Guests: Nancy Abraham, founder of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness); Dylan Abraham, living with schizophrenia; Lindsay Wallace, Executive Director, NAMI Dane County
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) got its start in Madison, Wisconsin 40 years ago when a small group of families advocating for support for their children diagnosed with mental illness gave birth to what is now a national organization with chapters all over the country. Nancy Abraham was one of NAMI’S original founders after her son, Dylan, was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
On tomorrow’s program, Nancy and Dylan Abraham and Lindsay Wallace share their personal stories dealing with the issues of mental illness.
As Nancy looks back to those early days when Dylan was diagnosed after graduating from high school, Dylan describes the dynamics of living with schizophrenia over the decades and how through proper treatment and support his life became stabilized and productive. Recently retired, today Dylan is a remarkable spokesperson on helping people better understand the realities and complexities of mental illness.
Lindsay Wallace’s personal journey with mental illness provides additional insight into her leadership role at NAMI Dane County. She describes confronting mental illness today and NAMI’s current efforts to decriminalize it and divert individuals away from jail into community-based treatment.
This is the topic of NAMI’s 2018 Awards Banquet and Gala, Thursday, April 5, 5:30-8:00 pm at Monona Terrace: STEPPING UP: DECRIMINALIZING MENTAL ILLNESS IN DANE COUNTY, with keynote speaker, Judge Everett Mitchell. Anyone wishing to attend may purchase tickets at namidanecounty.org/banquet, or call 608-249-7188.
