Organization provides support for those struggling with mental health

Apr. 30—EFFINGHAM — Ever since serving in Vietnam, U.S. Army veteran Donald Dorn had not slept through the night. He suffered from PTSD.

The Dieterich resident saw quite a bit of action during the war and built a memorial in his front yard to the 22 guys in his company who died the year he was over there.

"One of the big things was there was never a night that went by that I didn't think about that over there and relive some of the stuff," he said.

He would never sleep over two hours at a time, which he said stemmed from his guard duty in the field that only allowed him to sleep two hours at a time.

He would hardly talk about his experiences until 2011 when he went to a psychiatrist who urged him to talk about them. Then, in January of last year, he was asked to lead a support group for veterans through Family Mental Health Support in Effingham. That's when he noticed a difference.

"Things started getting a little bit better, and here in the last year and a half or so, I have started sleeping longer," he said. "I've experienced a couple of nights where I have slept all night long, which is something I have not done for over 50 years."

He also doesn't have as many flashbacks.

"Since 2011, my life has kind of started turning around, and my life now is a lot better," he said, adding he also owes that to his wife.

He's trying to do the same for other veterans through the support group.

"We're not trying to cure what's wrong with them. We just want them to socialize with other veterans," he said.

Dorn said the small group, which ranges in age from 50s to 80s and includes a female veteran, has become like a family.

"They look forward to every meeting we have. They enjoy just sitting around the table and talking. We talk about whatever comes up," he said.

Dorn would like more to join the support group, which meets from 10 a.m. to noon the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at the FMHS office in Effingham.

The Veterans Support Group is just one means of free support FMHS provides for the community. Since setting up an office in 2019 — thanks to a donation from 100-Plus Women Who Care — the nonprofit organization has held a monthly support group at the First Baptist Church in Effingham for people with various needs of support.

"They might be the people who are taking care of someone who is mentally ill or affected by a friend who is mentally ill, or maybe they are the individual who is struggling with several different kinds of mental health issues," said FMHS chaplain, the Rev. W. Carol Johnson.

The group meets the second Thursday of every month from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. It includes speakers on various topics, from what Effingham public schools are doing to address mental health to dealing with Alzheimer's.

"It's giving people an opportunity to talk about what it's like to have maybe a child commit suicide or to have a spouse who is depressed or to have a loved one who has Alzheimer's," said Johnson. "We don't provide counseling, but we supply a lot of support."

Lisa Strullmyer discovered FMHS when her child was in crisis.

She got involved with the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Family to Family program in Champaign, an education program for family members, caregivers and significant others of people with mental health conditions. But driving back and forth to Champaign created more stress, and she wanted something local. Then, a friend showed her the FMHS website.

"I saw when their support meeting was and went to the support meeting and have been involved ever since. I felt like I needed this, so I'm not the only person," she said.

Strullmyer said she has learned different things from being part of FMHS, going to support groups, and hearing other people's stories. Now, she is helping others.

"People who know my situation with my college-age child have reached out to me and asked, 'Where did you start?' We were able to say what we did, and it's helped other people. They may start them on medication, but there's a lot more to it, a lot more support you need," she said.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Strullmyer wants to get the word out about FMHS.

"I want to get more parents and young adults and teenagers to know that we have a place here to come for resources," she said.

She hopes to do that by being at the FMHS office every Wednesday beginning in June from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for anyone in need.

"We just share our experience in trying to help someone and listen, not in place of a counselor but as a peer," said Strullmyer. "You learn so much through communication. That's why we want to get the word out. We're just here for support."

According to Strullmyer, conversations need to be had before something would happen that someone gets in crisis mode or turns to other means because they don't know what they're going through or they don't have anyone to talk to, or they need to understand the resources.

FMHS board member Sue Heth said FMHS volunteers have all experienced mental health issues in some way — whether it's their own or a family member's or friend's.

"We may not have all the answers, but we've probably been there," said Heth, whose son struggled with schizophrenia before his death. "For me and my husband, that's one of the reasons we felt it was really important to have a place where people could come."

FMHS has a list of counselors and other community resources, as well as service organizations for physical needs.

"Any agency in this county and region that provides a service to people who struggle, we have a link with them if we can," said Johnson. "Support is important part of what we do. It's part of how we try to empower and embrace people who are struggling."

For more information, visit familymentalhealthsupport.com or FMHS-Family Mental Health Support on Facebook. The FMHS office is located at 202 N. Banker St. in Effingham and can be reached at 217-500-7489 or [email protected]. It is currently open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. FMHS also hosts an Inspiration Group that meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 1 to 2 p.m. at the FMHS office.

FMHS and ROSC invite people and their dogs to the Tails & Trails Mental Health Awareness Walk on May 31 at Ballard Nature Center in Altamont at noon; the group walk begins at 12:30 p.m. Water and sweet treats will be provided for people, and Dianna's Barkery & More will have animal treats for sale. Register by texting 217-663-0823 to get your dog a free bandanna at the event while supplies last. Furry friends must be leashed and adhere to Ballard Nature Center's rules of conduct.

Cathy Griffith can be reached at [email protected] or 618-510-9180.