The Desert Palms Presbyterian Church in Phoenix, Arizona held a campaign at the start of the mental illness awareness week.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Oct. 4, millions of Americans suffer from mental health conditions, and it is possible that they will encounter someone who is suffering from a mental illness in their family or during their regular activities.
The church, however, said these suggestions may be useful if they were unclear about how to approach someone who could be having trouble.
Mental Illness Awareness Week
Through Mental Illness Awareness Week, people all throughout the nation promote awareness of mental illness, combat discrimination, and offer support, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness's website.
The group said it thinks that it's vital to talk about mental health issues all year long, but bringing them up during Mental Illness Awareness Week gives advocates for the cause a special opportunity to unite as one strong voice.
Since 1990, when Congress declared the first full week of October to be Mental Illness Awareness Week, activists have collaborated to organize events—no matter how big or small—that aim to raise awareness on mental illness, the group said.
Awareness Week's Theme
The theme of this year's Mental Illness Awareness Week is "What I Wish I Had Known," focusing on the influence of personal experience, according to the group.
The group said they will be highlighting the voices of those who have lived the experience each day this week as they discuss the parts of their recovery where they discovered something that might have aided them more quickly.
The schedule for this year’s Mental Illness Awareness Week was posted on the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s website.
Guide Book
Leading psychiatrist Dr. Ken Duckworth's book "You Are Not Alone," National Alliance on Mental Illness’ first publication, is here to help, according to the group.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness said this book includes tales from more than 130 people who have "been there" and know how difficult it can be to get the support they need, including those who have mental illnesses and caretakers.
Their experiences are what distinguish this book from other mental health resources, the group said.
How to receive treatment, recovery routes, the relationship between culture and mental health, and many other crucial subjects are covered in the book to aid anyone on their mental health journey, the National Alliance on Mental Illness said.
It added that the goal of the National Alliance on Mental Illness is to make recovery more approachable for individuals who are looking for it by assisting people in finding it sooner.
National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine
The National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine is a free, national peer-support service that offers guidance, support, and resource referrals to people who are dealing with mental health issues, their loved ones and caregivers, mental health professionals, and the general public.
The group said they can call the NAMI Helpline from Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., text "HelpLine" to 62640, call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or send an email to helpline@nami.org.
More stories from Crossmap:
