Lashell Steward was recently awarded “The Most Dedicated Affiliate” for the Yazoo chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Mississippi. Special to The Herald

Lashell Steward recently accepted “The Most Dedicated Affiliate” award for the Yazoo County Affiliate Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Mississippi.
The award was given at the 2012 NAMI State Conference in Jackson.
The NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for equal access to mental health services and treatment, increased emphasis on research and improved support systems for the mentally ill and their families.
The organization is steadfast in its commitment towards raising awareness and building a community of hope for all those in need.
The Yazoo Affiliate supports NAMI by sponsoring an on-going class about mental illness called NAMI Basics and providing a meeting location and support to the local NAMI Family Support Group, which meets on the Warren-Yazoo Mental Health Complex.
Steward is a certified peer specialist, NAMI Basic Instructor and a trained support group facilitator.
She works in conjunction with Sheila McGraw, family to family instructor, and Beverly Pettigrew, certified peer specialist, in co-teaching and leading these programs.