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Letter: Mental Illness Week

October 09, 2007

Dear Editor,

The weather forecast for Thursday, Oct. 11, is 78 degrees. That should make for a lovely evening to take a walk in Millennium Park. At 6:30 p.m. on Thursday we will be walking a "Walk for Awareness" in observance of Mental Illness Awareness Week. The first full week of October each year was designated as Mental Illness Awareness Week by Congress in 1990.

The focus of the week is education, hope and eradication of stigma. Today, Tuesday, Oct. 9, Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center and the National Alliance of Mental Illness in Danville will offer free depression screenings in the lobby of the hospital between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

The local Comprehensive Care Center of Bluegrass MHMR and Ephriam McDowell Health have partnered with NAMI Danville as sponsors of the walk. Pre-registration begins at 5:30 p.m. Come and join us. We'll walk, have a very short candlelight (flashlight) ceremony, and eat. There is no registration fee, but if you want one of our cool T-shirts, you'll need to make a contribution or get some sponsors. Call (859) 238-2096 or (859) 236-3970 for more information.

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I believe that most people now realize that brain disorders are biological illnesses and not due to poor parenting or lack of character. Now we must learn as much as possible about the symptoms of each illness so we can get help for ourselves or our loved ones when it's needed. Did you know that Kentucky ranks 19th as to the number of suicides committed annually? Did you know that as a state we rank 42nd as to the quality of our mental health care?

Lois Anderson

President NAMI Danville

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