Author’s Note
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five American adults experiences some form of mental illness in any given year, and one in every twenty adults lives with a serious mental health condition like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or long-term depression. Yet less than half receive mental health care.
If you are one of the millions who face mental illness, or you care for someone who does, you know that it can be hard to talk about. Everyone’s journey and experience is different. It might feel like no one else could possibly understand what you are going through. But you are not alone.
Help is available, not just for those with mental illness but also for their loved ones. Please take care of yourself. It’s important to manage stress and find support. NAMI provides information and suggestions on their Web site and may be a good place to start:
NAMI helpline: 800-950-NAMI