First person: Mental illness is no mystery to those it affects. That's why they tell their story.
By Margaret Plevak/Contributor
Steve Bunton, wearing a comfortable gray shirt and earplugs, sifts and sorts parts during the day at his job for LaVelle Industries in Whitewater.
A friendly man with russet-colored hair and mustache, Bunton, 39, enjoys discussing his many interests.
He talks about driving in a demolition derby, the fund-raising he's done for local charities and his job at the small parts manufacturer.
He's also more than happy to discuss his mental illness, a form of schizophrenia and manic-depressive disorder.
In a society where people are judged by appearance or education, mental illness seems like an insurmountable obstacle, but Bunton tries to show people otherwise as a presenter in a program called "In Our Own Voice: Living with Mental Illness."
Created by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, with a grant from Eli Lily and Co., In Our Own Voice educates the public on the treatment and recovery programs that allow people with mental illness to blend into communities and workplaces. Presenters--like Bunton--are people who speak from experience.
Based upon research showing personal contact is the best way to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, the program has trained more than 2,000 presenters, and reached 150,000 people in 37 states, according to NAMI. Audiences have included students, mental health service providers and families.
Program presenters, who receive a stipend, share their personal histories, from the dark days preceding treatment to coping skills and successes, said Maria Ruby, publicity chairperson for NAMI Walworth, Inc., a member of its board of directors, and a presenter herself.
Typically, the program uses two-person presentation teams. Bunton's partner is Eddie Grossbach, 50, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia over 20 years ago, and currently lives in an apartment near Bunton.
Grossbach also writes poetry, which is regularly published in NAMI Walworth, Inc.'s newsletter. A collection of his poems is being considered for publication by the Wisconsin Arts Board.
Grossbach and Bunton have made six or seven presentations over the past few years to audiences ranging from the Kiwanis Club and church members, to local sheriffs and a UW-Whitewater psychology class.
The two learned to prepare notes and work on public speaking skills through the NAMI presenters' training session.
While both admit to nervousness before presentations, Bunton--who took a speech class in high school--said the experience has given them more self-esteem and self-confidence.
They've even learned to handle emergencies with aplomb.
Their presentation is usually accompanied by a NAMI-produced video, telling the stories of others with mental illness.
"At first we were really dependent on the video because it kept (us) on track," Grossbach said. "The last time, right before the speech, I dropped the video cassette and it broke. I found a counselor there I knew and we tried to scotch tape it back together, but it still didn't work."
"We did it without the video and some people said we did it even better," Bunton said.
For Bunton, symptoms of his illness began as early as third grade, when he remembers feeling "spacey." Yet he persisted, playing basketball in his freshman year at Elkhorn High School and earning letters in track and cross-country. Later, at a Catholic school, he got a job to help defray tuition costs. But he began to feel pressured and, at 17, was admitted to a hospital for treatment. Medication and counseling have helped, but the road was often dark.
"You get caught up in your illness and you don't believe there's as much hope as there is out there," he said.
Grossbach remembers having delusions as a young adult. He became reclusive, holed up in his bedroom, fearing the announcers he heard on the radio were spying on him. Others recognized his behavior before he did.
"Lakeland Counseling Center had an inpatient hospital years ago," he said. "Even when I was there and they diagnosed me, I still didn't believe it."
He feels the In Our Own Voice program makes an impact on audiences. "When we told our stories, most (people) said they didn't have any idea what mental illness was really like."
Other audience members have experienced mental illness through family members or friends, but said they've learned more about it in the program, he added.
Grossbach and Bunton say education is needed to challenge the stigma of mental illness.
Grossbach points to medical theories purporting mental illness as a chemical imbalance in the brain. "It's a disease, like diabetes," he said. "It just so happens that your brain is affected, rather than your liver."
Bunton said he'll occasionally get stares, or hear a different tone in people's voices as they ask him a question. Still, he prefers to remain positive.
"I listen to everybody, whether I like that person or not," he said. "Everybody has something to teach us."
NAMI is looking for additional program presenters. Vaunceil Kruse, NAMI Wisconsin coordinator, will speak on "In Our Own Voice: Living With Mental Illness" at the NAMI, Walworth, Inc. meeting, Wednesday, June 18, 7:30-8:30 p.m., at the Matheson Memorial Library, Elkhorn. Contact Maria Ruby, (262) 723-4549.
More Information:
The Program: NAMI members are available to present “In Our Own Voice: Living with Mental Illness,” to community groups.
Learn more: Vaunceil Kruse, NAMI Wisconsin coordinator, will speak on “In Our Own Voice: Living with Mental Illness” at the NAMI, Walworth, Inc. meeting, Wednesday, June 18, 7:30-8:30 p.m., at the Matheson Memorial Library, Elkhorn.
Information: Contact Maria Ruby, (262) 723-4549.
ooo
Steve Bunton, wearing a comfortable gray shirt and earplugs, sifts and sorts parts during the day at his job for LaVelle Industries in Whitewater.
Terry Mayer/The Week
Steve Bunton at his job at LaVelle Industries in Whitewater. Bunton, who suffers from manic-depressive disorder, is a presenter of a program called "In Our Own Voice: Living with Mental Illness," which educates community groups about the mental disease.
He talks about driving in a demolition derby, the fund-raising he's done for local charities and his job at the small parts manufacturer.
He's also more than happy to discuss his mental illness, a form of schizophrenia and manic-depressive disorder.
In a society where people are judged by appearance or education, mental illness seems like an insurmountable obstacle, but Bunton tries to show people otherwise as a presenter in a program called "In Our Own Voice: Living with Mental Illness."
Created by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, with a grant from Eli Lily and Co., In Our Own Voice educates the public on the treatment and recovery programs that allow people with mental illness to blend into communities and workplaces. Presenters--like Bunton--are people who speak from experience.
Based upon research showing personal contact is the best way to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, the program has trained more than 2,000 presenters, and reached 150,000 people in 37 states, according to NAMI. Audiences have included students, mental health service providers and families.
Program presenters, who receive a stipend, share their personal histories, from the dark days preceding treatment to coping skills and successes, said Maria Ruby, publicity chairperson for NAMI Walworth, Inc., a member of its board of directors, and a presenter herself.
Typically, the program uses two-person presentation teams. Bunton's partner is Eddie Grossbach, 50, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia over 20 years ago, and currently lives in an apartment near Bunton.
Grossbach also writes poetry, which is regularly published in NAMI Walworth, Inc.'s newsletter. A collection of his poems is being considered for publication by the Wisconsin Arts Board.
Grossbach and Bunton have made six or seven presentations over the past few years to audiences ranging from the Kiwanis Club and church members, to local sheriffs and a UW-Whitewater psychology class.
The two learned to prepare notes and work on public speaking skills through the NAMI presenters' training session.
While both admit to nervousness before presentations, Bunton--who took a speech class in high school--said the experience has given them more self-esteem and self-confidence.
They've even learned to handle emergencies with aplomb.
Their presentation is usually accompanied by a NAMI-produced video, telling the stories of others with mental illness.
"At first we were really dependent on the video because it kept (us) on track," Grossbach said. "The last time, right before the speech, I dropped the video cassette and it broke. I found a counselor there I knew and we tried to scotch tape it back together, but it still didn't work."
"We did it without the video and some people said we did it even better," Bunton said.
For Bunton, symptoms of his illness began as early as third grade, when he remembers feeling "spacey." Yet he persisted, playing basketball in his freshman year at Elkhorn High School and earning letters in track and cross-country. Later, at a Catholic school, he got a job to help defray tuition costs. But he began to feel pressured and, at 17, was admitted to a hospital for treatment. Medication and counseling have helped, but the road was often dark.
"You get caught up in your illness and you don't believe there's as much hope as there is out there," he said.
Grossbach remembers having delusions as a young adult. He became reclusive, holed up in his bedroom, fearing the announcers he heard on the radio were spying on him. Others recognized his behavior before he did.
"Lakeland Counseling Center had an inpatient hospital years ago," he said. "Even when I was there and they diagnosed me, I still didn't believe it."
He feels the In Our Own Voice program makes an impact on audiences. "When we told our stories, most (people) said they didn't have any idea what mental illness was really like."
Other audience members have experienced mental illness through family members or friends, but said they've learned more about it in the program, he added.
Grossbach and Bunton say education is needed to challenge the stigma of mental illness.
Grossbach points to medical theories purporting mental illness as a chemical imbalance in the brain. "It's a disease, like diabetes," he said. "It just so happens that your brain is affected, rather than your liver."
Bunton said he'll occasionally get stares, or hear a different tone in people's voices as they ask him a question. Still, he prefers to remain positive.
"I listen to everybody, whether I like that person or not," he said. "Everybody has something to teach us."
NAMI is looking for additional program presenters. Vaunceil Kruse, NAMI Wisconsin coordinator, will speak on "In Our Own Voice: Living With Mental Illness" at the NAMI, Walworth, Inc. meeting, Wednesday, June 18, 7:30-8:30 p.m., at the Matheson Memorial Library, Elkhorn. Contact Maria Ruby, (262) 723-4549.
More Information:
The Program: NAMI members are available to present “In Our Own Voice: Living with Mental Illness,” to community groups.
Learn more: Vaunceil Kruse, NAMI Wisconsin coordinator, will speak on “In Our Own Voice: Living with Mental Illness” at the NAMI, Walworth, Inc. meeting, Wednesday, June 18, 7:30-8:30 p.m., at the Matheson Memorial Library, Elkhorn.
Information: Contact Maria Ruby, (262) 723-4549.
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