Lakeside Behavioral Healthcare Recognizes Mental Illness Awareness Week

Orlando, FL, October 23, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Lakeside Behavioral Healthcare held its annual luncheon Friday, October 7, 2011 in recognition of Mental Illness Awareness Week. In 1990, the U.S. Congress established the first week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) in recognition of the efforts made by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to raise awareness on mental illness. The luncheon featured guest speaker, acclaimed author Margaret Hawkins, to discuss her recent book How We Got Barb Back. The book chronicle’s the life of the author’s sister, Barbara, who went undiagnosed and untreated for schizophrenia for 30 years. It wasn’t until Margaret and Barbara’s parents passed away that treatment was made available and Barbara had the chance to live a more stable and productive life. Margaret’s synopsis of the book was riveting and had every guest on the edge of their seat. Her final message was to thank everyone in the mental health industry for what they do and to continue the message of awareness.

Proceeds from luncheon and any book sales that day go to the Dave’s House Program. Dave’s House Program is a housing program, run by Lakeside, where residents with mental illness are offered the opportunity to live permanently in a safe environment with the support of Lakeside’s behavioral healthcare services. This program is modeled after another successful and similar program in Virginia. Dave’s House Program was launched in 2008, from the generous support of Lakeside board member Lin Wilensky and her husband Ron to commemorate the memory of Lin’s brother Dave who suffered from schizophrenia.

Approximately 2.4 million Americans are affected by schizophrenia, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling mental illness that typically strikes in late adolescence or early adulthood, but can strike at any time in life. Treatment today, helps relieve many symptoms of schizophrenia, but most people learn to cope with the symptoms going on to lead rewarding and meaningful lives. Researchers are working on more effective medications and using new research tools to understand the causes of schizophrenia, how to help prevent the illness and better treat it.

Margaret Hawkins is a Chicago-based writer, art critic and teacher. Her work appears regularly in the Chicago Sun-Times, where she writes a weekly column; in ARTnews, where she is Chicago correspondent; and in a number of other national and local art publications. She also teaches at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Margaret’s first book, A Year of Cats and Dogs, published in 2009 and her latest book, How to Survive a Natural Disaster, published in 2010.

Lakeside Behavioral Healthcare is a private, not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 charitable organization that provides comprehensive behavioral health care services in Orange County. Lakeside offers access to mental health care, both inpatient and outpatient, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Serving the community since 1983, Lakeside proudly assists more than 18,000 children, adolescents, families and adults annually. Funding to support the organization comes from a variety of sources including the Florida Department of Children & Families; Orange County Government; billings to Medicare, Medicaid and other third party insurance groups, grants and gifts.

Our Mission is to provide compassionate, comprehensive and cost effective behavioral health care services that focus on individualized recovery. For more information on Lakeside Behavioral Healthcare and how you can donate to our cause please call 407-875-3700 or visit our website at www.LakesideCares.org.

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