NAMI ASKS: TAKE A MENTAL ILLNESS SURVEY

NAMI is conducting a survey of individuals living with serious mental illnesses and their family members.
Help NAMI understand the real world experiences of individuals who need public mental health services.

Take Our SurveyNAMI is working with TeleSage to conduct an online survey to learn about how well states are providing publicly funded mental health services.

The survey:

* is available online through September 30, 2008;
* takes only about 10-15 minutes to complete;
* is completely anonymous (NAMI will have no way of identifying you or your family member);
* was created in partnership with TeleSage, a leading independent survey technology company.

The results of the survey will be summarized and incorporated into the NAMI report, Grading the States 2009, which will be released in early 2009.

To participate in this survey, you must be 18 years or older and have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness or have a family member who has been diagnosed with a serious mental illness (for example, schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, etc.)

Click here for more information and to begin the survey.

Know someone who might be interested in participating?
Please forward him/her this email and help us distribute this survey far and wide.

WHY MOST AMERICANS ARE “UNFAMILIAR” WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA?

In an article written by Heather C. Cobb in The NAMI Advocate Magazine, she quotes NAMI, Executive Director, Mike Fitzpatrick as saying “Americans are not sure what to think about schizophrenia.” The article is titled “Schizophrenia: A Reality Check,” and it reveals some really major statistics showing the gap between “the needs of individuals who live with schizophrenia, the needs of caregivers and public Attitudes.”

The article goes on to state that two million Americans live with this disease, and only one third receive treatment, although there is treatment available. “With medication, symptoms can be controlled successfully and 50 percent improve significantly or recover completely over time.” NAMI Advocate, Cobb, Heather C. p5.

NAMI Medical Director, Ken Duckworth served on the advisory committee for a report about how “public attitudes affect the acceptance of individuals living with the illness in the community and their access to healthcare.” The article goes on to state that the committee found it is addressed as a public health issue and a discrimination issue.

Mike Fitzpatrick states, “We know what to do to increase opportunities for recovery, but it requires public support, which depends on public attitudes.”

It is necessary to support this survey and help to change public attitude, so that more outlets for recovery are made aware of, and more sufferers get the help that is available to them.

You can find the results of the survey at HERE: