Why we support NAMI

NAMI’s mission is to eradicate mental illnesses and improve the quality of life for persons of all ages who are affected by mental illnesses. NAMI works to fulfill its mission by providing support, education, and advocacy. Mental illness probably isn’t what you think it is – it is not what is portrayed on the TV, but rather an illness that can and does affect many people just like cancer or heart disease does. You will probably be surprised of the long list of famous people that have suffered with a mental illness that includes:

	Abraham Lincoln – said by some to be the greatest president, suffered severe and incapacitating depressions
John Daley – PGA tour pro and winner of the British Open – lives with Bipolar Disorder
	John Nash – Winner of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize in Economics has lived with paranoid schizophrenia for years
Margot Kidder – who portrayed Lois Lane , lives with Bipolar Disorder
	Patty Duke – the legendary actress wrote a book about living with her Bipolar Disorder
Terry Bradshaw - who led four Pittsburgh Steelers teams to Super Bowl Titles, suffered with clinical depression
	Winston Churchill – One of the world’s great leaders suffered with manic depression

Unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, suicide and wasted lives are resulting symptoms of untreated mental illness. Today’s treatments for mental illnesses are highly effective with up to 90 percent of individuals treated having significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life, but to recognize and treat mental illness requires the education, support, and advocacy that the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides on behalf of the individuals and families stricken with mental illness.