Fight the Stigma of Mental Illness

Sandy 13 minutes ago

anybody else offended by the title of that movie "The Crazies"? I mean, that really bugs me that they would do that. It's very hateful towards people who are actually sick. And NOBODY should be hating on someone who's sick.

about 11 hours ago

if ur arm was broken wouldnt u get it fixed,
if ur teeth ache u go to the dentist,
if u cant see properly then u head to the opticians,
so if there is something wrong with u mentally then people should feel free without stigma to get help, bet it with
medication,
counselling,
talk therapy
love and support from family and friends
lets hope by spreading awareness of how people with mental health problems feel , that it will reduce stigma!!

Karen about 21 hours ago

I have worked in the Mental Heath Care Field for over 20 yrs. The accomplishment speaks for itself.

Charlie 1 day ago

i'm bipolor depressed and i have post traumic stress stress i have been hospitalized twiced by my own free will for meds i have been many differnt meds and i dont think i have found one yet
one the brightside i have a great counslor and doctor but i have angery issues as well i have gotten violent with friends and family i belive i still nd help

Dana 1 day ago

i am thankful to NAMI for their dedication to the cause of mental illness. people with mental illness needlessly suffer because of the stigma, and guilt because they feel like it is their fault for not trying harder, and so many times they do not seek the help they need. if you or a family member suffer from mental illness, NAMI is a wonderful resource.

Donna 2 days ago

I WOULD HAVE TO WRITE A BOOK!! TO TELL MY STORY!! I DO KNOW THAT IF YOU ARE NOT MENTALLY HEALTHY IT CAUSES ALOT OF DISTRESS ON YOU YOUR FAMILY AND FINDING PEOPLE WHO EVEN CARE IS A DAILY TASK. IF PEOPLE WOULD ONLY STOP AND REALIZE IT'S A TOUGH WORLD OUT THERE FOR EVEN THE STRONG MINDED BUT WHEN MENTAL ILLNESS IS INVOLVED THEN ONLY MEDICATION, GOD, AND POSITIVE INTERACTION WITH OTHERS MAKES LIFE WORTH LIVING. THE HARDEST THING OF ALL IS THE MISEDUCATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND IT'S TREATMENT ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. WHEN WE BEGIN TO TREAT THE MIND WE BEGIN TO SOW THE FABRIC OF OUR NATION BACK TOGATHER. AMERICA NEEDS REFORM IN AREAS THAT CAN'T EVEN BEGIN UNTIL WE PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF OUR STATE OF MIND. FRAGILE MINDS DESERVE THE UTMOST RESPECT THEREFORE LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF AND SHOW A LITTLE KINDNESS SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE MOTO OF EVERY AMERICAN!! BESIDES ITS A PREREQUISITE OF HEAVEN!!! A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE ESPECIALLY ONE THAT ONLY NEEDS A LITTLE HUMAN KINDNESS AND UNDERSTANDING! PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AND WE CAN PROMOTE AMERICA!!

Michelle 3 days ago

NAMI is such a great support system for people. More people should utilize it.

Myles 4 days ago

I have just had a meeting with my local adult college with regards to another mental health awareness event. I know that not everyone lives close enough to be able to attend but, if you'd like to contribute a written account of living and coping with mental health issues or perhaps a poem or short story that could be ...displayed or read out at the event, I'd be very grateful for any contributions.

The event is tentatively set for Tuesday 20th April but is subject to whether I can get enough organisations and people involved.

Thank you for your time in reading this long and boring announcement.

Together we can fight the stigma of mental illness

Crystal 4 days ago

i have a lil brother that was perfectly normal an the one day he woke up at the age of 18 an was never the same since he was diagnosed with schizophrenia its a horrible disease taht i hope noone has to go through we used to be so close i miss him! but with his meds hes fine not the same way he used to be but good he cant work, an rarely leaves the house, but with the help an love of are family he will make it!

Joseph 4 days ago

My 12-year old son has diagnoses of bipolar-I and Asperger's. He was 7 years old when initially diagnosed, was hospitalized for about 7 weeks last summer, and has never been completely stable. I am here because I think advocacy groups need to find common ground so they can band together to more effectively advocate for the mentally ill. I am tired of reading articles with quotes from doctors who think I'm an incompetent parent who has been misled by the pharmaceutical companies into poisoning my own child. I'm frustrated by the silence of family and friends who don't seem to know what to say. I'm weary of the stares from strangers who occasionally offer to call the police when meltdowns happen in public. And, I'm appalled by the incarceration and execution of so many with mental illnesses in my home state of Texas. We could take a lesson from the gay community, which has been very effective in advocating for greater acceptance in a relatively short span of years.

Dee 5 days ago

As a psych nurse, I see every day what a widespread problem mental illness is, what a stigma still exists about it, and how much need there is to provide services to people in need of them. So do whatever you can, including supporting legislation for improvements to mental health care. THANKS!

Linda 6 days ago

1 out of every 4 people suffer from mental illness. In some cases, it would seem there are definite genetic tendencies. In some families, the number of sufferers outnumbers the "well" ones. This has been true in my family. Looking at our recent histories, it is becoming more prevalent.
It was so painfully poignant in 2006, when we lost 2 mentally ill nephews to suicide ~ within 3 weeks of each other. All living relatives stood ready to participate in research. We hope more can be done to treat these horrible diseases. In the midst of the shock of the 2 suicides, we had to make funeral arrangements, and we made the calls to locate Researchers doing post-mortem studies. I spent hours on the phone. I found the researcher, who told me how to proceed. He tried to talk with the coroner to tell him that the study would pay for all expenses for his time, supplies, and sending the tissues to the Researcher in Boston. The Coroner would not speak to the researcher. I called feverishly leaving messages for the coroner as there was a time limit involved in procuring the tissue. In our case, the opportunity was lost. A shame, as we had 8 living relatives with mental illness that could send DNA as well. We need established protocols in all morgues for these cases.
If 25 % of the population has mental illness, why aren't we as a society doing all we can to solve this huge problem.
When the Swine Flu was predicted, look how much was spent to track it, identify it, treat it, develop vaccines for it. Luckily, so far, it has not effected the large numbers once predicted. Indeed, much less than 25% of the population. If we TALK ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS, we can GAIN FUNDING FOR RESEARCH.

Sharon 7 days ago

Stop Ignorance, support the overall health and well-being of people, remember your drunk uncle and the auntie that talks to herself, they don't do it for because they like being that way, it has a name! Every family has at least one, it is only shameful when it's ignored, degraded, untreated, etc. It's like diabetes, u don't treat it kills not only the individual, but the family members have to suffer as well!!

Tony 8 days ago

Help others find peace so they can live with themselves for a start!

Denise 8 days ago

I've lived with mental illness all my life and had many struggles with everyday life. Learning and researching about my mental illness has helped me to understand what life is about and how to function in the world we live. Thanks be to God for my family and friends who help me along life's journey. Help with the cause so, we all can help each other. Thanks and many blessings...

Peggy 11 days ago

Please help this cause if all you do is pass this to other people that you know to get this out there that they need support and help. Thank you for your help and concerns in this matter. As always may God be with you.

Thabo 12 days ago

JOB SEEKERS WITH DISABILITIES IN GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA...

Please forward your CV's to vpg@mweb.co.za in either Microsoft Office Word 97-2003 format or PDF. Also state what disability you have... eg. paraplegic, deaf, etc.

12 days ago

Hey all, I've been living with it for at least 25 years. I have found that most medicines don't work for me and what does work is my own tough love, research, meditation and just doing my best to make through the tough days knowing tomorrow may bring a better day. Eating right also helps though not always possible. I send prayers and strength to all who have this condition cause even if you want a good day it doesn't necesssarily happen. Thank you to ALL of you that have joined this group to support this cause, Sincerely Terry :)

Kimberly 13 days ago

I've found that not looking at my illness as a embarrassing death sentence helped. I had to first accept that I had the illness before I did any better at managing my symptoms. Oh man..the drama I caused by just ignoring the issue and any help. Grrr..
Doing your reasearch, learning how YOUR body responds to treatment, associating with positive friends and fam, having a sense of humor about it helps too!

Russell 13 days ago

I have a firm belief and knowledge that a person who battles with mental illness cannot find the things that will help them heal, without the sincere comfort and support of family and friends. I've tried to commit suicide twice in my life because of not understanding my illness, but the love of those who truly care in my life has helped me to understand it enough to value the worth of love, over giving in to adversity. I thank God for my family and friends!