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Dustin Damm Memorial Fund
Range Mental Health Center
P.O. Box 1188
Virginia, MN 55792 218-471-4321 OR 218-780-9694http://www.rangementalhealth.org/index.php?page=dustin&link=yes
Breaking the Silence on Mental Illness
www.DustinDamm.com
DUSTIN DAMM
 
D O U B L E S
Mental illness is “a difficult affliction,” said Mesabi Daily News Executive Editor Bill Hanna, who spoke of his late father, who struggled with bipolar disorder. “Mental illness is not a partisan issue,” said State Sen. David Tomassoni, DFL-Chisholm. There have been many “battles” for funding this year, and “we’ll keep fighting” for more, he said. St. Louis County Commissioner Keith Nelson noted that “this community comes together,” and the turnout at the walk is proof of the area’s backing of mental health concerns. “Thank you all for caring,” he said. Jerry Fallos, aide to U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., read a letter from the senator that said, in part: “As a United States senator, I will continue to work for mental health resources.”
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For many who suffer from schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, their lives are forever changed in the blink of an eye. You find that life is normal one day, and the next day, you find that you no longer have control of your thoughts or moods. My wife and I were in great emotional pain when a doctor explained that our son was being tormented by his own mind. At the age of 17 our son, Dustin Damm, was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder - better known as schizoaffective disorder. Dustin suffered from both the thought disorder of schizophrenia, and the high and low moods of bipolar illness. Tragically, Dustin lost his life in 2008, while not taking his medications, and going for a late night swim in an abandoned mine pit. Medication and therapy can help many lead a somewhat normal life, while others are left unable to function or work. For many, they have a loss of dignity, self worth, or a purpose in life. They are shunned by an ignorant society that has little patience, knowledge, or understanding of the disease. They are people who have a very unfortunate and unnatural chemical imbalance in the brain, or a brain that has made too many electrical connections in its wiring. Doctors tell us that between the ages of 17 and 25 the brain is making its final development and electrical connections. If you ever saw the movie “A Beautiful Mind,” you will have a better understanding of schizophrenia. If you ever saw the movie “Psycho,” then you will have a wrong and distorted concept of mental illness. Persons with major mental illness are no more dangerous than the general population. The sad truth is that most people with mental illness are the real victims of persons with “somewhat” normal thinking minds. Some of the world’s greatest scientists, poets, actors, authors, artists, doctors, leaders, athletes, and musicians suffered with some form of major mental illness. Many persons with MI will lose contact with family, friends, and become unemployed. Some will become homeless due to a shrinking and grossly under funded support system. Come join us to help those who need emergency financial assistance in our area. Last year we raised over $14,000 in local donations. That money was used to help someone make an urgent payment, cover a rent deposit, help with medical co-payment on doctor visits, and a onetime coverage of medications. Others were helped with emergency heating, urgent dental work, transportation needs to clinics, as well as clothing, shoes, a warm coat, and other personal needs. Jeff & Marci Damm
Thank you to everyone that donated and participated to make this years event a success!