10 Warning Signs: NAMI Offers Teen Mental Health Tools to Faith Communities and Civic Groups

Arlington, Va.- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has launched "Say It Out Loud," a program for faith communities and civic organizations to use in reaching out to youth, ages 14 to 18, to start conversations about mental health.

"It's time to end the silence. It's time to talk constructively about mental health with young people. It's time to say it out loud."

The "Say It Out Loud" tool-kit is free to download: www.nami.org/sayitoutloud.

It includes:

• A narrated presentation for adult facilitators about youth mental health.
•  A 5-minute video of three teens sharing personal experiences and addressing the 10 most common warning signs of mental health problems.
• A discussion guide for adult facilitators with step-by-step instructions for running a successful teen discussion.
• Fact sheets

Teens who see warning signs in themselves or friends need to take them seriously and know how to get help.

The 10 Warning Signs

1. Feeling very sad, withdrawn or unmotivated for more than two weeks.
2. Making plans or trying to harm or kill oneself.
3. Out-of-control, risk-taking behaviors.
4. Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes with a racing heart or fast breathing.
5. Not eating, throwing up or using laxatives to lose weight; significant weight loss or weight gain.
6. Severe mood swings causing problems in relationships.
7. Excess use of drugs or alcohol.
8. Drastic changes in behavior, personality, or sleeping habits.
9. Extreme difficulty in concentrating or staying still.
10. Intense worries or fears getting in the way of daily activities like hanging out with friends or going to classes.

"NAMI can provide the tools, but it's religious and civic leaders who can inspire broad conversations in their communities," said Giliberti.

"We need to reach out to teens who are looking for guidance or who themselves are leaders among their peers."   

Dr. Lieberman Releases New Book 

Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman released his new book Shrinks: The Untold Story of Psychiatry earlier this week. In Shrinks, Dr. Lieberman traces the field from its birth as a mystic pseudo-science through its adolescence as a cult of "shrinks" to its late blooming maturity -- beginning after World War II -- as a science-driven profession that saves lives. With fascinating case studies and portraits of the luminaries of the field - from Sigmund Freud to Eric Kandel -- Shrinks is a gripping and illuminating read, and an urgent call-to- arms to dispel the stigma of mental illnesses by treating them as diseases rather than unfortunate states of mind. The book is available on Amazon, and bookstores, click here to see more.   

Every year, nearly 40,000 Americans kill themselves. The majority are men, and most of them use guns. In fact, more than half of all gun deaths in the United States are suicides. Experts and laymen have long assumed that people who died by suicide will ultimately do it even if temporarily deterred. "People think if you're really intent on dying, you'll find a way," said Cathy Barber, the director of the Means Matters campaign at Harvard Injury Control Research Center.

Now many experts are calling for a reconsideration of suicide-prevention strategies. While mental health and substance abuse treatment must always be important components in treating suicidality, researchers like Ms. Barber are stressing another avenue: "means restriction."  Click here to read the full article from The New York Times 

March 14 - Join NAMI Queens/Nassau as they begin a new Family-to-Family course being held at Greater Allen Cathedral in Queens.  Classes will take place on Saturday afternoons from 1:30 - 4:00 PM.  To learn more or register e-mail [email protected] or call 516-326-0797.

March 16 - Join NAMI Mid-Hudson as they begin a new Family-to-Family course being held at the Dover High School.  Classes will be held on Monday evenings from 7:00 - 9:30 PM, for more information contact Bob or Jo Ann Brown at 845-832-6368 or [email protected].   

March 18- Join NAMI Mid-Hudson as they begin another new Family-to-Family course being held at the MidHudson Regional Hospital of Westchester Medical Center, in Poughkeepsie. Classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 - 9:30 PM, for more information contact Bob or Jo Ann Brown at 845-832-6368 or by e-mail.  

March 19 - Join NAMI of Otsego for a new Peer-to-Peer Education Class at the Mt. View Social Club in Oneonta.  Classes will be held Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.  For more information e-mail  [email protected] 

March 19 - Join NAMI Rockland County for a new Family-to-Family course which will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 9:00 PM at the Rockland Psychiatric Center.  To learn more contact NAMI Rockland at 845-359-8787.

March 24 - Join NAMI-NYC Metro for a new Basics course being held at the NAMI-NYC Metro office on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 - 8:30 PM.  For more information or to sign up please contact Deniece Chi at 212-684-3365 ext 203 or by e-mail.

March 24 - Join NAMI of Otsego County for a new Family-to-Family course beginning in Oneonta. To register: contact: Kim, P.O. Box 804 Oneonta, NY 13820 or call 607-351-3392 or Email.   

March 25 - Join NAMI-NYC Metro for a new Basics course being held at the NAMI-NYC Metro office on Wednesday mornings from 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM.  For more information or to sign up please contact Deniece Chi at 212-684-3365 ext 203 or by e-mail.

April 6 - Join NAMI Buffalo and Erie County for a new Family-to-Family course at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Eggertsville, NY.  Classes will be held on Monday evenings at 6:00 PM.  For more information contact NAMI Buffalo and Erie at 716-226-6264.    

April 6 -  Join NAMI Columbia County as they offer a new Family-to-Family course.  This course will be abbreviated and offered twice a week for six weeks in Valatie, NY.  Monday and Wednesday classes will be available from 6:00 - 8:45 PM.  For more information contact MaryEllen or Debra at 518-573-1563.

April 7 - Join NAMI NYC State Island as the begin a new Peer-to-Peer course.  Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 - 8:30 PM, and you must register in advance.  For more information or to register contact Linda at 718-477-1700 or by e-mail.

April 9 -  Join NAMI of Otsego County for a In Our Own Voice presentation at 7:00 PM at State University at Oneonta, Morris Conference Center, Craven Lounge.  All welcome For more information:  [email protected] 

March 22 - Join NAMI of Central Suffolk as they invite you to join them for a Spring walk on a nature trail to the lighthouse at Robert Moses State Park.  The walk will be from 2:00 - 4:00 PM, for more information contact Sandy at 631-793-4712 or by e-mail.    

March 27 - Join NAMI for their Ask the Doctor call where the topic will be Communication between Families and Providers with Dr. Stewart Newman and Jerry Gabay.  The call will take place from 11:00 AM - Noon. The calls are toll free to access the toll-free call, please dial 1-888-858-6021; access number 309918#.

March 31 - Join NAMI Huntington as they participate in 'Vigil For The Homeless.'  The affiliate is seeking donations of clean or gently used warm clothing, sheets, towels and blankets to be distributed to needy families.  For more information contact Jayette at 631-385-0754.  

April 1 - Join NAMI of Central Suffolk for an event with Jim Ryan, Founder and President of Jim Ryan Talks.  Jim will discuss living a life of joy, fulfillment and success.  This speaking event will be held at Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson at 7:30 PM.  For more information, contact Deb Mayo at 631-675-6831.  

April 9 - Join NAMI of Columbia County for a special educational meeting featuring Jason Paden.  Jason will be telling his personal story of recovery and wellness.  For more information on this event contact Pat Anders at  [email protected] or 518-336-0246.