Brought to you by the Depression Is Real Coalition, The Down & Up Show is dedicated to the reality of depression. Each week our hosts will talk with some of the world's top experts on depression, as well as people who have been impacted by this illness. The reality of depression is that it is a debilitating and potentially deadly medical condition that affects more than 15 million Americans every year. The other reality of depression is that there is hope.

Karen McGravey-Gajera

Karen McGravey-Gajera currently teaches Family to Family, a free 12-week NAMI course for family caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses. The course is taught by trained family members, like Karen who have dealt with depression in their own families. She has been teaching the course since 2002, and recently became certified to train the teachers of the course.

Karen also runs a mental illness support group and this year she will be retiring as president of her local affiliate of NAMI. She is a proud mother of a son who suffers from schizophrenia and a mental health champion.