NAMI Delaware Executive Director Dr. Joshua Thomas discussed their efforts in advocacy and raising awareness of mental health.  We discussed their programming for schools, for families and the workplace, their unique housing program and how we can become allies.  We talked about the line between routine moods and feelings and situations where intervention could be needed and he discussed the national crisis in youth  mental health.  He gave us the numbers, 50% of lifetime mental illness begins by age 14 and 75% by age 24, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 – 14 and 3rd for people ages 15-24 in the US.  He spoke of the signs, changes in mood, habits and appeaarance, and he tells us that we can start the conversation and look for help through NAMI.  We discussed their advocacy, including the successful implementation of the national 988 call number and their current work on DE House Bill 4 to expand mental health resources in schools after traumatic situations.

For more information go to NAMIDelaware.org