Opinion - Whatcom View

POSTED: Saturday, Oct. 03, 2009

Mental illness awareness week is time to learn the signs

Today, Oct. 4, marks the beginning of Mental Illness Awareness Week, and we are grateful to The Bellingham Herald for this precious editorial space. Today, NAMI Whatcom would like you to join us in being aware.

Mental illnesses are brain disorders; illnesses, not choices. They are treatable, and thousands of people are enjoying long-term recovery, leading responsible lives as our fellow taxpayers, neighbors and friends.

While funding from the state has been reduced to support behavioral programs, we are grateful to the Whatcom County Council, County Executive Pete Kremen, and our fellow citizens for supporting and passing Ordinance 2008-27, which allows the county to collect 1/10th of 1 percent in additional sales tax to support new behavioral health programs.

For example, 15 percent of the funds - or more than $335,000 - will be invested in programs to address behavioral health issues in schools. About 50 percent of the funds - or more than $1.1 million - will be invested to help stop people recycling into our jails because of behavioral health issues, which has the potential saving our taxpayers over $3 million a year over time from "frequent flyers."

The NAMI Whatcom Board would also like you to be aware of some of the free support groups, programs and services available locally to help people with brain disorders and their families.

- The Depression/Bi-Polar Association meets the second Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm at 1212 Indian St.

- This week, NAMI and its trained volunteers are launching the first weekly evening and daytime support groups for people with mental health diagnoses. NAMI Connection meetings will be Tuesdays, 6:30 to 8:00 pm at 1210 Indian St. and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. at the same address. This evidence-based, best practice group provides a caring, supportive and structured environment that focuses on support, healing and recovery. We hope that local providers, criminal justice staff, case managers, families, peers etc. will refer people to Connection as part of an on-going wellness/recovery program

- NAMI has trained more family volunteer co-facilitators to teach Family to Family, the free 12-week class for families who experience mental illnesses. We will now be able to offer Family to Family in rural Whatcom County, beginning in winter, 2010.

- One of NAMI Whatcom's concerns is the real problem people have finding behavioral health information, services and support in the smaller county communities. To address that need, and working with local providers, NAMI will send peer teams into the smaller towns to do presentations on resources, information, support and stigma from October through December.

- NAMI Whatcom has begun sponsoring a free, seven-week class, "The Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)" The class gives people with any chronic illness the tools they need to work towards recovery and stay well. The next session will begin Monday, Oct. 5, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at St. Luke's Health Education Center.

- NAMI offers free educational programs every month to the public on behavioral health issues. This month, we are proud that St. Joseph Hospital Behavioral Health Department and NAMI Whatcom are co-sponsoring "An Illness Like Any Other: Spiritual Values, Crisis Intervention & Mental Illness," 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at St. Luke's Health Education Center. Often, the first step people take towards getting help for themselves or their families is through their places of worship or our local Parish Nurse program. This program will address how clergy and nurses can successfully help in these situations with resources and communication skills.

Finally, during this week and all weeks, let us be aware of the signs of depression and suicide risk. They include (from www.nami.org):

- Change in personality - becoming sad, withdrawn, irritable, anxious, tired, indecisive, apathetic.

- Change in behavior - can't concentrate on school, work, routine tasks.

- Change in sleep pattern - oversleeping or insomnia, sometimes with early waking.

- Change in eating habits - loss of appetite and weight, or overeating.

- Loss of interest in friends, sex, hobbies, activities previously enjoyed.

- Worry about money, illness (real or imaginary).

- Fear of losing control, "going crazy," harming self or others.

- Feelings of overwhelming guilt, shame, self-hatred.

- Having no hope for the future - "It will never get better, I will always feel this way."

- Drug or alcohol abuse.

- Recent loss of a loved one through death, divorce, separation, broken relationship; or loss of job, money, status, self-confidence, self-esteem.

- Loss of religious faith.

- Nightmares.

- Suicidal impulses, statements, plans; giving away favorite things; previous suicide attempts or gestures.

By being aware, you can save a life. For more information on NAMI Whatcom programs and services, please call 671-4950.

Benita Bowen is the NAMI Whatcom Board President