#IWillListen event set for Northwest
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This logo was developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to represent the nationwide campaign to fight the existing stigmas surrounding mental health. A local event, called “A Gathering of Support,” will take place from 2-4:30 p.m. Monday, April 20 at both the J.W. Jones Student Union ballroom and the Bell Tower, located on the NWMSU campus.
Dr. Carla Edwards, a professor of Behavioral Sciences at Northwest Missouri State University, has put together a local #IWillListen event, entitled “A Gathering of Support.” The event, which will take place from 2-4:30 p.m. Monday, April 20 in the J.W. Jones Student Union ballroom and under the Bell Tower on the Northwest campus, coincides with a national #IWillListen campaign, sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Both the local and national campaigns are designed to existing stigmas surrounding mental health issues.
“One in four Americans are impacted by mental illness,” Edwards said. “Nodaway County has a 19 in 100,000 annual suicide rate, compared to an 11 in 100,000 suicide rate nationally. The stigma surrounding the admission of mental illness problems causes too many who suffer from mental illness to wait until the illness reaches a crisis stage to get help.
“#IWillListen focuses on those who don’t suffer from mental illness, or those who have and have recovered. We want people to say ‘I Will Listen’ when those who suffer from mental illness ask for help for their problem, as the No. 1 resiliency factor for those who suffer from mental illness is social support.”
Worldwide, approximately 800,000 suicides take place annually, and approximately 360,000 of those occur in the United States. Many of these could be avoided if victims could talk about the factors in their lives that move them to this action.
“Almost half of the world’s annual total of suicides take place in the United States,” Edwards said. “If we can convince those who have the good fortune to not struggle with mental health issues to say ‘I Will Listen’ and follow through on this pledge, suicide totals would decrease, both nationally and worldwide.”
Barbara Ricci, president of the New York City Metro chapter of NAMI, will serve as the keynote speaker for the event, at 7 p.m. Monday, April 20 in the J. W. Jones Student Union ballroom on the Northwest Missouri State University campus.
“I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Barbara several years ago in New York,” Edwards said. “I am very pleased that she is coming to Maryville to participate in our event.”
Edwards said the event will run from 2-4:30 p.m. during the day and the evening will feature the keynote speech. There will be entertainment and speakers at both the ballroom and Bell Tower locations during the event. Several local businesses and health providers will have tables at the event.
“We are calling our local event the ‘Maryville Gathering of Support’,” Edwards said. “Hy-Vee and Walmart are providing enough snacks for 500 guests and Aramark is providing the drinks. We have sold over 400 ‘#IWillListen’ t-shirts, so we’re hopeful of having at least 500 guests.
“Our five main sponsors are the Northwest Missouri Wellness Services, St. Francis Mental Health, Family Guidance Center, New Beginnings Counseling Center and Curves. The Maryville Chamber of Commerce and the Maryville City Council have been tremendous in their efforts to make this event happen as well.”
Edwards is a recovering addict of 21 years, and lost a son to suicide 14 years ago, so mental health issues are something she’s passionate about, as well as being the major part of her profession.
“As a society, we need to remove the stigma that surrounds mental illness and treat it like we treat physical illness,” Edwards said. “Most patients with mental illness aren’t admitted to treatment centers for help until they’re suicidal. That would be the equivalent of not admitting cancer patients to the hospital for treatment until they’ve reached Stage 4.
“The first thing we can do to help is to pledge ‘I Will Listen’ when those who suffer from mental illness wish to talk about their disease. Maryville has been very supportive and I believe they will continue to be.”
To purchase an #IWillListen t-shirt for $10, email your size and contact information to Edwards at [email protected] or call her office at 660.562.1263.
On April 21, a group of Northwest behavioral science students will be available to record short “IWillListen” videos if individuals or groups would like to record one to be downloaded to the NWMSU #iwilllisten Facebook page. Contact Edwards via e-mail or phone if you or your group wish to have a video recorded for playback. Go to the Facebook page to see examples of #IWillListen videos that have already been recorded and downloaded.
STEVE HARTMAN/DAILY FORUM
Dr. Carla Edwards, a professor of behavioral sciences at Northwest Missouri State University, has organized an #IWillListen event, entitled “A Gathering of Support,” coinciding with a national campaign sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The local event will take place from 2-4:30 p.m. Monday, April 20 at the J.W. Jones Student Union ballroom and the Bell Tower. Barbara Ricci, president of New York City metro chapter of NAMI, will speak at 7 p.m. Monday, April 20 in the Jones ballroom.
