Confusion about thoughts and feelings regarding mental illness is natural, but National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is here to help. Last week was mental health awareness week, during which the NAMI club continued to work on breaking the stigma of mental illness.
At their booth set up in the ZONE, the club showed pictures of dozens of celebrities who are dealing with mental illness. “We are trying to humanize it (mental illness),” club member Laurel Smith said. “There is a stigma with other people trying to get help.”
The club’s mission statement is as follows: “The NAMI club at UVU is made up of students who are committed to providing accurate and timely information to the student body about the struggles, the successes, and the needs of all those who are affected by mental illness. We welcome all who share this vision.”
Mental health services are available on campus at the student Health and Wellness Center, as well as all over Utah County. Among the facilities are The Gathering Place and Wasatch Mental Health.
The main message the club was trying to convey was that mental illness is treatable and it affects nearly everyone. The club is trying to create a more positive look on mental illness.
The NAMI club is open to all who are looking for answers to questions about the mental illness that affects their lives.
For more information:
President Shay Clark: sclark1986@msn.com
For help:
Crisis Lines:
Utah County Crisis Line: 1-801-226-4433
Wasatch Mental Health Crisis Line: 1-801-373-7393
National Crisis Line: 1-800-784-2433
24-Hour Crisis Line, Salt Lake City: 1-801-483-5444
Websites:
NAMI: nami.org 1-800-950-6264
American Psychological Assoc.: apa.org 1-800-964-2000
National Mental Health Assn. Info: nmha.org 1-800-969-6642
