NAMI-GC College Outreach Program

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Questions about NCCOP? Want to help? Contact nccop@namigc.org.

For more information, referrals, support, and education about serious mental illness, call NAMI of Greater Chicago at (312) 563-0445, or visit the NAMI of Greater Chicago website, namigc.org.

How do I know that the “illness” isn’t just my/my child’s/my friend’s personality?

While 75% of serious mental illnesses begin affecting a person by age 24, the average delay in seeking treatment is more than 10 years. This could be because a person has been affected by an illness for so long that people begin to think it is part of that person’s “personality” or “character,” and also because of the stigma and fear surrounding mental illness and getting treatment. It can also be difficult for a person to recognize they are ill—and this is often a symptom of illness called “agnosia,” which again, can make it seem as if the illness was just another part of that person’s personality.

While every individual is different and has a different personality, when thoughts, moods, or behaviors are affecting that person’s daily life and ability to function—whether those changes are considered to be that person’s “personality” or not—it is time to talk to a mental health professional.