DuPage NAMI fights mental illness

Based on statistics from the U.S. Department of Health, one in four Americans will experience a serious mental disorder in his or her lifetime, including major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and severe anxiety disorders: “Mental illnesses are no-fault, biologically based brain disorders which cause disturbances in thinking, feeling, and/or relating.“

According to the National Institute for Mental Health, though the majority of individuals living with mental illnesses can successfully be treated, stigma and misinformation continue to be significant barriers to treatment:

Ÿ One-third of homeless people live with mental illness.

Ÿ Ninety percent of people who die by suicide have had a diagnosable mental illness.

Ÿ There are more people with serious illnesses in jails and prisons than in state mental institutions.

Congress in 1990 established the first week in October as Mental Illness Awareness Week. In DuPage County, the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) supports this through its mission to provide support, advocacy and education in order to improve the quality of life of individuals with mental illness and their families.

For those individuals who are suffering from a mental illness and their families and friends, you are not alone. NAMI DuPage stands ready to help you on your journey to recovery.

Jim Jackson

NAMI DuPage

Wheaton