In Waco, a quarter of the population suffers from some sort of mental health issue. These types of illnesses often impact entire families. Many don't know where to turn for help. The goal of Thursday's forum, hosted by NAMI Waco, is to change that.
The organization brought in community members whose family members typically have to deal with times of crisis, including law enforcement and legal advisers.
According to experts, when it comes to mental illness, early detection and treatment are key.
NAMI Waco's Executive Director Cynthia Cunningham says, "We have a better chance of helping them get stable before they're an adult. Once they're over 18 you can't make them get treatment, you can't really help them if they don't want help. Then we have more people going to jails and ending up homeless."
If you or someone you know is suffering from mental illness, click here for help.
