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NAMI Walk Seeks To ‘Stomp Out Stigma’

Amy Gamble, left, and Patti Young of the National Alliance on Mental Illness display signs for the upcoming Stomp Out Stigma NAMI walk on Saturday. The walk is a fundraiser for NAMI community programs and the Marian House drop-in center in Wheeling. Photo by Betsy Bethel

On the path toward mental health, stigma is the greatest obstacle that is completely preventable, said Amy Gamble, executive director of the Wheeling chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

“The No. 1 reason people don’t get treatment is because of stigma, and that’s something we absolutely have control over,” Gamble said.

To raise awareness about mental illness and the work NAMI does in the community, there will be a Stomp Out Stigma NAMI Walk on Saturday at Wheeling Park’s Schwertfeger shelter and Good Lake.

“We need to not use words like crazy, psycho, wacko and looney. We need to know that when someone can’t get out of bed, they’re not lazy,” Gamble said.

She added mental illness should be looked at as any other illness. “We wouldn’t hesitate to go to the doctor if we had a broken leg. Why wouldn’t you go to the doctor if you’ve been in bed for two weeks?”

Gamble, a native of Sherrard, said her own feelings of shame kept her from getting the treatment she needed for bi-polar disorder. The former Olympian said the high level of shame, blame and discrimination associated with mental illness only can be changed through a communitywide dialogue.

“We need to bring people out of the shadows and into the light,” she said.

One way to do that is to share the experiences of famous people who have mental illness. At the walk, there will be posters showing celebrities and quotes about their illnesses. Celebrities who have struggled with mental illness, Gamble noted, include pop singer Demi Lovato, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall and former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy.

“It helps for people to feel they are not alone,” she said.

Gamble is the Wheeling NAMI chapter’s first executive director, although the chapter has been active in the area for many years, holding a monthly support group and operating the Marian House drop-in center for people with mental illness on 18th Street in East Wheeling. The dozen-member board hired Gamble to work part time about a year ago. Three additional part-time employees — Patti Young, Jesse Krall and Bianca Benson — work at the Marian House, which is funded by a grant through the Department of Health and Human Resources.

Gamble’s emphasis is on community education, including NAMI signature programs “End the Silence” and “Family to Family.”

“End the Silence” is geared to middle and high school students to teach them about various forms of mental illness and the common signs and symptoms.

“It’s really encouraging young people to be OK with talking about mental health,” Gamble said. Students at Moundsville Middle School will receive the curriculum in the spring. Gamble said the program is available for any teacher to use.

“Family to Family” is an educational program for family members who have loved ones with mental illness. It’s an eight-week course, during which participants learn about how to interact with their ill family members and how to take care of themselves.

In addition, Gamble is working on implementing a project called “In Our Own Voice,” in which people with mental illness record their stories to share in a presentation that will be available to church and civic groups, as well as to law enforcement and other professional populations.

Money raised at the walk will help purchase materials and training for these and any additional programs NAMI may choose to offer.

Registration begins at 10 a.m., with the walk starting at 11 a.m. There will be a DJ, free pizza provided by DeFelice Bros. and raffles.

“We’ve had amazing community support,” Gamble said, including 25 cash sponsors, basket and gift certificate donations, and more.

There is a fee to attend the walk, with a discount for registering before Saturday. Registration is available online at www.RunSignUp.com.

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