Stand Up and Be Heard
Mental Illness affects one if every five people. You probably know many people who are living with a mental health condition right now. And yet for many it is a silent struggle. And the less mental health is understood, the more stigma takes root. When individuals and families share their stories, they help reduce stigma, offer hope that recovery is possible, and show people they are not alone.
Share your personal experience as an individual living in recovery or as a family member affected by mental illness.
What I Wish You Knew About PTSD and Veterans
By Nikki Dawson, Graduate Intern at NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania One of the biggest disconnects between civilians, and veterans and service members, is the myth that if we’ve been to war we have posttraumatic stress disorder. [...]
Recovering Successfully: Five Steps to Follow
By Shawn Pfeuffer 1. Determining what stage of recovery you are in. Many of those living with a mental health condition are in different stages of recovery. There are simply so many levels of recovery [...]
The Possible Impossible
By Cara Lyons Ever since I was young, I have always had a strange fascination with hospitals. While my parents hated hospitals because they reminded them of death and dying, I couldn't help but be [...]
Nine Thoughts on Schizophrenia
Nine Thoughts on Schizophrenia By DJ Jackson 1. Violence. I’ve been a consumer in the mental health system since 1997 and I’ve encountered about 3 people (all men), that have what we call ‘The Violent [...]
Out of the Darkness
By Jeffrey T. Fitzwilliam I experienced social anxiety when I was only five years old. I couldn’t speak to anyone, especially girls, all of my elementary school years. In 1958 there was NO awareness or understanding [...]
Life is a journey, not a destination…
By Gayl Augello: My life has been anything but dull, this is for sure! My diagnosis came while I was in high school. It came after a mental break after trying to be too strong, [...]
Recovery is a Process
By Lizzy: My first break with reality came when I was 25. It was the summertime, and I was a high-school teacher who had my summer off. I was severely depressed and would stay in [...]
This Is Our Mom
By Libby Mascaro and Sam Kane: This brother and sister team created a beautiful video of their mom Mary Lou for the NAMIWalks. Their team, Mary Lou's Krew, is our top fundraising team of 2015. [...]