Speaker tells of his battle with bipolar depression

COLUMBUS - Richard Ellis first tried to commit suicide when he was 8 years old. In the 50 years since that attempt, he has been hospitalized numerous times because of his mental illness.

“Finding those correct medications is one heck of a journey,” he said. “Success, hopes and dreams - they do happen, but it's hard work to get there.”

Ellis, a Lincoln resident, was the guest speaker at a Monday open house sponsored by the Columbus affiliate of the Nebraska Alliance on Mental Illness. He has been president of the Mental Health Association of Nebraska and is a member of the governor's Mental Health Planning and Evaluation Council and several other advocacy groups. At one time he was a practicing psychologist, although he has held more than 40 jobs through his lifetime.

During his In Our Own Voice presentation in Columbus, Ellis said he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a brain dysfunction that can make the sufferer bounce between severe highs and severe lows.

Educating the public about mental illness helps to take away the stigma of the disease, he said. One out of every four people suffer from mental illness and three out of four people have a friend or relative with it.

Joining N.A.M.I. helps people learn more about the cause and effects of mental illness, as well as learning they are not alone in their struggles.

“There's hope,” Ellis said.

People with mental illness can cycle through five stages, according to Ellis:

n Dark days that leave people feeling different and alone.

n Acceptance which comes in waves.

n Treatment that must be administered on an individual basis.

n Coping skills that become an integral part of a recovery plan.

n Successes, hopes and dreams that start with setting realistic, attainable goals.

Ellis said recovery, for many people, is a lifelong journey.

“We'll probably be dedicating our lives to have healthy lives,” he said. “In a nutshell, we have to have a believe in ourselves.”

To learn more about N.A.M.I. or mental illness, log onto www.nami.org or attend one of the local N.A.M.I. meetings on the first Monday of each month at the Rainbow Center in Columbus.

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