This is the second in a series about mental health.

Life can be full of ups and downs, and it’s no different to someone with a mental illness. But people often have an added struggle dealing with a stigma not only from society but through their own eyes as well.
It can start early — a child on the playground might be stereotyped as the “strange one.” A coworker or family member doesn’t know how to respond, thinking maybe they are dangerous because they have a certain mental illness. This leads to distancing, creating social isolation.
“One of the biggest challenges for someone living with a diagnosed mental illness is the lack of understanding of their illness by society which perpetuates stigma,” Tracy Brooks said.
Brooks has seen firsthand the stigma her son, Chad, faced after being diagnosed with a bipolar disorder.
“It was like Chad had been stamped on the forehead with ‘flawed.’ He saw himself as broken, unworthy, less than,” Brooks reflected. “It was heartbreaking to watch it tear him down. In a very short time all of his self-confidence was gone.”
White picket fence
It’s an idyllic notion — raising a family in a beautiful home complete with a white picket fence and a dog, a fruitful career, traveling…the mark of success.
Stigma, on the other hand, is defined as a “mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.”

Through no fault of their own, many affected with mental illness are surrounded by stigma. The key to breaking the pattern of stigmatizing is through education and awareness.
Brooks, a Rochelle resident, explained why she shares her family’s story that began over a decade ago.
“We are not unique, mental illness is very common. Any time I have disclosed Chad’s illness, almost always, the person I am talking to shares that they or someone they know has a mental illness,” she said.
Many can attest that sharing their own personal struggles with mental illness or of those of family members can be powerful medicine. So often people think they should keep quiet about it — much like the “hear no evil, see no evil, say no evil” image.
Brooks is a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, an organization that supports those who face mental illness.
“Ask yourself if you have stigmatized some of the following metal illnesses more than others:  Autism, Alzheimer’s, Bipolar Disorder, Anorexia or Bulimia, Parkinson’s, Schizophrenia, Stuttering, Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder,” Brooks began. “These and many more fall under the umbrella of mental illness. Prior to my education I know that I did,” she admitted.
Unfortunately there are so many people suffering in silence because of undue stigmas placed on them. It is through NAMI that individuals afflicted as well as their families find hope.
Brooks and her family found hope through a 12-week education program, “Family to Family.” By sharing her family’s story, and through these series of articles, Brooks is helping to provide awareness and some of the facts she has learned, along with some insight into living with mental illness.
She shares that Chad has made tremendous strides with his mental illness years later, has been employed and has been in college for the last two years with a 4.0 grade point average.
“Education and understanding are the only way to overcome anything in life,” Brooks said. “Fortunately, things are going well now. After years of depression, medication changes finally worked and Chad has been well for almost six years. It takes a lot of strength to fight an illness like this and we are so proud of him. He worked very hard getting to this place. Even at his lowest points, he was diligent about attending psychiatrist appointments, counseling, and compliant with medications.”

Support
“Our hope is that by sharing our experience and offering support with NAMI’s family programs, we can make someone else’s journey a little shorter and a little less challenging,” Brooks said. “If we don’t share our stories then stigma wins.”
Chad is a trained speaker for NAMI’s “In Our Own Voice” program and is an advocate for those with mental illness. Brooks said that even though the current 12-week “Family to Family” program has already started, there is room for anyone that still wants to join, but they would need to do so quickly.
The class is being held at the Medical Arts Building in Dixon on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
NAMI Sauk area also offers two Family Support Groups. One is held the fourth Tuesday of each month in Dixon at Sinnissippi Centers and other is held in Rochelle at Faith Lutheran Church on the second Thursday of each month. Both support groups are held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information on the Family to Family or the support groups, please call Tracy Brooks at 815-761-7654.