By Alexa Faria
Contributing Writer

Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) is recognized on the first full week in October. This year MIAW begins on October 5, 2014, and ends on October 11.

This week is dedicated to providing awareness about the issue of mental illness that affects millions of people in this country.

Congress dedicated the first week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week in 1990, to recognize the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s (NAMI) efforts.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness promotes awareness and helps educate communities about mental illness.

Advocates come together all over the country and share their knowledge with their communities. Local communities sponsor several different events to provide this awareness and public education. The National Alliance on Mental Illness has several State Organizations and Local Affiliates.

There are several affiliates in Massachusetts, and the Boston location is actually a few miles away on Main Street.

There are several classes about mental illness around Boston, so there is always accessible information. There are also NAMI walks located in almost every state.

NAMI walks are the most successful mental health awareness fundraising events in America, and they are celebrating their 12th anniversary this year.

In Boston, there will be a NAMI walk to support the fight against mental illness and to continue promoting awareness. The date is still being determined but it will be accessible at namiwalks.org.

When the date becomes available, it is important that we support this effort to continue the fight against mental illness.

Wear green and support the fight and get involved. Help the movement grow so the lives of millions of Americans can be improved. Even one person can have an impact towards positive change.