Doña Ana County NAMI chapter sheds light on mental health conditions

July 31--LAS CRUCES -- Las Cruces resident Daisuke Alba, 21, who was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 2014, said living with his mental health condition has been humiliating.

"Anybody else can focus and be a steady person in all aspects of their life, and while I may be really useful and happy and good for a month, I will definitely have a crash next month and can't work or do laundry and can't hardly sleep, and really just take up space," Alba said.

Schizoaffective disorder is a chronic mental health condition that includes symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations or delusions, and symptoms of a mood disorder, like mania and depression, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

While society may not always be very understanding of people living with mental health disorders, Alba said he was able to find help and support in dealing with his condition by attending meetings hosted by NAMI Doña Ana County, the local affiliate of NAMI. The volunteer-run organization provides support, education and advocacy for people diagnosed with a mental health issue, their families and loved ones and the general public through regular meetings, educational classes, community mental health resources, advocacy in state and local government and mental health awareness and fundraising events like NAMIWalks, held each year in different states throughout the country.

"It's made me realize that although (my condition) may be crippling, there are so many ways to be helpful to the community and your friends and family and to not be as much of a weight as you think you are," Alba said about NAMI-DAC meetings. "It's given me a safe space where I can express my symptoms and emotions and not be judged as just a lazy person."

Kimmie Jordan, president of NAMI-DAC and NAMI New Mexico, said meetings and classes offered by NAMI-DAC help people living with a mental health disorder learn about their condition, how to manage their symptoms and live a full healthy life. The organization also provides meetings and classes for family members, so they can better understand and help their loved one, as well as find support from families going through similar situations.

"One in five people in the U.S. lives with a mental illness," Jordan said. "That's a whole lot of people, but there's not a whole lot of talk about it. It's about letting people know it's OK to have a mental illness and it's OK to seek treatment because you're not alone."

Micah Pearson, vice president for NAMI-DAC, said when he took a class for people with mental health conditions offered by NAMI about 10 years ago, it changed the way he viewed having a mental health condition and the way he viewed others.

Pearson, 38, was diagnosed with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and attention deficit hyperactive disorder. He was initially diagnosed with a mental health condition when he was 9 years old. However, he didn't get a full, correct diagnosis until he was 35, he said.

"There's some people who think it's the end of the world (to be diagnosed with a mental health issue)," Pearson said. "For me, it was revelation. It answered a lot of questions."

Pearson said for people living with a mental health condition, it's important to be your own advocate.

"No one can really speak for us if we don't speak for ourselves," he said. "No one really knows what we're dealing with. Our family members want to be there for us in a lot of cases," but they don't always know what having a mental health condition means, he said.

Alba said he encourages others to get involved with NAMI-DAC because it gives people the opportunity to open doors for themselves and not let their condition stop them from living a productive life.

"As comforting as it is to just stay in your room and not do anything, gathering the courage to step out and reach out to someone is definitely worth it," he said.

For more information about NAMI-DAC meetings, classes and upcoming events, call Jordan at 575-649-8518 or Pearson at 510-770-6264 (NAMI) or visit nami-dac.org.

Alexia Severson may be reached at 575-541-5462.

If you go

What: National Alliance on Mental Illness Doña Ana County

Meetings:

--Peer-to peer support group: 7 p.m. every Monday at Unitarian Universalist Church, 2000 S. Solano Drive, in the red classroom of the Religious Education building.

--Family support group: 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at Peace Lutheran Church, 1701 Missouri Ave.

--Public board meeting: 5:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at Peace Lutheran Church, 1701 Missouri Ave. Open meeting for the general public follows at 6:30 p.m.

Info: Call Micah Pearson at 510-770-6264 or visit nami-dac.org.

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