National Alliance on Mental Illness- Reducing Stigma

30 Minutes features a conversation with Executive Director of The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Southern Arizona (NAMISA) H. Clarke Romans, Ph.D. and Christina Bickelmann, NAMISA Communications and Events Director.

Mental illness impacts the lives of at least one in five adults and children. NAMI provides no-cost advocacy, education, and support for people with mental illness and their loved ones. Christina and Clarke spoke about NAMI and its services and its upcoming NAMI Walks fundraiser, taking place on Saturday, April 1^st at the Kennedy Park Fiesta Area. More information is available at NamiWalksAZ.org.

H. Clarke Romans, Ph.D. has been a family member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southern Arizona since 1997 when he was elected to the Board of Directors. He has been involved in mental illness advocacy since his son Kenneth was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1979. Clarke served on the Board of Directors of Community Hope in Morris County, NJ, then as interim Executive Director of NAMI Arizona 2004-2005. He is currently Executive Director of NAMI Southern Arizona. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Community Partnership Inc. and the Arizona Mental Health Association of Associations. Clarke’s son died in 2001. Clarke is involved in NAMI because he believes that the stigma that plagued his son should be eliminated. 

Recorded and produced by Amanda Shauger.