Mental illness does not discriminate against anyone. It does not matter your race, sex, religion, gender, age or economical status. Mental illness can and may affect you at some point in your life. If you were to look back on the history and treatment of the mentally ill, you would see that not always was the disease taken seriously. There have been many misconceptions and myths on why a person was deemed insane or a lunatic as they were refered to. One myth was that a baby was born during the full moon and thus they became a lunatic. The word lunatic is in relationship with the moon, thus being born under the full moon. Also, the treatments of mental illness included submerging the patient into ice water and also bleeding the patient in which the patient’s body is bled from unclean mental illness. These were treatmetns that began the advocation movement for protection and humane treatment of the mentally ill person. Now almost a century later, there are many supports for the mentally ill.
One of the largest support organization for the mentally ill is The National Alliance of Mental Illness also known as NAMI. NAMI was organzied in 1979, as a grassroots organization to help bring support and aid to mentally ill people. NAMI has support centers all across the country that help people suffering from mental illness. One program they offer is NAMI on Campus. This organization is tailored towards the college students on campuses throughtout the country, and also the program is lead by college students that advocate help and support for students that may be suffering from mental illness. Another well known support system that NAMI offers is their informaton helpline. The information helpline has trained professionals that are available to answer questions and give referals to anyone that may have a question concerning mental illness. NAMI also offers an annual, national convention that brings together professionals, volunteers, and people suffering from mental illness. NAMI is the largest support organization for people suffering from mental illness, but NAMI is not the only one.
Another organization, psyweb, gives support to the mentally ill free of charge. Psyweb offers free testing, free medication information, free mental health disorder information and free membership. Also at psyweb there is a toll-free support line in which you can speak to a trained specialist concerning mental illness.
Each state also offers mental health facilities in which clients can gain access and information on how to cope with and treat their mental illnesses. In all, the best support for the mentally ill is through family, friends and therpay. There is hope and help available for the mentally ill.
