
Up to 20% of the general population will experience depression during
their lives. If you or a friend has some of these symptoms, seek
assistance from your physician, a psychologist or psychiatrist.
Remember, treatment works. There is hope.
Widespread Stigma
According to the World Health Organization, mental illnesses are
the second most common disabling disease entity (behind cardiovascular
disease and ahead of cancer) in the world. And yet, there is little
public recognition of these diseases, due to the widespread stigma
that translates into lack of adequate care, resources and treatment
for those with a mental illness.
NAMI Pennsylvania
Founded in 1983, NAMI PA is the largest statewide non-profit organization
dedicated to helping mental health consumers and their families
conquer the challenges posed by severe and persistent mental illness.
Central to our purpose is that recovery is possible.
Many talented women have worked to strengthen NAMI
by providing leadership, guidance and support throughout the Commonwealth
and at the national level. Suzanne Vogel-Scibilia, M.D., a psychiatrist,
is president of the NAMI National Organization. Carol Caruso, a
mental health professional, is President of NAMI Pennsylvania and
was recently elected to the National Board at NAMI. Jyoti Shah,
M.D., is Vice President of NAMI Pennsylvania and President of the
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society. Marge Chapmen is secretary of
NAMI Pennsylvania and President of Dauphin NAMI. While too numerous
to mention, over 50 percent of all NAMI PA Affiliates are headed
by women. We are fortunate to have the dedication, ideas and leadership
of these women in our organization.
NAMI’s threefold mission- support, education
and advocacy- is accomplished through programs designed to offer
support and education to our membership and to advocate for better
services and treatment on behalf of mental health consumers.
NAMI PA has more than 60 affiliates, and several thousand members
meet across the Commonwealth in support of our mission on a regular
monthly basis.
Our affiliates have at their core support groups run
by volunteers from families who live with a family member with a
mental illness. NAMICAN- Child and Adolescent Network, is for young
families; NAMI CARE- Consumers Advocating for Recovery- is a peer-based,
mutual support group program for individuals facing the challenges
of recovering from any mental illness; In Our Own Voice offers unique
insight into the hope and recovery now possible for people with
severe mental illness, presented by people who have been there.
Our signature education program is the Family to Family
Education course for members who have adult children with mental
illness. This 12-week course is offered by our affiliates at no
cost to participants.
NAMI also reaches out by offering educational programs
specific to the needs of families of children and adolescents, mental
health consumers, health care providers and others. Peer to Peer
offers free mentoring by consumers for consumers. Provider Education
helps staff at provider agencies understand the hardships that families
and consumers endure, while helping them appreciate the courage
and persistence it takes to find ways to reconstruct lives.
Our NAMI Forensic Training believes that education
about brain disorders at all levels of the judicial and legal systems
is crucial. NAMI believes that mental health authorities must work
closely with correctional and law enforcement agencies to develop
strategies for compassionate intervention, jail diversion, treatment
of individuals with brain disorders who are incarcerated, and effective
reintegration of inmates into communities.
NAMI PA strives to work with and educate leaders in
government, business, community organizations, family members and
consumers. NAMI’s guiding principal is that mental illness
is a disease and like other diseases, treatment works. There is
hope and people get better.
Visit the following site for information on depression:
http//www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm
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