NAMI Walk Raises Spirits and Funds to Support Mental Health Advocacy

Mental illness has played a major part in my life for most of my life. I realize that that is an odd admission, but let me explain. Both of my parents were medical professionals who spent most of their careers in the mental health care field. My dad was a psychiatrist and my mom was a psychiatric RN (registered nurse). My father actually co-authored a study on Thorazine (chlorpromazine) in the 1950s, which back then was thought to show great promise in treating schizophrenia.

From the age of five until I was out of college we resided in doctors' housing on state hospital grounds, first in Montana and then in Yankton, South Dakota. I also was diagnosed with depression in my 20's and imagine it will be something I will deal with for the rest of my life. My parents both had their issues with it, as do my siblings. Just another genetic thing you don't have control over, but deal with in the best way you can. I always like to quote Fozzie Bear - "We all have our bears to cross!"

The statistics on mental illness in South Dakota are sobering at best and downright heartbreaking at worst. In 2013, 147 South Dakotans died by suicide, which is often the result of untreated or under-treated mental illness. Approximately 17 percent of South Dakota's adult population lives with mental illness.

Nationally, 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 10 children, (right around 60 million people) are affected by mental illness. The impact of mental illness, (locally and nationally) on everything from the criminal justice system to the economy of businesses, is startling and public mental health services are inadequate to meet the need. That is where organizations like NAMI South Dakota come in.

NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which provides education, support and advocacy to people impacted by mental illness. A big part of their grassroots work is to simply raise awareness about mental illness and thanks to their efforts attitudes about mental illness are changing and lives have been saved.

The NAMI Walks South Dakota 5K Walk is this Saturday, May 16, 2015 at Sertoma Park at 49th Street and Oxbow Avenue. Registration starts at 8:30 AM and the walk begins at 9:30 AM. You can raise money and participate in the walk, you can donate, you can volunteer and you can cheer on the walkers. There will be all kinds of fun activities for the whole family! For more information check out their Facebook page, their website or call 605-271-1871 and speak to John Williams.