Last Monday, two speakers from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) came to Gustavus to present “In Our Own Voice”, a 90-minute seminar designed to reduce stigmatization, as well as address misconceptions about mental illness.
The talk was co-sponsored by Psi Chi, Nu Rho Psi, and NAMI. The nation’s largest mental health organization, NAMI seeks to provide support and advocacy for those who face mental illness as well as to educate the general public about how to support friends and family who may be going through mental illness.
“We thought this event would be beneficial for students to learn more about what it’s like to live with a mental illness… [as well as] further educate students on the stigmas surrounding mental illnesses,” Jenny Williams, Vice President of Psi Chi, said. “We thought it would be especially interesting to psychology students who are learning and interested about these types of topics, as well as other students from other majors who have a general interest.”
“Doing presentations is important for me – to put another face to someone with a mental illness,” Marcie, a Gustie Grad, said. She, along with fellow NAMI presenter Kim, discussed their own personal struggles of dealing with mental illness.
“Silence literally does kill.” – Kim
While public perception of and treatment for persons dealing with mental health conditions has improved greatly since NAMI was founded in 1979, many misconceptions remain, treatments are often of inconsistent effectiveness, and many still do not get the care they need, in part due to stigma surrounding mental illness. Currently, 1 in 5 Americans are dealing with mental illness.
“[Many] people living with mental illness go about their everyday lives and successfully fulfill their roles at work, home and in their community, just like all of us,” Psi Chi’s Kimmie Hoang said. “Gusties can ‘make it count’ and put an end to the stigma. With better understanding, we can support people around us [by getting] the help they need and to get back on their feet.”
Sadly, too many persons with mental health conditions struggle to find proper treatment and support due to misconceptions held by themselves and those around them. Just like physical health conditions, dealing with mental health conditions requires proper treatment and self care.
Persons with mental illness are often afraid to reach out for support, as they are often brushed off by those around them, or not provided proper care by an overstretched mental health system. Even with awareness of mental health rapidly increasing, mental health spending has somewhat flatlined over the last 25 years, and states have cut 1.8 billion dollars from mental health care during the recession.
Those who do receive care often are forced to travel hundreds of miles, far away from their loved ones and local support systems, to get that care. Most young people with mental illness haven’t been treated for it. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for Americans ages 15-24, and 1 in 12 college students have planned a suicide attempt.
As Kim and Marcie took care to stress, with a combination of proper medications and psychiatric treatment, self care and coping techniques, and caring support from friends and family, persons with mental health conditions can live wonderful and fulfilling lives, defined not by their conditions but by the gifts they bring and share with the people around them. Indeed, millions of Americans are doing just that. Mental health professionals recommend talking and checking in with friends.
“Silence literally does kill,” Kim said. “A friend calls you to ask, ‘do you want to talk about this, you now have this ability to communicate and offer support. You talk for 15 minutes, you could save a life.”