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More than 100 attend mental health rally at Davis Park in Rockford

Rockford Register Star - 10/7/2017

Oct. 07--ROCKFORD -- More than 100 people rallied in Davis Park today to raise awareness of mental illness and fight the stigma that surrounds it.

The rally was part of Mental Illness Awareness Week, held the first full week of October each year to educate the public and provide support to affected individuals and families.

In Rockford, people huddled under umbrellas to share stories of loss and hope, including stories of recovery from suicide survivors. Suicide was the 10th-leading cause of death in the United States in 2015, claiming the lives of more than 44,000 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's most recent data. It was the second-leading cause of death among people ages 15 to 34.

The theme of the rally was "One in Five. Everyone Knows Someone," a reference to data from the National Institute on Mental Health showing that one in five adults experience mental illness in a given year. For 1 in 25 adults, the mental illness is so severe that it substantially interferes with life, the organization says.

Finding support from people who understand is key, said Barb Rogers, who attended the rally with her 8-year-old granddaughter, Tia. Rogers said her ex-husband and son suffered from schizophrenia. She's now a support group facilitator for NAMI Northern Illinois.

"That's what helped me most was the support groups, finding others out there," she said.

Lisa Funnell, 49, said she received a diagnosis of anxiety and depression when she was 10. She brought artwork to display at the rally, each piece representing a different aspect of struggling with mental illness.

"When you have a mental illness it can be beautiful, like this," she said, gesturing to her work. "But inside, all the rage is happening."

Kevin Haas: 815-987-1410; khaas@rrstar.com; @KevinMHaas

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