Mental Illness Awareness Week focuses on changes

Treatment of people with mental illness has changed over the past three decades. The 30 years of awareness is the focus of Mental Illness Awareness Week this week. 

A recognition ceremony was held in Little Rock on Sunday evening on the steps of the State Capitol. Oct. 4-10 was designated by Congress to promote public education about mental illnesses such as major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders including obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder.

Kim Arnold, executive director of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Arkansas, said about 60 million Americans experience mental health problems in any given year. One in 17 lives with the most serious conditions.

“Mental illnesses are medical illnesses,” Arnold said. “That is the starting point for understanding, as well as treatment and recovery. Mental Illness does not discriminate. No one is immune.”

She said a mental illness such as anxiety disorder can be life altering. 

“They can’t an ordinary life if they can’t finish their ritual,” Arnold said. “Think about when you are panicky. Imagine what it would be like to feel like that all the time.”

Arnold said prior to 2005, the recognition of mental illness awareness week was marked by a candlelight vigil in memory of those who died by the their on hand because of their illness.

Arnold said while those who have died are remembered, now the focus is on those who are still dealing with or beating their illness. 

Arnold said she challenged people to determine what they can do in the community and to learn how to help people who are suffering from mental illness. 

“We need to do every little thing we can do to bring forth awareness of mental illness,” Arnold said.

In Conway, a support group meets the fourth Monday of each month at Conway Regional at the Women’s Center Entrance Education Room.

On average, people with serious mental illness live 25 years less than the rest of the population. One reason is that less than a third of adults and less than half of children with a diagnosed illness receive treatment.

“Treatment works if you can get it,” Arnold said. “We need to remove stigma and offer help in local communities. That’s a challenge that requires action. Education must precede action.”

For more information about mental illness, visit www.ar.nami.org or call 1-800-844-0381.