October 2-8 is Mental Illness Awareness Week and there’s a place in Lafayette that has free resources offering immediate assistance.
Winner of the 2022 Peer to Peer Organization of the Year, NAMI Acadiana offers a full range of education and community services.
Karen Dubois, Program Director and Director of Nami Acadiana, said, “We want people to understand that it’s not something they need to be afraid of, that once we start talking about it and we start to educate people about it, they begin to relax and see that this is a biological, physical disease and requires medical intervention.”
According to the CDC, 1 in 4 adults in the United States suffers from a mental disorder.
A local resident, Steve Dubois, was diagnosed with dysphoria about five years ago.
Dysphoria is a form of depression and Dubois shared what he does daily to deal with KATC.
Steve Dubois is also a board member and co-teacher of Nami Acadiana, he said, “At 72, I’m still surfing. I was a fishing guide and I’m still fishing, but I haven’t no more boating. I have sunshine, I do Bible studies, so I support myself emotionally, spiritually, physically, and family is a big thing for me and I try to spend a lot of time with my family.”
A walk for mental health is scheduled for this Saturday, October 8, 2022 and will be led by Nami Acadiana at Teurlings Catholic. For more details and information on how to participate in the NAMIWalks fundraiser, click here.
This walk is a fundraiser to raise money for educational classes offered to the public, as well as to provide mental illness books and support groups, all of which are free for everyone.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact NAMI Acadiana, text “NAMI” to 741741 or dial 988.
