NAMI-NYS and Tri-City ValleyCats Strikeout Mental Illness

The Troy Record: Serving Troy and its surrounding communities

Published: Sunday, August 29, 2010

ALBANY — The Strikeout Mental Illness campaign was a homerun public awareness and fundraising campaign for NAMI-NYS. On Monday, NAMI-NYS will receive a check at the ValleyCats homegame for the funds raised during its summer-long effort.

An estimated one in five American families is affected by mental illnesses such as major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is important to raise awareness of mental health issues to the general public, especially since early detection, appropriate treatment, and support from family and friends are extremely beneficial for people with mental illness.

NAMI-NYS, the state organization of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the Tri-CityValleyCats, a minor league affiliate of the Houston Astros, teamed up for a corporate funded public awareness campaign during the ValleyCats’ 2010 season. Throughout the season, NAMI-NYS manned an information booth at the home of the ValleyCats, Joe Bruno Stadium.

During the campaign, NAMI-NYS distributed information on specific diseases as well as more generalissues including dealing with stress and anxiety, eating disorders, and addiction. The backdrop of“America’s Favorite Pastime” allowed the discussion of mental illness to become more open, demonstrating that mental illness is a part of everyday life. Greater public awareness will also helpreduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.

NAMI-NYS provides support to family and friends of individuals with mental illness and persons living with mental illnesses through more than 50 affiliates statewide.