October is Mental Health Awareness Month. Most of us take for granted that we will always have good health, but for many millions of people -- both young and old -- that is not the case. One out of four families is affected by some sort of mental illness.
Everyone has the familiar experience of going to a medical doctor at least once in their lives, whether it is for a checkup, a broken bone or a more serious ailment like diabetes or cancer. As a nation we never seem to hesitate to take care of our physical organs, heart, lungs, kidneys or pancreas. These organs we can "see."Today, I'm asking you to "see" and become aware of the most complex yet highly misunderstood organ: the brain.Brain disorders are biologically based diseases. They occur with the unbalance of chemicals in the brain. Mental health is the emotional well being and the capacity to live a full and creative life and the flexibility to deal with life's inevitable changes.Most people have difficulty understanding that when something goes wrong with the chemicals in the brain it manifests an array of emotional as well as physical symptoms. Everyone is affected by mental health. There is no health without mental health. That is why there is a great need in this country, especially in these tough economic times, to keep stress and pressure at a minimum.That is exactly what the National Alliance on Mental Illness is trying to do. From its inception in 1979, NAMI has been dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.We are the families, friends, and individuals that serve to strengthen communities across the country. Mental illness cannot be cured but it can be managed successfully and recovery is possible. People living with a mental illness can and do go on to live productive and successful lives.Along with awareness, NAMI provides support, both for the person living with the mental illness and their family and friends. You see, mental illness does not just affect the one person; it dramatically changes the whole dynamic of family relationships and friendships.Sometimes the individual's ability to enjoy life and maintain a balance between life's activities and efforts can go awry. A mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern that occurs in an individual. Some examples of mental illnesses are major depression, bipolar (manic-depression), schizophrenia, and anxiety and panic disorders.Here at NAMI Fresno, we offer support group support to family members with adults, adolescents and children with mental illness, as well as support for the individuals with the mental illness. The next natural step is to educate and make knowledge available to people concerned with what mental health is and what mental illness is. Education courses offered through NAMI Fresno are the following: Family to Family, a free 12-week course on the topic of recovery for family caregivers of individuals with severe mental illness.NAMI Basics is a free six-week education program for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illness. For our peers with mental illness there is a nine-week Peer to Peer course on the topic of recovery for any person with serious mental illness who is interested in establishing and maintaining wellness, with an opportunity for growth to any peer.To learn more For further information, contact NAMI NATIONAL at www.nami.org , 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or 3803 N Fairfax Dr. Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203. For local help, you can reach us here in Fresno at www.namifresno.org, 559-224-2469, or at 7545 N. Del Mar, Fresno, CA 93711.