More services for mentally ill thanks to NAMI Far North

Due to the efforts of many in this North Idaho community, people are finally opening up and talking about mental illness and its effect on not only the ones who suffer from it, but on their friends and family as well.

Since it was established in February 2007, the Sandpoint chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness, NAMI Far North, has come a long way in educating people on this seldom talked about disease. The result? A variety of programs that have helped to make mental illness less of a stigma and enabled those who have long felt isolated to finally get the help they need.

“I believe that the most important part of our work has been the monthly meetings and support groups,” said Ruth McKnight, the group’s president. “These events are not spectacular or particularly headline-grabbing, but they have created a consistent, persistent, reliable presence of people concerned about mental illness in the community.”

McKnight said that since the group was founded in February 2007, it has grown from five to 63 dues-paying members.

“(We have) regular attendance in excess of 30 people, and we have had over 40 at several meetings,” she said.

In 1990 the U.S. Congress established the first week in October as Mental Illness Awareness Week and for the last few years NAMI Far North has marked the occasion by hosting community events to educate others.

This year is no different. Next week the group will again bring the subject to the forefront when it hosts a presentation by internationally-known child and adult psychiatrist Dr. Foster W. Cline at Sandpoint’s Panida Theater. Cline is perhaps best known for his popular book, “Parenting with Love and Logic.”

Cline’s presentation will reflect the theme of this year’s Mental Illness Awareness Week – Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives. “Dr. Cline will share challenging and inspiring stories of mental illness, treatment, recovery and hope, based on his long experience and wise perspective,” said McKnight. The presentation will be free of charge, but McKnight said NAMI Far North will gratefully accept donations at the door and is also holding a raffle to help defray the costs. NAMI Far North has several programs it uses to reach out to those in need of support including monthly educational meetings and support groups, a monthly newsletter, a telephone helpline, a library and more.

According to McKnight, NAMI Far North has been the only source of support for many who are affected directly or indirectly by mental illness.

“Idaho’s mental health care system is struggling because of its basic organizational structure and role, and because of revenue and budget issues,” said McKnight. “Many Idahoans have limited access to care, and especially in rural and frontier areas, and do not get the treatment they need for improvement and recovery. NAMI Far North has become the only voice many of these people have.”

She is proud of the work NAMI Far North has done to help reduce the stigma that has long been associated with mental illness and is grateful that people are turning to the organization for the help they need.

NAMI Far North has also given those with mental illness a voice.

“We have invested in formally training a number of our members who have mental illness to make public presentations and to facilitate support groups for their peers,” said McKnight who encourages people who have felt isolated to attend one of NAMI Far North’s meetings. “Our meetings are confidential, emotionally safe places for sharing the difficult burden of being mentally ill, or of loving someone who is.”