Learn more about mental illness

As this is Mental Illness Awareness Week, it is a good time to learn about how to address serious mental illnesses such as major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. One in four adults experiences a mental disorder in any given year. One in 17 adults lives with serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder.

Members of faith communities often turn to their clergy and those in caring roles for help. They are expected to guide and support families that are often by default left with the responsibility of addressing abnormal behavior in their family members with mental illnesses. They often feel at a loss about how to access mental health services in their area, and how to handle the reduced funding for the mental health services that they so desperately need, especially for those who are not Medicaid eligible. Treatment works and it saves lives.

Learn more about mental illness and support, education and advocacy to help faith communities to improve the lives of individuals affected by serious mental illnesses at www.scimc.org. Please join the public dialogue.

Robert Skrocki

Aurora

Suburban Chicago Interfaith Mental Health Coalition