As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal, Rio Rancho section, Saturday, February 19, 2011
It has been said that Donald Trump, the New York real estate tycoon, suffers from more than a bad haircut; his known extreme cleanliness makes him more than a germaphobe. His behavior supports a mental disorder diagnosis called OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The recent tragedy in Tucson brought mental illness to the forefront once again. Reports surfaced that the suspected gunman was acting erratically the weeks before he killed nine people outside of a Safeway. An extreme difference from Donald Trump's excessive hand-washing, yes, but both are mental illnesses nonetheless.
Anxiety, attention deficit disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, autism, bulimia, anorexia and schizophrenia; all very common and all categorized as mental illnesses.
It is well documented that poet Sylvia Plath, author Charles Dickens, playwright Tennessee Williams and President Abraham Lincoln were all known to suffer from depression. Depression has touched my life in a number of ways, with relatives and loved ones suffering from this devastating illness.
If you have not been afflicted with any of these mental illnesses, chances are you know someone who has. Maybe it is the word "disease" that throws people off. When they think diseases, they think of infectious diseases like measles, meningitis and tuberculosis. And when someone says "mental illness," well, then surely they must be talking about someone who is really "crazy." Not true, my friends.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 26 percent of Americans 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.
NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The nation's largest grass-roots organization is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. It is gearing up for its only fundraiser of the year, and it wants your support by walking 3.7 miles to prove it.
According to Marilyn Salzman, president of NAMI Westside Affiliate (2010-12) and the 2011 N.M. Walk manager, 90 percent of the money raised here stays in New Mexico. "The money we make from the 5K is used to help fund our programs, which promote awareness, anti-stigma and advocacy for the mentally ill community and their families," Salzman said.
Last year, NAMI Westside received almost $4,000, which went to aid recovery, support and education programs right here in town. According to the NAMI NM website, the current total pledged for this year's walk is already up to $38,187. And with 85 days yet to go, they are hoping to meet their goal of $150,000.
The NAMI walk this year is Saturday, May 14, at Albuquerque Academy. Don't we all go out for our walks, jogs or bike rides on Saturday mornings anyway? Why not walk for a good cause instead of around your block this one time?
Get a team together, or get your family together and sign up at www.nami.org/namiwalks/nmd. Then send your friends and co-workers to the website where they will find you and make a donation in your name.
The stigma is slowly dissolving as awareness of mental illnesses grows. People are slowly becoming more accepting and supportive of programs like NAMI. Like the slogan says, NAMIWalks — Changing Minds ... One Step at a Time.
For more information, call 505-203-7179 or visit www.nami.org/namiwalks/nm.
Quote of the week: "In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it." — Marianne Williamson, author.
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