Buffalo Psychiatrist States People Living With Mental Illness Need Humane Care

 Carolyn Young, M.D. a psychiatrist in Buffalo, who also heads up the area's ACT Team, wrote a compelling letter to the editor of the Buffalo News stating that, "anyone who works with this population is aware of the difficulties inherent in providing safe, affordable housing, as well as in endeavoring to provide optimal mental health and medical treatment. Dr. Young also urges that, "we all, as residents of Erie County, need to demand humane care for our most vulnerable neighbors." Click here to read Dr. Young's Letter.

Raise the Age Hotly Debated During Budget Negotiations

 Governor's Cuomo's proposal to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18 years old is one of the more controversial issues being argued during the budget negotiations, both how far it goes, and for it not going far enough, to ensure protections for 16 and 17 year olds in New York. NAMI-NYS strongly supports raising the age, as currently New York is only one of two states where youth ages 16-17 can still be charged as an adult. Even if approved in the budget, it appears that the language of the law will be debated throughout the legislative session.

 Click here to read an in-depth article that examines all sides of this hot-button issue.

Supreme Court Considers Dispute Over Police Treatment Of Mentally Ill Suspects

On March 23rd, the United States Supreme Court heard a case that argued whether or not the nation's disabilities law require police to take special precautions when arresting armed and violent suspects who have mental illness. Unfortunately, Justices seemed skeptical about protecting suspects living with a mental illness. This case once again demonstrates the importance of incorporating CIT for police, so we can reduce the number of negative and potentially tragic outcomes that are detailed in the article. NAMI-NYS is continuing to fight for CIT expansion in New York State and we are optimistic that additional funds will be included in the upcoming budget.

 Click here to learn more about the Supreme Court case.

 5 Real Ways To Combat The Stigma Around Mental Illness

The Huffington Post recently published an article detailing five ways to combat the stigma around mental illness. One of the tools mentioned to combat stigma is family engagement. This coincides with NAMI-NYS's belief that the most successful recoveries happen when a person living with a psychiatric disorder, their providers and their family members work together as a recovery team.

Click here to read the article.

APA Reports Suicide Rates Disproportionately Higher 

in Rural Areas

An analysis of mortality data in young people (ages 10-24) has found that rural suicide rates are nearly double those of urban areas for both males and females.

Overall suicide rates in the most rural U.S. counties defined by population size and proximity to a metropolitan area were 19.93 per 100,000 for males and 4.40 per 100,000 for females, compared with 10.31 and 2.39 per 100,000 for males and females, respectively, in the most urban areas, according to a report in JAMA Pediatrics. In general, the rates trended higher as counties became more rural. The period under study was January 1, 1996, through December 31, 2010.

Firearms and hanging/suffocation were the two most common methods of suicide among youth (51 percent and 34 percent, respectively), though for both males and females the rates of suicide by firearm declined while rates of suicide by hanging/suffocation increased over time between 1996 and 2010.

Firearm suicide deaths showed some of the most striking rural-urban contrast; in the most recent period analyzed (2008-2010), the rates of suicide by firearm were about 3 times higher in rural areas compared with urban areas.

The study authors proposed that several factors may account for these trends, including geographic and social isolation, less availability of mental health services in rural areas, and more common ownership and use of firearms in such regions.

 2015 Brain Awareness Week

Twenty years ago, the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives launched Brain Awareness Week (BAW) - March 16 to 22 - in the U.S. to celebrate and increase the public's awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. What began as a partnership with 160 organizations stateside has now expanded to thousands of organizations and hundreds of countries across the globe.

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 8- Join NAMI Rochester as they begin their Family-to-Family course on Wednesdays from 6:30 - 9:00 PM at St. Mary's of the Lake Church in Ontario. For more information, contact [email protected] or call 315-370-9051.

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 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.     

April 11 - Join the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for their Out of the Darkness walk being held at the campus of RPI in Troy, NY.  The walk will begin at 11:00 AM, click here to register or learn more.