Group begins the battle with mental illness stereotypes

After hearing continuous derogatory remarks having to do with mental illnesses, Meredith Canada decided something needed to be done to educate students.\n"People say unbelievable things, using slang about mental illnesses," Canada said. "It is important for people to understand that a mental illness stems from a chemical imbalance and must be treated, just like heart disease or diabetes."\nCanada had personal experience with mental illnesses and was already involved with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. NAMI is a non-profit, grassroots organization that was started by family members of people who have mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar illness, major depressive illness and other severe mental illnesses that affect the brain. NAMI has affiliates all over the country and after Canada saw what students on campus thought of mental illnesses, she realized there was a lack of education. So she decided to start an on-campus group: NAMI-IUB.\nAfter months of hard work and dedication, NAMI-IUB is ready to have its voice heard on campus. Canada, who is the group's president, said she hopes an organization like this on campus will help eliminate the stigma that comes with mental illnesses. \nThe group plans to invite guest speakers on campus who have personal experience with mental illnesses and hopes to offer support for students who have personal experience with mental illnesses, Canada said.\nDr. Jill Bolte Taylor, an adjunct lecturer in both the Department of Kinesiology and the Department of Medical Sciences at IUB, has a brother who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. She became involved with NAMI in 1992 in hopes of educating people about the biological basis of mental illnesses, Canada said.\nBefore experiencing a stroke in 1996, Taylor was on the NAMI National Board of Directors.\nTaylor said an organization such as NAMI can aid in the awareness of mental illnesses, which are under-addressed, especially on college campuses.\n"It is important for students to recognize that some of the first signs of mental illnesses hit men between the ages of 15 and 25 and women between the ages of 18 and 30," Taylor said. "That is an entire age bracket of college students."\nNAMI-IUB's Vice President sophomore Abi Peterman joined without having any previous knowledge about mental illnesses. She knew that mental illnesses were a serious and prevalent issue on college campuses and wanted to become more informed about illnesses from an outside view she said. Peterman said she hopes her example of someone without any knowledge on the subject will aid in getting students involved with NAMI-IUB.\n"I hope that people can see me, someone who is on the student board of NAMI-IUB and has no experience with mental illnesses, and realize that there is something we can all do to help raise awareness," Peterman said.\nBoth Canada and Peterman look forward to offering support to people who are personally affected by mental illnesses and educating fellow students on the subject.\n"Hopefully we can get rid of the stigma that trails behind mental illnesses," Canada said. "That way people who are experiencing a mental illness won't be so hesitant to get help. Everyone has something to contribute, even people who are not personally affected."\nFor more information about NAMI-IUB contact Canada at mlcanada@indiana.edu.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Monica Dix at mcdix@indiana.edu.