On the top shelf of my closet is a shoebox wrapped in striped, metallic wrapping paper. What’s inside are pieces of notebook paper written to my son, Michael, when he was going through addiction. These notes not only have words of encouragement on them, but were also an exercise for me in letting go
Serious mental illness (SMI) and criminal justice involvement (CJI) have become synonymous for too many people in our community. We must debunk the myths about people with SMI and criminality. This starts with the fact that people with SMI are far more likely to be the victim of crime than a perpetrator and mental illness is
I facilitate a peer-led support group called the NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group for Black men. The men who attend the group have all been accused of felonies. They also have all been diagnosed with a mental health condition, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD and depression. Some do not believe they have a
By Brooke Johnson This year, I decided to write about Black History Month. Naturally, I get excited when I can talk about my personal experiences to help people understand the bigger picture. However, as I started to write a title for this blog, I could feel my heart rate rise, my hands begin to
I don’t know how else to put it, but lately it seems like my brain is broken. I’m not functioning with the mental quickness I’m used to. I find myself struggling to locate words I want to use, like “vigilant” (it took me a full day to remember it). Sometimes when I’m especially tired
When COVID-19 surged across the world, it exposed flaws in various systems and sparked the need for change. My life became impacted in a similar (but much smaller) manner. I am a recent college graduate, who prides myself on leadership involvement in several extra-curriculars, having a large group of close-knit friends and achieving academic
Depression is a common mental health condition that can show up in a variety of ways. If you live with depression, you could have chronic symptoms, like a generally low mood you can’t shake. Or you might have major depressive episodes a few times a year. You might also notice symptoms changing or worsening over time. Sometimes,
By Jason Jepson I have schizoaffective disorder. Part of how I manage it is by taking anti-psychotic medication. Currently, I take two anti-psychotics, and with that help, I often have symptom-free days. On a symptom-free day, I do not hear voices. I do not get paranoid about my neighbors. And I do not experience
You really don’t need to check the CDC’s website again. You probably do need a break, though. Take a breath and give yourself a pat on the back. You’ve successfully managed to look away from breaking news long enough to find some resources that might actually help with your stress. That’s no easy thing
Parents and educators have been trying to figure out how to explain the events of January 6th, 2021 to their children and students. This social story is meant to try to explain what happened at the United States Capitol in a simple and neutral manner. To view the infographic, click here.