VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: NAMI Syracuse aims to improve mental health in the local community
Shayna Lakin: The stigma surrounding mental health is discussed often in today’s world. But what can be done in our local community to help those who are struggling? Syracuse is home to a branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, that is working to help the local community. Kate Hayden volunteers at NAMI Syracuse and says that the upcoming election will greatly impact the organization and others like them.
Kate Hayden: “There is a lot of funding that is out there, but depending on which incumbent gets in, so we have to get the word out how important it is to keep NAMI and Homefront funded.”
Lakin: As many people struggle to reach out for help for themselves or their loved ones, NAMI Syracuse provides resources and outreach programs to help those in the Syracuse community. Vice president of NAMI Syracuse, Joe Ridgway says one in four families in the United States is affected by mental illness, but the stigma surrounding it still exists.
Joe Ridgway: “I met a guy who said to me, ‘I am the king of Egypt’ and I said ‘wow, I’ve never been a king, what’s that like?’ And we began a dialogue. You know, a lot of folks, at least in the past, would have said ‘oh you’re crazy’ which is a horrible word, but you can open a dialogue.”
Lakin: While this week is Mental Illness Awareness Week, NAMI Syracuse is working year-round to emphasize the importance of mental health in our local community.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week, and the Syracuse National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is celebrating the work they do in the community to help those struggling with mental health and to help their families.
NAMI Syracuse has provided mental health resources for over 500 families in the Syracuse community since 1981.
“I just think that with mental health there’s so much stigma and misinformation, disinformation that it’s important to do something about that, or try,” said Joe Ridgway, vice president of NAMI Syracuse.
Upcoming local elections may also have a large impact on NAMI’s ability to continue providing their extensive resources and outreach programs considering these are free to the public.
“There is a lot of funding that is out there, but depending on which incumbent gets in. So we have to get the word out how important it is to keep NAMI and Homefront funded,” said Kate Hayden, NAMI Syracuse volunteer.
Even though this Thursday is World Mental Health Day, NAMI Syracuse provides valuable resources year-round for the Syracuse community and works to end the stigma surrounding mental illness.