The sensational accounts you read about mental illness do not tell the whole story or even the most important parts of those stories. In fact, every day there are thousands of stories to tell in our state of the heroic, courageous achievements of people with mental illnesses and their families.

There are close to 25,000 people in our state with serious mental illness: schizophrenia, manic-depressive illness, clinical depression. In addition, there are thousands with dozens of other brain disorders.

These illnesses happen to people without regard to gender, race, religion, ethnicity or income. Mental illness is an equal- opportunity event with universal opportunity for profound loss of function, zest for life and relationships.

But recovery is now a spoken word in the mental health world. It signals to consumers of mental health services, their families and to professionals that hope for a life of stability and satisfaction will be respected and nurtured.

About 40 years ago, as a nation, we concluded that confining the mentally ill to the snakepit images of our psychiatric hospitals and wards was no longer acceptable. A concept of community mental health was born to provide effective, caring, open, outpatient settings where healing was more likely. The high costs of hospitalization were dramatically reduced; the savings were to enable appropriately intense and effective outpatient treatment and services.

But, in those days, using the word recovery in conjunction with mental illness was still unthinkable. Even forward-thinking professionals, optimistic consumers and family members were wary of hoping for too much.

Timing created turning points, as AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) with the 12-step notion of recovery from addictions, were creating a more accepting climate and newfound respect for people who were finding recovery from alcohol and drugs.

Then, in the '90s, from another front, a new generation of psychotropic medications with fewer side effects began to further brighten the picture for mental health recovery. Community mental health centers, psycho-social rehab clubhouses, improved housing, education opportunities and employment for people with mental illnesses became the framework for a mental health recovery model.

As the mental health leadership perceived the growing viability of recovery for the mentally ill, philosophies, goals and strategies began to change. Recovery is now the watchword and the underpinning of mental health treatment and services.

A life of stability and satisfaction for a person with mental illness is possible today. Usually it takes medication, therapy, housing and meaningful activity. Those factors can serve as the foundation for a life that has been shattered. Dedicated professionals and family members are providers and supporters of these basics.

But the crucial factor is the mentally ill person, him or herself. And this person is coping with brain activities and messages we cannot even imagine. A brain illness itself is beyond the understanding of most of us. There is a symptom of schizophrenia called anosognosia which can prevent the suffering person's brain from accepting the presence of his own mental illness. Thus what we think of as denial is itself part of the disease. What a cruel irony!

We, as a community, must do whatever we can to help participate in the recovery and sustainability of courageous, deserving people with mental illness. They are attempting to find a life after their brain got off the track, and they can get back on with our help. A business connection, colleague, church member, friend or family member may be one of them.

Partner with them however you can. The idea of belittling, shaming, stigmatizing is simply not acceptable. And, once you get it, spread the word. You'll be surprised at the benefits.

Jim Mihalke works with NAMI's (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Family-to-Family program, providing free education, support and guidance to the family members and loved ones of persons with mental illness. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.