Mental Illness Awareness Week: Recovery is Possible – Family Member Forum

Mimi Melosi, recently returned to Missouri, after working as a psychologist in Pennsylvania for 35 years. In August 2001, her son was diagnosed as having schizoaffective disorder and is currently on disability. After seeing the devastating impact his illness had on her son and family, Mimi became active in NAMI and was on the Board of Directors for Pennsylvania for four years.

Arletus Muskin is from a small close knit family and has a family member with mental illness. She has seen the domino effect of darkness of mental illness(if not treated) in every aspect of their lives from home, school, friends, various relationships ,employment, etc. She learned about NAMI from an EMT when she and the family felt forced to call the police because of her family member’s behavior. She is participating in this program because she feels knowledge is power.

Larry Daniels has a B.S. degree in Business and Administration and a certificate in Family Development from University of Missouri. He became a member of NAMI in 1993 after having a family member diagnosed with mental illness. He has worked for NAMI in various capacities including serving as a family support specialist, mental health court advocate, teaching NAMI’s Family to Family Classes and Provider Classes. He is a NAMI state trainer for these programs as well as for the family support groups.