NAMI’S GOALS
- To provide support to families coping with the problems presented by mental illness.
- To educate the public and our members about severe mental illness so that perceptions change and stigma is eliminated.
- To advocate for a system of adequate care in every community.
- To increase support for research from the federal government and from private sources.
Here, you can begin to feel comforted that there are others, like you, in search of information, support and advocacy for families affected by the severe mental illness of a loved one. You are not alone. NAMI-VT is here to provide those affected by mental illness with support, education and advocacy.
NAMI-VT is a grassroots, volunteer organization of individuals and organizations who have joined together for to improve services for persons who are diagnosed with mental illness. We support education, research, and other efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination against consumers of mental health services and their families, which will finally lead to better understanding and eventual cures for this common health disorder.
WHAT IS MENTAL ILLNESS?
'Mental illness' is a term used for a group of mental disorders that cause severe disturbances in thinking, feeling, and relating. They result in substantially diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. Brain disorders can affect people of any age - children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly - and they can occur in any family. Several million people in the U.S. suffer from a serious, long-term brain disorder. The cost to society is high, due to lost productivity and treatment expense. People with mental illness occupy more hospital beds than people with any other illness.
Those with mental illnesses are usually of normal intelligence, although they may have difficulty performing at a normal level due to their illness.
FACTS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS IN VERMONT
There are over 42,000 adults with serious and persistent mental illness in Vermont. Of these, 70% are not in treatment, 85% are unemployed, and 40% are homeless or paying more than 60% of their monthly income for housing.
While our mental health system has emerged from the dark ages of institutional warehousing of the mentally ill, much still must be done to promote adequate, appropriate and accessible services and housing for persons with no-fault neurobiological brain diseases. NAMI-VT works actively with legislators, area board and community support systems to promote high quality care.
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