Advocacy Day is when over 200 NAMI Mass supporters come together to raise our voices for mental health in Massachusetts. Similar to last year, we will host the event in segments over 3 days, including speaker series and a NAMI Smarts for Advocacy training. The final day, April 5th, will culminate in meetings with your legislators. Registration link to come. Mark your calendars!

The portal for this years NAMIWalks Massachusetts will go live this Friday, January 20th! Team Captains that register 10 weeks before the Walk get a special gift, a NAMIWalks Portable Charger. Teams that register 3 or more months before Walk Day (Saturday, May 20th) raise 74% more on average than other teams! We also have terrific recognition gifts this year starting at $250. Check the NAMIWalks Mass portal starting 1/20

February SOS Presentation

When: Thursday, February 9, 2023, 5 – 6 pm

Register for Feb SOS presentation

January IOOV Presentation

When: Thursday, January 26, 2023, 5 – 6:30 pm

Register for Jan IOOV presentation

NAMI Plymouth In-Person IOOV Presentation

When: Saturday, February 4, 2023, 1 – 2:30 pm

Where: Wareham Library, 59 Marion Road, Wareham, MA

No registration required.

February IOOV Presentation

When: Tuesday, February 28, 2023, 5 – 6:30 pm

Register for Feb IOOV presentation

NAMI MetroWest F2F class

When: Saturdays, starting January 28th (Zoom)

Time: 9:00 – 11:30 am

Contact information: Mary Cockroft at novmam55@yahoo.com

Register For MetroWest F2F Class

NAMI Cape Cod F2F class

When: Thursdays, starting February 9th (Zoom)

Time: 6 – 8 pm

Contact information: Kim at klemmon@namicapecod.org

Register For Cape Cod F2F Class

⭐ NAMI Cambridge Middlesex & Central Middlesex F2F class

When: Saturdays, starting March 11th

Time: 9 – 11:30 am

Where: First Congregational Church, 21 Church Street, Winchester MA

Contact information: Linda at mojolb2@gmail.com

Register For Cambridge Middlesex & Central Middlesex F2F Class

NAMI Family-to-Family Leader Training

When: Saturday, 1/21/2023 – Sunday, 1/22/2023, 8:45 am – 6:00 pm

To register for this virtual training, please email Ilya Cherkasov by 1/4/23.

When: January 26 @ 6 – 7:15 pm (Zoom)

Aaron Katz, VP of Behavioral Health Services at Eliot Community Human Services, and key program staff, will provide everything you need to know about Eliot’s two new Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs). This new model of behavioral health care expands local access to routine, urgent, and crisis treatment for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. CBHCs play a key role in making services more available, accessible, equitable as well as provide access to treatment in one’s own community. Register for CBHC Webinar

Weekend Celebration: Jan 21 & Jan 22

This week, the Museum of Science is hosting a mental health themed event called Building Balance. Building Balance culminates with a 2-day weekend event filled with community groups, wellness-themed activities, and guest presentations, including from NAMI Mass!

• We will be running a table both days with information about NAMI Mass and our programs along with mental health activities
• One of our In Our Own Voice (IOOV) speakers will be delivering a 30-minute modified IOOV presentation at 1 PM on Saturday 1/21
• One of our Sharing Our Stories (SOS) speakers will be delivering a 30-minute modified SOS presentation at 1 PM on Sunday 1/22

This unique event offers opportunities to practice different mental wellness techniques, explore brains and neuroscience, and meet local scientists and community advocates as they share their stories and projects. Learn more and purchase MOS General Admission tickets

When: Wed, January 18 @ 6 – 8 pm

NASW-MA’s 9th annual MLK Jr. Forum on Racial Justice: The Disproportionate Impact of the Mental Health Crisis on Communities of Color will focus on inequities in access to mental health services and barriers to care facing Black, Indigenous and other people of color. Social workers will come together through this annual forum to learn strategies for engaging in advocacy to address this crisis, working together with those most impacted. Our moderator, Melissa Dagher works at Codman Square Health Center and is steeped in these issues daily. Panelists will discuss approaches to addressing inequities in the provision of mental health services, disparities in outcomes, and the role of implicit biases in feeding structural inequities in our Commonwealth and our nation. Register for the MLK Jr. Forum on Racial Justice

When: Wednesdays, starting January 18 - March 1

Time: 4:30 - 5:30 pm

This virtual six week workshop is for high-schoolers age 14-18 to learn how to more effectively express their feelings through creative activities in a safe, supportive space. Activities include journaling, drawing, and more. A brief screening is required to complete registration. More info and register for Kick Back with Expressive Therapy for Teens

When: January 19th, 2023

Time: 6:30 - 7:30 pm (Zoom)

Join NAMI Greater Boston for their monthly Zoom Speaker Series, featuring Alexander Bela Kirk. Alex's presentation will synthesize what he learned from writing his memoir. Q&A at the end. Learn more about this month's Series

When: Monday, Jan 23 @ 7:30 PM (Zoom)

Join representatives from Advocates and NAMI Central Middlesex to learn about the services available at the new 24/7 Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) & the Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL). Learn more and register

When: Jan 25th, 12-1 pm or 5:30-6:30 pm (Zoom)

& Feb 1, 12-1 pm or 5:30-6:30 pm (Zoom)

PLAN of MA & RI is hosting four informational webinars for you to learn about special needs trusts and how they can help you and your loved ones plan for the future! Learn more and register for a PLAN webinar

When: Friday, January 27 @ 6 pm (Zoom)

Caregivers with mental health and/or substance misuse challenges and their children often feel shame and stigma from their communities when it comes to parenting. A team of Certified Peer Specialists at the Massachusetts General Hospital COE for Psychosocial and Systemic Research created two videos designed for both people with lived experience and healthcare workers. Join for a facilitated viewing of the videos followed by discussion. Learn more about the DBSA Boston Series

When: January 31st

Time: 10 am PST (1 pm EST) (Zoom)

This 75-minute webinar provides a community-defined and evidence-based foundation for mental health providers serving queer and transgender communities. Drawing from historical and current perspectives, this webinar introduces a comprehensive approach to queer and transgender care with a focus on trauma-informed care for trans youth. Centering anti-racism, community lived experience, and an interdisciplinary framework, this webinar explores strengths, weaknesses, and best practices of trauma-informed care for trans youth. Register for the Queer & Trans Youth Mental Health Webinar

When: Monday evenings (Zoom)

Time: 5:30 - 7 pm

A group for siblings and cousins impacted by homicide, suicide, overdose, and incarceration. This group also offers a non-judgmental space for those battling substance use disorders to help manage their conditions while grieving their loved ones. Contact Janice for more information at Janice@LDBpeaceinstitute.org

The Behavioral Health Help Line and the Community Behavioral Health Centers are officially open as of January 3rd! View an updated list of CBHCs with addresses & phone numbers.

The primary goals of the training are to

1. Increase understanding of trauma,
2. Create an awareness of the impact of trauma on behavior, and
3. Develop trauma-informed responses.

The target audiences for the training program are primarily

• community-based criminal justice system professionals, including law enforcement, community corrections (probation, parole, and pre-trial services), and court personnel, as well as
• human service providers that serve adult justice-involved populations.

This event is no cost to experienced trainers who successfully complete the application process by February 16, 2023. View solicitation and apply

This study is interested in identifying barriers to engaging in mental health care for Black adults. Consider applying for this research study:

• If you identify as Black, are between 18-45 years, & have not seen a psychiatrist or therapist in the last 12 months.

Read about the SRC study and apply

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University is conducting a research study to support peer providers. The Center is developing and testing a coaching service called Coaching and Advancement for Peer Providers (CAPP). To participate in our study, PSS should:

• Work in a paid position at least 10 hours/week, have been employed the past 6 months in mental health field, & be experiencing stress because of challenges in the workplace 

Learn more about PSS study and apply

This study is a fully remote clinical trial evaluating the impact of a well-being mobile app known as the Healthy Minds Program for people experiencing depression. Participants will receive $265 upon completion of all study activities. You may be eligible if you:

• Are 18 – 65 years old, currently feel depressed or down, or have experienced depression in the past, & have no significant experience with meditation

Learn more about study and apply

This 24 hour a week Executive Director position has overall strategic and operational responsibility for Tunefoolery’s (TF) staff, members, and programming. Tunefoolery is a non-profit organization for musicians in mental health recovery.

Read the full ED description at LinkedIn

The Family Advisory Board for iSPARC and Transitions ACR in the Psychiatry Department at UMass Chan Medical School is recruiting new members. They are looking for family members of people with lived experience of a mental health condition to infuse family voice into their research and knowledge sharing endeavors. They meet on the 3rd Thursday evening of every month, via Zoom. For more information or to join FAB, contact Jean Wnuk, FAB Facilitator.

Dr. Christine Crawford, NAMI National's Associate Medical Director, is writing the second NAMI book focused on youth mental health — and she's hoping to speak to individuals and families with lived experience. Please email azielinski@nami.org, with your name and an overview of your experience with mental health.