MONROE - Trevor Bigler's suicide eventually inspired Conni Bigler, his mother, New Glarus, to be a part of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She became a member of NAMI Green County about two years ago, and her family and friends advocate for NAMI.
They join the nationwide NAMIWalk each year, walking for NAMI Dane County. The NAMIWalk is one way NAMI finds funds for resources.
"The nice part is that we can share revenue with Green County. Last year our team, Trevor's Team, netted over $3,000, half of which came back to Green County," Bigler said.
"Through walking and working with NAMI, Trevor stays close with me," she said.
Trevor's Team will be walking in the 5K NAMIWalk at 1 p.m., Sunday at Olin-Turville Park in Madison.
Programs and resources from NAMI were helpful to Trevor's family, even after his death, Bigler said.
The organization provides education, support and advocacy for people with mental illnesses and for their families and friends.
Green County's NAMI programs and resources include a family-to-family support program that meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Angelus Retirement Community of Monroe, 616 8th Ave.
Other NAMI programs educate mental health consumers and family members on care, treatment, services, mutual support and consumer rights. Special focus programs center on children and adolescents; college campus communities; veterans; peer-to-peer support groups; legal referrals; treatments and support in culturally diverse communities; and resources and support for locating missing people with mental illness.
Bigler said she got her education about mental illness the hard way, with the loss of her only son.
"People can't know enough," Bigler said. "We're fighting a stigma. People don't want to talk about mental illness, and then we are living with it alone when nobody understands."
Young individuals all over the United States are choosing to end their lives, because they are embarrassed and ashamed of their illness or because they are in so much pain and have no idea who to turn to, according to Bigler.
"NAMI promotes advocacy to erase the stigma of mental illness and provides funds for many educational programs. And especially they remind everyone: 'You are not alone,'" she said.
To support the Trevor's Team with an online donation, visit www.nami.org/namiwalks10/DAN/TrevorsMom; or go to the NAMIWalk link at www.nami.org, and follow the instructions to "support a walker."
To join Trevor's Team, contact Bigler through the same links, or at clbigler@gmail.com or 558-9169. Check-in time for the walk is 11 a.m. Sunday at the park.
More information is available at www.namidanecounty.org
Congress established the first week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week in 1990, in recognition of NAMI's efforts to raise mental illness awareness. Since then, mental health advocates across the country have joined together during the first full week of October to celebrate.
They join the nationwide NAMIWalk each year, walking for NAMI Dane County. The NAMIWalk is one way NAMI finds funds for resources.
"The nice part is that we can share revenue with Green County. Last year our team, Trevor's Team, netted over $3,000, half of which came back to Green County," Bigler said.
"Through walking and working with NAMI, Trevor stays close with me," she said.
Trevor's Team will be walking in the 5K NAMIWalk at 1 p.m., Sunday at Olin-Turville Park in Madison.
Programs and resources from NAMI were helpful to Trevor's family, even after his death, Bigler said.
The organization provides education, support and advocacy for people with mental illnesses and for their families and friends.
Green County's NAMI programs and resources include a family-to-family support program that meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Angelus Retirement Community of Monroe, 616 8th Ave.
Other NAMI programs educate mental health consumers and family members on care, treatment, services, mutual support and consumer rights. Special focus programs center on children and adolescents; college campus communities; veterans; peer-to-peer support groups; legal referrals; treatments and support in culturally diverse communities; and resources and support for locating missing people with mental illness.
Bigler said she got her education about mental illness the hard way, with the loss of her only son.
"People can't know enough," Bigler said. "We're fighting a stigma. People don't want to talk about mental illness, and then we are living with it alone when nobody understands."
Young individuals all over the United States are choosing to end their lives, because they are embarrassed and ashamed of their illness or because they are in so much pain and have no idea who to turn to, according to Bigler.
"NAMI promotes advocacy to erase the stigma of mental illness and provides funds for many educational programs. And especially they remind everyone: 'You are not alone,'" she said.
To support the Trevor's Team with an online donation, visit www.nami.org/namiwalks10/DAN/TrevorsMom; or go to the NAMIWalk link at www.nami.org, and follow the instructions to "support a walker."
To join Trevor's Team, contact Bigler through the same links, or at clbigler@gmail.com or 558-9169. Check-in time for the walk is 11 a.m. Sunday at the park.
More information is available at www.namidanecounty.org
Congress established the first week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week in 1990, in recognition of NAMI's efforts to raise mental illness awareness. Since then, mental health advocates across the country have joined together during the first full week of October to celebrate.