Introducing Edith Kistler, your BANK VI Hero of the Week!

Edith, a single mother, was nominated for her efforts in helping to establish the Salina chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness or NAMI, the nation’s largest mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

Edith says there is a need in Salina for a local chapter because there is mental illness in our community just as there is anywhere. NAMI helps those with mental illness as well as those that take care of mentally ill individuals.

Edith’s efforts include teaching different aspects of mental illness as well as bringing awareness to it. With Edith’s help, NAMI also works with the Salina Police Department and trains them on how to approach someone who might suffering from or struggling with mental illness. This training is done through the Crisis Intervention Teams or CIT. The objective with CIT training is to reduce fatal events involving police and people living with mental illness and to improve the way law enforcement and the community respond to people experiencing mental health crises.

The primary goal is to build relationships and to get the word out about mental illness and it’s effects.

The dedication and commitment that Edith provides helps the community grow and become stronger.

If you know someone that gives back to our community or goes that extra mile to make our community a better place, nominate that extraordinary individual for Hero of the Week by clicking here!