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NAMIWALKS raises funds and awareness for mental illness
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Posted by editor Wed Nov 30, -0001 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments NAMIWALKS is a nationwide program launched in 2003 to move serious mental illness into the forefront of America's consciousness.  Since that time 150 NAMIWALKS have been held.

NAMI KERN an affiliate of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) National held its first NAMIWALKS for the Mind of America at Yokuts Park in Bakersfield on Oct. 13. What started as a damp cold morning turned into a wonderful exciting day. The goal was to raise the awareness of these terrible brain disorders, to educate the public, to advocate for our affected loved ones and to help eliminate stigma about mental illness.

We were able to accomplish just that with approximately 500 people in attendance. Family and friends gathered together in various team t-shirts of brilliant colors to show their support. Money earned in Tehachapi will be used to support and expand NAMI's signature education programs. These include: Family-to-Family, a free 12-week course that discusses the clinical treatment of these illnesses and teaches the information and skills that family members need to cope more effectively. Peer-to-Peer, a free 9-week course for consumers that offers individual relapse prevention planning, storytelling week and an advance directive for psychiatric care. NAMI CONNECTION, a one-and-a-half hour support group lead by consumer trained facilitators for consumers. NAMI CONNECTION will be starting a group at the Family Learning Center on Nov. 7 and will meet weekly. Contact number is 822-4639. A Peer-to-Peer class will be starting in January 2008. Contact Jane Roberts, 822-5391 for information. 

NAMI also holds quarterly informational meetings that feature guest speakers offering information pertinent to the lives of caregivers. For example, accessing information about services available, dealing with issues of SSI/SSDI, receiving information on special needs trusts, or dealing with the arrest of a loved one.
NAMI’s next meeting will be held Nov. 15, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at St Jude's in the Mountains Episcopal Church. NAMI is in Tehachapi to support each and every family that must deal with these often overwhelming illnesses. For further information please contact Jane at 972-0319 or 822-5391.

Mental illness in America
Mental illness is not often discussed openly in family groups, let alone at schools, churches, at work, or in other public places. However, NAMIWALKS have begun to change that situation. The walks are a very public display of our support for persons living with these illnesses. Mental illnesses are very common; however, lack of healthcare causes disability and often, premature deaths for adults and children with these serious mental illnesses. 

Statistics released by NAMI National in the NAMI Advocate indicate that an estimated one in four adults have a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year; five to seven percent have a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, major depression, or bipolar disorder, and about five to nine percent of children have a serious mental disorder. Adults with serious mental illness die 25 years younger than other Americans. People with mental illness are five times more likely to have a co-occurring medical condition, for example diabetes or heart disease. Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the United States for ages 15 to 44. Finally, suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in the United States, but is the third leading cause of death for people 10 to 24-years-old. Of those, more that ninety percent of people who die by suicide have a history of mental illness. 

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