The voice of mental illness

Oct. 28--A special event tonight at the Majestic Theater in Centerville will offer a glimpse into living with mental illness.

"In Our Own Voice," sponsored by South Central Iowa National Alliance on Mental Illness, the local organization of the NAMI, consists of two individuals who will talk about living with mental illnesses.

"In Our Own Voice" starts at 6:30 p.m. tonight and is expected to last one hour. There is no admission fee and the public is invited.

Two speakers from Des Moines, Terri Shipman and Phoenix Shipman, will share their stories of living with mental and health challenges and achieving recovery.

"The personal and educational components of this program dispel many myths surrounding mental illness," according to SCINAMI press release. "Most of all, the message provides hope and opportunity for everyone. Participants will develop a more positive attitude towards mental illness. Recovery is a continuing process of growth."

April Shondel, 26, of Cincinnati, is no stranger to the recovery process. While not a presenter, Shondel has been living with mental illness since child birth.

Shondel said she was born with paranoid schizophrenia. Then she was hit with post traumatic stress disorder, which was brought on by neglect and abandonment by her parents while she was in her childhood and then anxiety issues from paranoid schizophrenia.

Shondel said the easiest part of dealing with her mental health issues was it came on at an early age so she has been able over time to figure out how to cope with it and figure out what her triggers were. If it had happened later in life, Shondel said, she may not have been able to deal with it.

"I think I was better prepared, I guess, because I had it at an early age," Shondel said. "It wasn't easy. It was rough. The more I figured stuff out the easier it got. Recovery is not a destination. It's a journey."

Shondel works for Community Health Centers of Southern Iowa as a peer support specialist since June of 2014. She has a 2-year-old son, Kasen, and lives with her grandmother.

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