|
Welcome to the web site from the National Alliance on Mental Illness
of St. Joseph County, located in northern Indiana. Serving the cities of South Bend
and Mishawaka as well as surrounding communities.
You'll soon be able to sign up with NAMI of St. Joseph County right
here on our web site. But for now, please
contact Gail Bondo to find out how to become a NAMI member.
Of course, everyone is welcome to attend our support group meetings.
Click here for meeting schedules.
|
About NAMI of St. Joseph County
Our Mission
Provide advocacy for consumers of mental health services at the local, state and national level to protect their rights and promote an increase in quality of care. Educate consumers of mental health services, their families, friends, caretakers and the community about mental illness. Provide support to consumers of mental health services and their families, friends and caretakers through crisis intervention and emotional support.
Who We Are
NAMI-St. Joseph County is a branch of
NAMI-Indiana, itself a part of the National Alliance on Mental
Illness, an organization for people with serious mental illness, their
families, and friends. This grassroots, self-help, support and
advocacy organization was first conceived in 1978 by two mothers
who each had a mentally ill child. NAMI fights to eradicate
mental illness and to improve the quality of life for those who suffer
from these no-fault brain diseases, to provide information and
emotional support to their families, and to eliminate stigma and
discrimination.
NAMI-St. Joseph County offers a 10 week education class called
Peer-to-Peer, for those who
suffer from a mental illness. We also have a 12-week
education/support class, Family-to-Family,
for those who have a relative suffering from mental illness. A
similar course, Visions for
Tomorrow, is offered specifically for the parents of
mentally ill children. Among other things, these courses help
consumers and families learn to deal with crisis, cope in
difficult situations, understand the illnesses and medications, deal
with "the system," and move into advocacy on behalf of themselves
or their loved ones and others. All NAMI classes are free, and
you do not have to be a NAMI member to take them.
In addition, two support-group meetings are offered twice a
month--one for family members and one for consumers of the
mental health system.
A Consumer's Story
Here is a brief autobiography written by one of our chapter members:
I believe the term “mental illness” is a misnomer. An illness is something you catch, are sick
for a while, then get over and recover – like a cold, chicken pox, or
measles. A disease is something that changes your life, and is a long-term thing, often manageable, but nevertheless something you will have to live with the rest of your life – like Grave’s disease or Hodgkin’s Disease or heart disease. Why don’t we call it a “brain disease?”
As a child, I was embarrassed by my dad because he had a
mental illness. I didn’t understand at the time (1951) but he was sent to the hospital.
I made up my mind that I would never be like my dad. He was “different”
and he’d hurt my mom in so many ways. I wanted to be a good kid and protect my mom.
Well, guess what? Dad has passed on now, and here I am – diagnosed five years ago with a mental
illness, but ashamed and reluctant to admit it until just last year. The realization that I am “like my dad” has been a tough row to hoe. I don’t like it. If I were allowed a choice, I’d say,
“No, I don’t want this brain disease!” I don’t like myself when I’m moody and cry
easily. I’ve also coped with breast cancer and a subsequent mastectomy. But
the breast cancer recovery has been easier than the mental illness
recovery.
Or do we ever recover?
|
