A Gardendale woman has a very good reason to be involved in the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Christy Henderson and her family watched for many years as her brother, now 51, gradually changed in ways that scared them.

“Over the years, my brother just didn’t seem like he fit in,” Henderson said. “He couldn’t hold down a job. He was very suspicious of other people. It seems like his relationships never worked.”

Henderson said her brother’s family and friends couldn’t help but wonder if there was a drug or alcohol problem. But in fact, the problem turned out to be much more complicated and much less understood. After two failed marriages and many lost jobs, her brother was finally diagnosed with delusional disorder.

“We look back and see some things that could have been symptoms,” she said. “The tragic thing is we just didn’t recognize it earlier.”

Henderson, who is on the NAMI walk committee and helping with an upcoming fundraiser, had never heard of the organization. She and her family had no idea where to turn for help.

“You get so frustrated. You’ve been living with it for years. You know your loved one is capable, but they’re not thriving,” Henderson said.

She did an internet search and found NAMI in Birmingham. After a 45-minute telephone conversation, a NAMI employee helped Henderson get her brother and family on a path to coping with the illness.

He now lives with his father in another part of Jefferson County. He is unable to hold down a job, but he does work around the house and he agrees to take his medications and keep his doctors’ appointments. Henderson said those steps are huge progress for her brother.  Now she wants to see other families receive help.

She said NAMI can help families with questions relating to medication, disability, insurance, hospitalization and many other issues. NAMI is also a support system for family members of those with mental illness, Henderson said.

She invites consumers (those diagnosed with mental illnesses) and family members to participate in the National Mental Health Awareness Walk on Sunday at Veterans Park, 4750 Valleydale Rd. in Hoover.

There is no charge to participate. Registration is at 1 p.m. There will also be food, door prizes and more. Those who preregister will receive a T-shirt. Pre-register by emailing rapsebp1@bellsouth.net. For more information, visit www.namibirmingham.org.