ROCHELLE — Mental illness is no different than any other illness. It happens to people of all ages, races, creeds, and both male and female.

Much like many other illnesses, it affects not only the individual afflicted, but also their loved ones. The illness impacts families, often leaving a feeling of despair, not knowing where to turn.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, (NAMI) one in five adults have a mental illness or know someone that has a mental illness, and Rochelle resident Tracy Brooks wants everyone to know they don’t have to suffer in silence.
Speaking from the heart, Brooks shares her story she titled, “Everyone Knows Someone.” 
“My ‘someone’ is our son, Chad,” Brooks began. “It is with his permission and blessing that I share my journey as the mother of someone with a mental illness and how it changed the course of all of our lives.”
Brooks together with husband, Mic, reflect on a day in October of 2006. Their son had missed three days of school, and although Chad had told them he felt sick Tracy said he “didn’t look sick.” While getting ready for school on the fourth day, Chad experienced an anxiety attack.
“I asked him to sit next to me, I put my arms around him and asked, ‘what is going on?’ He collapsed on my lap sobbing and said ‘I think there’s something wrong with me.’”
Chad admitted an overwhelming sense of fear happened all the time, whether it was in school, with friends or even at home. He was eventually diagnosed with a general anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder. At the time Chad was a sophomore in high school.
That day nearly 11 years ago started the Brooks family on a path so many have faced when they or a loved one is diagnosed with a mental illness. Although Chad was on medication, his schooling suffered and the anxiety returned. Brooks said he was then prescribed an anti-depressant, which caused manic symptoms.

“He was put on several new medications but none of them could pull him out of the depression. He couldn’t make it back to school so he got his GED right away,” Tracy said. “He isolated himself for the next five years trying medication after medication to recover from the depression that stole his life.”
Depression is just one of the many illnesses under the “umbrella” of mental disorders. Tracy said she feels it is not only important to share her family’s story but also because it might generate more of an understanding about mental illness because it affects everyone not just the one person in five afflicted.
She points out that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide; 18-22 veterans die from suicide every day (Nat’l Inst. of Mental Health); serious mental illness costs America $193.2 billion in lost earnings every year; 24 percent of state prisoners have a recent history of a mental condition; in Illinois it costs $10,000 more a year to incarcerate someone with a mental illness as opposed to providing them with treatment (Nat’l Inst. of Mental Health).

Knowledge is power
Listening to Brooks share her story, one can understand how passionate she is to help others gain an understanding on the vast topic of mental illness. She has learned that there isn’t a timetable for mental illness as it can surface at any time. The amount of information on mental illness can be overwhelming to learn, and as Brooks admits, “nothing prepares you for parenting a child or caring for a loved one with a mental illness.”
After joining NAMI, Brooks heard something profound — mental illness being described as the “no casserole” illness.
“If you have cancer you are likely to receive visits in the hospital, notes, cards, meals that were prepared for the family, prayers, support for treatment, and a ‘welcome back’ when recovery happens,” she said. “This does not happen with mental illness. I do not believe it’s a lack of compassion so much as a lack of knowledge. People don’t understand what the family is going through and just don’t know what to do.”
Another valuable source of information that Brooks shares is the fact that mental illness is biological, occurring in the brain that affects behavior. All of the lessons taught to a youngster about being responsible for their behavior normally applies outside of the mental illness spectrum. But those with a brain disorder do not choose to lose control. 
“With a brain disorder, whether it’s Alzheimer’s or schizophrenia, the individuals, through no fault of their own, can lose their ability to control their behavior,” Brooks said. “The good news is that mental illness, even the most serious, is treatable and recovery can and does happen.”

Finding hope through support
Brooks found hope with NAMI through a 12-week educational program, “Family to Family,” and discovered there are many others that are going through the same experiences. On Sept. 12, NAMI Sauk Area in Dixon will be starting a class.
NAMI also offers two family support groups:  In Dixon at the Sinnissippi Centers on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.; in Rochelle, there is a support group held on the second Thursday of each month at the Faith Lutheran Church, also from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“NAMI Family Support Groups are unique because they follow a structured model, ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to be heard and get what they need,” Brooks said. “It encourages empathy, productive discussion and a sense of community. You’ll benefit from other’s experiences and discover your own inner strength. You will also hear stories about recovery and experience hope, maybe for the first time in a long time.”
For more information on the “Family to Family” 12-week program, or about the family support groups, please call Tracy Brooks at 815-761-7654.

This article is the first in a series. Watch for more on this topic in an upcoming News-Leader editions, including the surge in the jail population of those affected with mental disorders.