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SALT LAKE CITY -- In the wake of a tragedy, like the deadly shootings in Tucson, mental health officials say we need to pay more attention to the signs of mental illness. They say too many people are avoiding the topic until something bad happens.
Mental health advocates say a big problem is a lack of knowledge about mental illness. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Utah Executive Director Sherri Wittwer told the Doug Wright Show people frequently write off warning signs as just strange behavior.
"They don't piece them together and see that there is a pattern and that there may be something else going on here," she said.
Wittwer also says too many people avoid talking about their loved one's mental illness because of the stigma.
"Families deal with a lot of shame," she said. "They tend to isolate, and that leads to part of the problem."
Wittwer emphasized that some disorders are treatable, and many people live regular lives through treatment.
For more information on mental illness and the warning signs, CLICK HERE.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com.
