NAMI NH ENews | March 1, 2021 |
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NAMI Basics Comes to NH:
Registration Opens for Free Virtual Program
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NAMI Basics is a free, six-session program designed for parents and other family caregivers of children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral difficulties.
To reserve your spot in the NAMI Basics virtual session starting next month, contact Nancy Hollinshead at 631-987-3063.
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Women's History Month:
Honoring the Original NAMI Mommies
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(Pictured: NAMI NH First Board President Peggy Straw (right) & our Second Board President Rona Purdy (left))
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Social change is so often driven by women – women who are seeking to improve the world for themselves and those they love, especially their children. NAMI New Hampshire was founded by concerned women – mothers whose adult children were living with mental illness. In the words of our Founder, Peggy Straw, NAMI NH started at her kitchen table in an effort to help six hurting families in 1978.
Most of us who do this work have lived experience with mental illness and suicide loss. We do this work because no mother’s child should have to fear seeking help for a medical condition because of stigma.
During this #WomensHistoryMonth, we tip our hats to the original NAMI Mommies, and to the countless women who have stepped up in the ensuing decades because #MentalHealthMatters.
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Today in NH Emergency Departments... |
20 children and 57 adults (51 in EDs, 6 in correctional facilities) are waiting for psychiatric hospital care.
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The pandemic continues to take a toll on mental health, especially that of children. This is evidenced by record high numbers of children and total individuals being boarded last month.
If folks are experiencing anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide or signs of other mental health conditions, it’s important to seek help now – from a primary care provider, local mental health center, or other provider. Don’t wait until the situation escalates into a crisis. Please know that if it is a crisis, most people who go to the emergency room are assessed and provided follow-up treatment and not impacted by the current wait for inpatient beds.
Local community mental health centers offer 24/7 services; find your local CMHC: www.NAMINH.org/CMHCs
View a recording of the recent Onward NH webinar, Mental Health Emergencies: Resources & Strategies to Move Beyond a Police Response: https://youtu.be/-PI2YtI54pY
To connect with (non-crisis) resources & support in the Granite State, contact NAMI New Hampshire's Info & Resource Line at 1-800-242-6264 (press 4) or info@NAMINH.org, or call 211.
Connect with NAMI NH Online Support Groups:
Find your local Peer Support Agency:
To learn about resources, supports, FAQs, alternatives, rights and what to expect in the ED, visit: www.NAMINH.org/EDBoarding
NAMI NH shares ED boarding posts on Tuesdays and Thursdays with the most recently available data.
NAMI NH continues to make ED boarding a top priority of advocacy efforts on behalf of individuals and families affected by mental illness and suicide.
Recognizing the immediacy of the current situation, there have been ongoing meetings and discussions among key stakeholders including: the Governor’s Office, bipartisan Senate leadership, the Department of Health and Human Services, the New Hampshire Hospital Association, the Community Behavioral Health Association (Community Mental Health Centers), advocates (Including NAMI NH), and other key stakeholders in attempts to identify immediate steps which could be taken to provide enhanced community supports and/or inpatient/residential supports to safety and effectively assist the children and their families who are currently being boarded.
As a result of those meetings, NH DHHS Commissioner Lori Shibinette announced on February 18th that New Hampshire Hospital would temporarily reduce adult capacity in order to open up (10) beds for children. More potential solutions continue to be examined and discussed.
Alarmed by the rise in ED boarding rates the past several months, and the ongoing inability to resolve boarding over the past 8 years, NAMI NH filed an amicus (friend of the court) brief with the NH Supreme Court on a case determining whether individuals in a mental health crisis being boarded in emergency departments are entitled to a hearing to determine if there is probable cause to detain them. The NAMI NH brief filed on January 31, 2021 does not argue points of law, but rather provides an overview of the history of mental health care in NH and the human impact of ED boarding while maintaining the position NAMI NH has continuously held: emergency department boarding is wrong medically, legally, ethically, morally and economically; and people in mental health crisis should have immediate access to mental health care.
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Mental Health Emergencies |
A recording is now available of the recent Onward NH webinar: Mental Health Emergencies: Resources & Strategies to Move Beyond a Police Response. Click here to view.
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Legislative Update
(Week of March 1, 2021)
NAMI New Hampshire is tracking the following bills that have upcoming hearings. Members of the public can share their position and/or attend these hearings virtually using the links below. We encourage mental health and suicide prevention advocates to make your voices heard. It’s never been easier to do so, given the current flexibility of virtual participation.
It takes about one minute to sign in on a bill to show your support or opposition, or to request an opportunity to testify. You will need the date and time of hearing, bill number, and committee name. You may complete this form now or at any time, but please sign in no later than 8:00 am on the hearing day:
For Senate Bills (start with SB) sign in here:
NAMI NH will submit our official organizational position on legislation. Please be certain to make the following selections when completing the above form(s):
- I am: Member of the Public
- I’m representing: Myself
If you would like additional information, or assistance in drafting testimony, please contact advocacy@NAMINH.org.
Executive Session – Tuesday, March 2nd, 9:00 am
HB 578: Relative to standards for mental health courts.
(NAMI NH SUPPORTS)
Committee: House Judiciary Committee
NAMI NH strongly encourages mental health advocates to call or email members of the House Judiciary Committee and encourage them to SUPPORT HB 578:
HB 578 was introduced as a result of the recommendations from the Mental Health Courts Commission. This bill would task the court with developing standards for a statewide mental health court system. NAMI NH Deputy Director Susan Stearns served on the Mental Health Courts Commission, whose final report and recommendations can be reviewed here. (will be linked). While HB 578 won’t necessarily establish more mental health courts immediately, it is a step forward in a longer-term strategy NAMI NH embarked on in 2019 when we brought forward and passed SB 51, which established the Commission to make recommendations on mental health courts.
Tuesday, March 2nd, 10:00 am
HB 502: Establishing a committee to study whether adequate funds are being set aside from the tobacco fund for youth and young adult prevention to help preserve long-term health.
(NAMI NH SUPPORTS)
Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs Committee
Wednesday, March 3rd, 8:30 am
SB 156: Relative to management of the secure psychiatric unit facility at New Hampshire hospital.
(NAMI NH SUPPORTS)
Committee: Senate Health and Human Services Committee
Thursday, March 4th, 10:45 am
HB 120: Relative to administration of psychotropic medications to children in foster care.
(NAMI NH SUPPORTS)
Committee: House Children and Family Law Committee
Monday, March 8th, 10:00 am (Continued)
HB 602: Relative to reimbursements for telemedicine.
(NAMI NH OPPOSES)
Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs Committee
Monday, March 8th, 1:00 pm (Continued)
HB 103: Establishing a dental benefit under the state Medicaid program.
(NAMI NH SUPPORTS)
Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs Committee
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People In Crisis Deserve Help, Not Handcuffs |
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“Daniel Prude. Walter Wallace Jr. Patrick Warren Sr. These are just some of the people with mental illness who died in the hands of police officers in the last year. Nearly 1 in 4 people shot and killed by police officers from 2015-2020 had a mental health condition. The problem is clear: law enforcement departments are not equipped to respond to a mental health crisis. A mental health crisis deserves a mental health response..."
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NAMI Statement on House Passage of COVID-19 Relief Bill |
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“Over the past year our world has been rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic, isolation, economic uncertainty, racial injustice, political strife, violence and more. It is no surprise that this atmosphere has led to the epidemic within the pandemic: a mental health crisis.
We continue to face an uphill battle with an underfunded, fractured mental health system. That’s why we are grateful Congress is recognizing the need for mental health services and their vital importance to our nation’s recovery..."
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NAMI NH is Nonpartisan
Like mental illness and suicide, NAMI New Hampshire is nonpartisan. We support policies that help people with mental health conditions and their families, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders on shared goals to improve the lives of individuals affected by mental illness and suicide.
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(Laconia Daily Sun)
(NHPR)
(NHPR)
(Laconia Daily Sun)
(NHPR)
(Concord Monitor)
(Laconia Daily Sun)
(Boston Globe)
(NY Post)
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Join Our Team!
NAMI NH currently has openings for Family Peer Support Specialists (FT) and also a Producing Support Coordinator (PT).
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Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the NH Department of Health & Human Services, and Governor Sununu, NAMI NH is extending the suspension of all in-person support group meetings, classes, presentations, and trainings through March 31, 2021.
During this period of physical distancing, the NAMI NH team is working hard to stay socially connected to Granite Staters affected by mental illness and suicide.
To connect with resources & support, contact NAMI NH's Info & Resource Line at info@NAMINH.org or 1-800-242-6264 (press 4).
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The 2021 edition of the Survivors of Suicide Loss report is now available to read by clicking here.
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Strengthening the Community's Safety Net - How YOU Can Help Prevent Suicide
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Suicide Prevention Resources |
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High 5 Challenge Starts March 1st!
Join the challenge and run, walk, hike, or bike 5, 10, or 15 miles. The challenge is to complete one of these distances in one day, once a week, for 5 weeks! If you complete more than one of these workouts per week, air HI-5's from us to you!
THE CHALLENGE INCLUDES:
High-5 Challenge short sleeve event tee
Downloadable print at home bib for each week
Opportunities to be entered into weekly and grand prizes
Training tips & motivation from our experienced TI Trainers
Invitation to the private High-5 Challenge Facebook page
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Thank You for Being the Light!
We are beyond grateful to you, our NAMI NH Family, for keeping the flame of hope going for over 33,000 Granite Staters affected by mental illness and suicide in this tumultuous, challenging year. Your generous gifts help ensure all people in need of support, education, and advocacy continue to receive help today and in the future.
Over the past few months, we have seen that even in the darkest times hope abounds. Thank you for being the light.
To give to NAMI New Hampshire, please click here. We are grateful to you and for you!
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Thank you to Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson for demonstrating their steadfast support of Granite Staters affected by mental illness and suicide by renewing their corporate sponsorship for 2021. |
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NAMI NH Corporate Sponsor Partners
NAMI New Hampshire is grateful to our Corporate Sponsors and Members for their steadfast commitment to improving the lives of Granite Staters affected by mental illness and suicide. #hopestartswithyou
For information on Corporate Sponsorship, or to discuss additional partnership opportunities, contact Kristen Welch, CFRE, Director of Development, at kwelch@NAMINH.org or 603.235.5359 x350.
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Cannabis Use and Psychosis: Science and Practical Considerations
Onward NH Webinar Series
Click the video link to watch the latest Onward NH webinar. To access slide decks from Dr. Crow and Dr. Miller, visit https://www.onwardnh.org/edu/.
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NAMI NH's Online Groups
NAMI New Hampshire offers four unique online groups - they're places to find peer support, share experiences, offer encouragement, and pass along resources. Click each link below to learn more and request membership.
Don't hesitate to contact info@NAMINH.org or call 1-800-242-6264 with any questions.
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Online Support & Resources
The NAMI NH office is closed to the public and in-person support group meetings and trainings are suspended through March 31, 2021. However, staff members continue their work remotely, and with the exceptional assistance of NAMI NH volunteers, most support groups and other activities have moved online. Please reach out, and take good care.
Crisis Support - if you, or someone you know, is struggling emotionally - you are not alone.
NAMI NH's Info & Resource Line continues to operate!
To connect with support, message info@NAMINH.org or call 1-800-242-6264 (press 4).
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Calling All Youth in 5th - 12th Grades!
You're invited to submit creative pieces about #mentalhealth in NH. Deadline is 3/31 for the Magnify Voices Expressive Arts Content!
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Webinar Series from American Public Health Association |
APHA is hosting a webinar series to give an in-depth look at racism as a driving force of the social determinants of health and equity. The series will explore efforts to address systems, policies and practices designed to limit and shape opportunities for people of color. Presenters will highlight collective and individual actions we can take to advance racial equity and justice.
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The preparation of this newsletter was financed under an agreement with the State of New Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health, with funds provided in part or in whole by the State of New Hampshire and/or the United States Department of Health and Human Services. |
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