October 21st, 2016
 
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EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE
THIS SUNDAY

This week's edition of the NAMI-NYS E-Newsletter comes as we approach the deadline for early-bird registration for the 2016 NAMI-NYS Education Conference. 

Many of this week's articles detail issues that will featured at this year's conference including trauma, the benefits of Kendra's Law  and the role spiritual leaders can play in engaging people in mental health.  

As always, we want to know about the work you are doing. Please email  Matthew@NAMINYS.org with details and pictures about your work. This way we can feature it in the E-News and print Newsletter. Showcasing your work will allow others to learn from you and that's the best way we can grow together as an organization. 

Hope Starts With You!
NAMI-NYS News
Films Utilized to Detail How Mental Illness Impacts Families  at  2016 NAMI-NYS Education Conference

FINAL DAYS TO REGISTER AT EARLY-BIRD RATES


The  2016 NAMI-NYS Education Conference- New Horizons in Recovery: Breakthroughs in Research and Treatment  will feature how films can tell the powerful stories of how mental illness impacts entire families. 
 
On Friday, November 11, Randi Silverman, Founder/CEO, The Youth Mental Health Project and Writer/Producer of the film NO LETTING GO will detail how her family's journey to seek understanding and help for their son's mental illness was turned into an award winning film.
 
Following dinner on Saturday, November 12, there will be a screening of the documentary Living in Recovery, which tells the story of 2015 NAMI-NYS Young Adult Award Winner, Allie Hill, and her family as they navigate her road to recovery. The unflinching documentary shows how challenging and dark the recovery journey can be, as well as the strength and hope needed to persevere by individuals and families alike. Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion with film director, Morgan Malecki, Allie and her mother Tina Lee. 
 
SUNDAY IS THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER AT THE EARLY-BIRD RATES
 
Register today to receive the best rates for this year's conference. This Sunday is the deadline to take advantage the early-bird conference rates. You can also click here to obtain a printable registration form, that can be emailed to Sharon@naminys.org or faxed to 518-462-3811 
 
You can click here to view the agenda for the conference  
 
Click here to register.
 
NAMI Westchester Holds Advocacy Event and
Tells Governor Cuomo:
DON'T FAIL US!
On Saturday, October 15 th , NAMI Westchester held the event
Moving Forward: The Next Steps in Mental Health Advocacy in New York State and Nation Wide. NAMI-NYS Public Engagement Coordinator, Matthew Shapiro, detailed how to build on our legislative successes from the past two years and take the next steps in advocating on behalf of issues that will provide care for caregivers and create a more mentally healthy New York State. 
 
Matthew also explained the need to urge Governor Cuomo to sign the Step Therapy legislation to regulate fail first policies by insurance companies. Following the presentation, several participants including NAMI-NYS Board Member, Rob Laitman, and NAMI Westchester President, Eva Hale, filmed videos telling Governor Cuomo "Don't Fail Us" and urging him to sign the step therapy legislation. 

You can click here to view the videos on our Facebook page. We urge all of our members to film such videos and put them on social media tagging Governor Cuomo (@NYGOVCUOMO on Twitter) and using the hashtags #FailFirst and #StepTherapy.

NAMI-NYS Participates in CIT Training 
for Police in Albany County 
 
On Thursday, October 20th, NAMI-NYS Public Engagement Coordinator, Matthew Shapiro participated in a CIT training held by Albany County. The training was attended by police from the Albany Police Department, Cohoes, parole officers and correction officers. Along with explaining the perspectives of families in a mental health crisis, Matthew explained how NAMI is aiming to partner with police including distributing NAMI's Police Mental Health document
 
One of the police officers explained how much he appreciated talking to families when responding to a crisis, as families often provide valuable information on the person in crisis including their symptoms and how to communicate with them. He also expressed that its so important the NAMI educates families and explains to them how communicate what happens when the loved one is experiencing a psychotic episode. One of the other officers opened up about some of her mental health issues. 
 
NAMI-NYS Participates Candidates Forum
 
On Tuesday, October 18th, our colleagues at Rehabilitative Support Services, the Association for Community Living and the Mental Health Association co-hosted a mental health forum, featuring 19 candidates for NYS Assembly and Senate seats representing the Democratic, Republican and Green Parties. Most in the audience were quite impressed with the candidate's knowledge on a broad range of issues impacting the delivery of mental health services and effecting both individuals and families.
 
Among the highlights were Assemblymember James Tedisco (who is now running for the State Senate) detailing how the minimum wage issue negatively impacts mental health providers, the need for step therapy reform, and stating "I understand my role is to remove obstacles."  Senator George Amedore stated "No doubt mental health impacts everyone and there is still a stigma surrounding it." Assemblymember Patricia Fahy discussed the importance of housing issues investing in this can prevent both homelessness and entry into the criminal justice system as well as the need for treating entire families and how this can be done at school. Senator Neil Breslin discussed the need to expand early intervention programs and the potential crisis for direct care workers due to the minimum wage issue. State Senate candidate Chris Davis discussed trauma and the ACES study and how we need to extend statute of limitations in abuse cases. State Senate candidate Chad Putnam detailed how he has been both a consumer and provider of mental health services. Although she is not up for re-election this year, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan spoke about how Albany has been one of three site for the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) pilot program along with the need for housing and supported services.
 
NAMI-NYS Public Engagement Coordinator attended the forum and met with many of the legislators and candidates after their presentations to discuss NAMI-NYS priority issues.  
 
NAMI Schnectady Holds Lunch Event 
with Ellis Hospital Mental Health Clinic

On Wednesday, October 19th NAMI Schnectady held a lunch meeting with key staff from the Ellis Hospital Mental Health Clinic. Among those attending were Dr. Heidi Van Bellingham, senior psychiatrist at the clinic along with Mary May and Anna Rossi, administrative social workers and Tracy Jones of clinic admissions. The staff detailed what the clinic and PROS recovery programs do and how they operate; how they're dealing with the shortage of space and personnel, and why delays occur in intake of new admissions, among other issues.

NAMI-NYS's Alicia Burns attended and detailed the services NAMI-NYS offers for both families and individuals and we are striving to partner with providers to augment what they are able to provide. NAMI-NYS encourages all of our affiliates to develop relationships with their local providers. 

NAMI News
Mental Health Services Improving But...


Salina Journal focuses on a NAMI Conference held in Kansas, where senior policy advisor Ron Honberg stated that although the services for mental illnesses are improving; there is a lot of work to be done in terms of funding and proper education. He also suggests that law enforcement officers should be properly trained when in a situation that involves someone with a mental illness.

Click here to read more
NAMI Looks at Pregnancy and Depression


This article from NAMI News discusses pregnancy and the tendencies for pregnant women to develop depression. A change in hormones can affect a mother's stress levels, which ultimately leads to symptoms of depression. Depression not only affects the mother if left untreated, it can also lead to a miscarriage or pre-term labor. NAMI suggests being in contact with one's care physician if pregnancy is something that one is considering, and to keep in mind overall health before considering having a child. 

Click here to read more.

New York State News
 
 
The Daily News States: She Didn't Have to Die:
A Fatal Encounter Between the NYPD and the Mentally Ill
 
 
In a very interesting opinion editorial, the Daily News discusses the recent tragedy where police killed Deborah Danner, a 66 woman with schizophrenia. The incident led to Police Commissioner Jimmy O'Neill stating "What's clear in this instance is that we failed."
 
The Daily News argues that despite the commissioner's statement, and the fact that Ms. Danner's "deeply compromised mental health should have been no surprise to the NYPD's 43rd Precinct, which had previously been called at least four times to the apartment under similar circumstances. Yet responding cops appeared caught off guard, even while neighbors were well familiar with Danner's bellowed threats to commit violence,"  there is a lot more blame to go around
 
They argue that along with the mistake made by police, "most pressingly, the city must stop dancing around the urgent need to more aggressively use its legal authority to ensure the most seriously mentally ill people get the medical help they need." They explain how improved enforcement of Kendra's Law could have prevented this tragedy.
 
Click here to read more. 
 
A discussion on Kendra's Law will be included at the Sunday Morning Advocacy Town Hall at the 2016 NAMI-NYS Education Conference. We are honored to be joined by Pat Webdale, the mother of Kendra Webdale, whose death led to implementation of Kendra's Law. Register Today to receive the early-bird rates. 
 
Dr. Lloyd Sederer Discusses the Need to Sustain
Opioid Abuse Prevention 
 
 
NAMI-NYS is thrilled to welcome back Dr. Lloyd Sederer, Medical Editor, Mental Health, The Huffington Post; Adjunct Professor, Columbia University; Chief  Medical Officer, New York State Office of Mental Health to present at the 2016 NAMI-NYS Education Conference.  Dr. Sederer will be discussing his new book, Improving Mental Health: Four Secrets in Plain Sight.
 
Click here  to read a recent article Dr. Sederer wrote in U.S. News and World Report about addressing the opioid epidemic. 
 
 
New York Giants Player Damon Harrison Writes About
Weathering the Storm of Trauma
 
 
In last week's NAMI-NYS E-News, we detailed how the 2016 NAMI-NYS Education Conference, will be having a featured session on recognizing and addressing trauma. 
 
Trauma can impact people in many different ways and have long-term effects. In the Players Tribune, New York Giants player Damon Harrison details his experience with Hurricane Rita, one which led to a crossroads for him.  At one point he contemplated taking his own life, but has come through the other side and now serves as an inspiration.
 
Click here to read more.
 
National News

My Pastor Told Me it was a Sin Not to Feel Joy.

Here's What Happens When Churches Ignore Mental Illness.


This Washington Post article illustrates how the writer and her daughter dealt with their mental illnesses in the wake of the lack of support from the church. Charlotte Donion, expresses how the church and many pastors do not take into account mental illness in their ministry, or that they fail to acknowledge those who attend their services with mental disorders. She explains that churches need to be more supportive and encouraging of those with mental illnesses.
 
Click here to read more.
 
The 2016 NAMI-NYS Education Conference will feature a session on engaging faith communities in mental health issues. Register today to receive the early-bird rates. 
 
New Generation of Health Care Workers

This article from Spokesman discusses the development of a new health clinic in Spokane, Washington that works to train new health care professionals. Dr. Hela Kelsch is one of the many professionals at Spokane Teaching Health Clinic completing their residencies, and she serves as a great example for what the clinic has to offer those in the health field. The clinic provides services to many uninsured and low income families, and it has a big focus on mental health disparities. Contact information for the clinic can be found within the article.

Click here to read more.

Harnessing Social Media to Connect Homeless People with Their Families

Social media is one of main forms of communication for much of the world, connecting people from different countries and continents in just the click of a button. This article from National Public Radio discusses how one organization works with connecting homeless women and men in the San Francisco region with their families. Kevin Adler is the founder of the organization Miracle Messages, and his own experience with a family member who had suffered from schizophrenia and lived on and off the streets inspired him to create Miracle Messages.    
 
Click here to read more. 
 
Atrocity Exhibit

The Atlantic focuses on songwriter and artist Danny Brown and his ongoing struggles with depression and anxiety. The article features several excerpts of interviews and tweets from Brown, discussing the fact that most of his songs and posts are in relation to his own mental health, and that his fans and the media do not take mental disorders seriously. Brown is just one example of the stress that is placed on many famous people in terms of their health and other factors that fans are not able to see. 
 
Click here to read more.

NIMH News
 
 
NAMI NYS is honored to welcome Robert Heinssen, PhD, ABPP, Director, Division of Services and Intervention Research, National Institute of Mental Health to present an NIMH research update at the 2016 NAMI-NYS Education Conference.   Click here to learn more about Dr. Heinssen. Click here to register today to receive the early-bird rates. 
 
NIMH Update
 
Click here to read the latest Update from NIMH.
 
 
NIMH Releases Strategic Research Priorities Update
 
To keep pace with rapid developments in research on mental illnesses, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) recently released updates to its Strategic Research Priorities. These priorities serve as guidance to NIMH grantees, potential grant applicants, and staff for the design and implementation of future research.
 
Click here to read more.
 
NIH Nearly Doubles Investment in BRAIN Initiative Research
The National Institutes of Health announced its third round of grants to support the goals of the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, bringing NIH's total fiscal year 2016 investment to just over $150 million. Read more here:  http://bit.ly/2dpOvzW 
 
First Episode Psychosis Survey: 
10 minutes to Advance Science
 
NAMI-NYS encourages our readers to participate in this Stanford University survey on first episode psychosis. The survey seeks input from youth, young adults and families with personal experience of early psychosis.  
 
The survey takes about 5-10 minutes and is anonymous. Feedback will help researchers improve how individuals and their families find and engage with First Episode Psychosis (FEP) treatment programs. The survey is open until October 31, 2016.
 
About the survey:   The survey was designed by Stanford University and PEPPNET, the Prodrome and Early Psychosis Program Network. PEPPNET is housed at Stanford University and is supported by NIMH and SAMHSA. PEPPNET is made up of researchers, advocates, program directors, government agencies and other experts working to expand first episode psychosis (FEP) programs. 
 
Click here to participate
 
Join A Study of Schizophrenia and the Brain: 

A Six-month Inpatient Evaluation Study 

Have you been diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder? Are you between 18 and 55 years of age? Would you be willing to live at the Clinical Center on the NIH campus for six months? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a study designed to understand the neurological basis of schizophrenia and to determine which symptoms are related to the illness and which are related to the medications used to treat the illness.

This six-month study has three phases: In the first phase you will participate in many comprehensive medical, neurological, cognitive, and psychiatric evaluations. In the second phase, the research phase, you will be tapered off of your medication for about 4 weeks. In the time that your medication is discontinued, research procedures will allow investigators to distinguish the effects of the illness on the brain without the interference of the medication's effects. In the third phase, you will have the opportunity to stabilize using the treatment selected to be most helpful to you.
To find out if you qualify,  email NIMH   or call 1-301-435-8970 (1-888-674-6464) [TTY: 1-866-411-1010].
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Protocol Number:  89-M-0160   
 
NAMIWALKS 2016

 
Again,  NAMI-NYS wants to thank all who made our first NAMIWalks NYS a success!!!

You Can Still Donate to NAMIWalks NYS 
& Help Us Provide  Education and Support

Click here to make a donation to NAMIWalks NYS and help us meet the growing requests we receive for our Signature Programs such as Family-to-Family, Peer-to-Peer, In Our Own Voice and Ending the Silence, all of which we offer at no cost to the public. Please help us meet the demands for these unique programs by supporting NAMIWalks NYS. 


Click her e  to watch the latest episode of Mental Health Now, featuring our NAMIWalks NYS Grand Marshall, Keith O'Neil.
Click here to learn about sponsorship opportunities

 # JoinTheMovement
#HopeStartsWithYou

Save the Dates
 
Click here to register for the 2016 NAMI-NYS Education Conference taking place November 11-13 at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany. 
 
 
October 25- NAMI Rochester will host the 15th Annual Jessica Henderson Memorial Event. The featured speaker will be WNBA great Chamique Holdsclaw. Chamique's mental illness recovery journey was recently featured in the documentary film Mind/Game: The Unquiet Journey of Chamique Holdsclaw. 
Click here  for more information. 
 
October 27 and 28th-The Mental Health Association Awards Dinner and Conference.  Register for both events and receive a discount!  Join us for a festive evening as we come together for a wonderful night to celebrate our MHA affiliate members and our colleagues across the state at our Annual Awards Dinner on October 27 th On October 28th  come to hear leading national behavioral health expert Linda Rosenberg's Keynote Address titled ' Creating Change that Matters: The Importance of Mental Health in Healthcare Reform' and more. Register today at MHANYS.org!
  November 1-4- The Association of  Community Living Agencies in Mental Health (ACLAIMH) will host its 37th Annual Conference - Housing is Healthcare (Open to All) - on Tuesday, November 1st-Friday, November 4th at The Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing, NY. There will be many sessions that provide social work continuing education credits.  Association of Community Living Agencies in Mental Health, Inc., (ACLAIMH), SW CPE is recognized by the New York Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. 
 
Click here for more information.
 
November 3 - NAMI Staten Island will be holding their 26 th Annual Awards Celebration at Li Greci's restaurant beginning at 6pm.  The Honorees are:
Deborah Bostwick OTR, MPS: Program Supervisor, Anna Erica CDT & Clinic Richmond University Medical Center
Kenneth Cybulska:  NAMI Connections facilitator & NAMI In Our Own Voice presenter
Danielle Douglas:  Detective Specialist, NYPD Patrol Borough S.I. Community Affairs 122 Precinct
David Hughes:  NAMI Connections facilitator & NAMI Peer-to-Peer mentor
 
 
NOVEMBER 8 - Brain & Behavior Research Foundation presents; Meet the Scientist: Could We Someday Prevent Schizophrenia Like We Prevent Cleft Palate? Presented by Robert R. Freedman, MD, Professor and Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine. Register now: bbrfoundation.org/webinar
 
November 10- The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) would like to invite you to our exciting  event with the Institute for Behavioral Healthcare Improvement, " Embracing Hope, Fighting Stigma at the New York Marriott Downtown featuring insights by Dr. Herbert Pardes, Executive Vice Chair of NY Presbyterian Hospital.
 
Please RSVP as soon as possible, space is limited !
 
Thank you for your support and participation. 
 
NOVEMBER 11-13-2016 NAMI-NYS Education Conference-
New Horizons in Recovery: Breakthroughs in Research and Treatment. The Desmond Hotel, Albany. Click here for more information
 
November 16th-
NAMI-NYC Metro will host their Seeds of Hope Gala.
The event will be hosted by Darryl "DMC" McDaniels. One of the pioneers of Hip-Hop culture and a founding member of Run-DMC, Darryl is an author and mental health advocate. He recently published his memoir, Ten Ways Not To Commit SuicideClick here for more information.
 
DECEMBER 13-
Brain & Behavior Research Foundation presents; Meet the Scientist:  Neuroinflammatory Hypotheses of Depression, presented byYvette I. Sheline, MD.
 Register now: bbrfoundation.org/webinar 
 
Signature Programs
Nov. 7 through Dec. 12, NAMI Huntington will be offering t NAMI Basics at Sagamore Children's Center  197 Half Hollow Road, Dix Hills, NY 11746 from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
 
Advanced Registration is Required
Please contact:
Kellie Gehrke
(631) 223-5028 kgehrke@fsl-li.org 
Pat Hillenbrand
 
   
To have your events and Signature Programs listed in the E-Newsletter contact Christine Rickeman at Christine@naminys.org. 
 

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