Adrian: Family Inheritance

Living in a gang neighborhood, concealing his sexual orientation, Adrian already had a full plate when he learned that schizophrenia was hereditary.  His dad had it. And at 13, he was sure he was going to develop it too. It was only a question of when. It took him two decades to learn what you truly inherit when your parent lives with a serious mental illness.

Adrian first learned about mental illness at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website — nami.org. You can also find their resources and materials in Spanish. If you want to know more, it's an excellent place to learn about mental illness.  

They also offer Family-to-Family classes for just about anyone, and peer support those who live with a mental illness. There are hundreds of chapters in the US. In certain states they’re also available in Spanish. 

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