As We Countdown to the Election

Mental Illness Awareness Week is October 5-11. That same week, our presidential candidates will hold a “town hall” debate—in which up to a quarter of the audience are likely to have experienced a mental illness.

That’s because one in four adults lives with depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental illnesses every year. That’s almost 60 million Americans.

Mental illness does not discriminate between Republicans and Democrats. It can strike anyone at any time.

Mental health is part of health care and it is essential that it be included in the nation’s health care reform debate.

Mental illness affects children. It affects people of color. Two million Americans live with schizophrenia—twice the number of those with HIV/AIDS. One in five veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan—almost 300,000 troops—will experience major depression or PTSD upon returning home. Unfortunately, two-thirds of people who live with mental illnesses do not receive treatment.

But treatment works. Recovery is possible. Between now and Election Day, every candidate needs to talk about these facts.

See how the presidential candidates responded to a NAMI survey here.

Then... VOTE.