[Zach Schleien]
My close family friend Louis recently passed away after a battle with schizophrenia.
In his honor, I am raising $30,000 in 30 days on CaringCrowd sponsored by Johnson & Johnson. The money will go towards the National Alliance on Mental Illness (Nami El-Dorado) specifically to the Family-to-Family program. The program supports family members and friends of loved ones with mental illness. J&J will match up to $250 per any individual donation.
It’s an all or nothing campaign so if I don’t hit my goal, the money is returned to the pledgers. It would mean the world to me if you donated and help families in need! Here is the link. #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #EndStigma
Beneficiary:
NAMI El Dorado County
https://namieldoradocounty.org
ACCEPTING PLEDGES
$12,953 of $30,000
21 DAYS LEFT 73 BACKERS
Go Here: https://www.caringcrowd.org/support-600-family-members-w-loved-one-w-mental-illness
THE CHALLENGE
Families of teens and young adults with mental illness lack the appropriate supportive tools
Too often our loved ones with mental illness end up in the criminal justice system, homeless, or worse. Skills vital to recovery are not provided to family caregivers. Most families feel isolated and overwhelmed. 58% of those receiving care, typically from parents, are between 18-39 years. On average, 32 hours per week is spent caregiving, typically over the course of 9 years.
My family friend Louis passed away after struggling for 3 years with schizoaffective disorder / bipolar type 1. The onset of Louis’ psychosis occurred when he was 19, first hospitalized in October 2014. From childhood through high school, Louis was happy, athletic, musically gifted, made friends easily, and achieved outstanding academic success. He was subsequently hospitalized three more times for durations of several weeks to months.
In March of 2017, Louis once again rejected therapy due to medication side effects along with non-acceptance of his condition, making it nearly impossible to manage. Two months later, in the throes of psychosis, he did not understand the danger posed by the nearby river. It is presumed that he perished on June 4, 2017.
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Louis at 7 years old visiting Lake McDonald/Glacier National Park during a ski vacation.
OUR SOLUTION
The proceeds will fund the NAMI Family-to-Family program
Family-to-Family is a free 12-session, 32-hour-class for caregivers, family members, and friends of loved ones with mental illness. You will learn how to support individuals with serious mental illness while maintaining your own well-being.
Goals:
1. Develop skills to communicate and interact with the family’s loved one to facilitate recovery.
2. Understand how to get treatment promptly and effectively to preserve long-term cognition.
Testimonials:
"This course saved our family. It was the best thing we did to help our daughter. It helped us know we are not alone in her recovery.”
- Joe, Teacher
"This course saved our marriage and helped our son directly in his recovery. Once disabled and unable to work because of his mental illness he now works full-time and our family unit is closer than ever."
- Al, Police Officer
Family-to-Family
YOUR IMPACT
By donating you can help a family give the appropriate support to a child, teen, or young adult
The proceeds will be used to recruit and train 12 Family-to-Family instructors and provide the tools to 600 family members with a loved one with mental illness.
Family-to-Family is a free 12-session, 32-hour-class for caregivers, family members, and friends of loved ones with mental illness. You will learn how to support individuals with serious mental illness while maintaining your own well-being.
