May 15, 2017

 
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It's Mental Health Awareness Month
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This week's NAMI E-News features our NAMI-NYS Ribbon Campaign in the New York State Legislative Office Building and our first set of NAMIWalks in New York.

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

NAMI-NYS Awareness Ribbons on Display Throughout the 
New York State Legislative Office Building

Top Row: Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senator Jesse Hamilton, Second Row: Assembly Mental Health Chair Aileen Gunther, Senate Mental Health Chair Robert Ortt, Senator John Brooks, Ranking Member Mental Health Committee. Third row: Senator David Carlucci, Senator Liz Kruger, Assistant Assembly Speaker Felix Ortiz. Fourth row: Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh. Fifth row: Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre, Assemblyman Gustavo Rivera, Senator Simcha Felder. Bottom Senator Sue Serino and the ribbon in Senator Ortt's office. 

The NAMI-NYS Ribbon Awareness campaign is in full-swing. This week we feature the ribbons on display at the New York State Legislative Office Building. We thank the many legislative leaders who have hung ribbons in their offices and who took the time out of their schedules to take pictures with the ribbons and NAMI-NYS staff. Click here to view an album of Legislative Office Building Ribbons. 

The Ribbon Campaign is a great way for NAMI-NYS members to introduce themselves and start developing relationships with your government leaders and their staff. We encourage you to visit the legislative and congressional district offices in your community and ask them to raise mental health awareness by hanging a ribbon.

It's not too late for you to participate in the campaign and raise awareness in your community.   Click here to view the campaign's brochure and email Bill@naminys.org to order ribbons and for more information.  

NAMI-NYS Bowling for Hope Event A Big Success!

Thank you to all who came out for our NAMI-NYS Bowling for Hope event on Friday, May 12th. The event was a fun-filled evening that raised funds for our NAMIWalks NYS. We also congratulate Ray (pictured above with NAMI-NYS Walks Manager Heide Garner), who won the prize for the best bowling score for the evening. However, everyone who supports and participates in our NAMIWalks NYS is a winner in our book. C lick here to join the NAMIWalks NYS team. 
 
NAMI Queens/Nassau and NAMI Rochester Kick Off
NAMIWalks Season in New York State

 
NAMIWalks season kicked off in New York State on Saturday, May 6th, as both NAMI Queens/Nassau and NAMI Rochester held their walks at Jones Beach and Village Gate Square respectively. Both walks featured beautiful days and enthusiastic participants.  You can still support both Walks efforts.

Click here to donate to the NAMI Queens/Nassau walk
Click here to donate to the NAMI Rochester walk. 

Ulster County Participates in NAMI Ribbon Campaign and 
Recognizes May as Mental Health Awareness Month
Ulster County Executive Mike Hein Presents NAMI Mid-Hudson's Tina Lee with a proclamation in front of a tree with a NAMI Ribbon

Ulster County Executive Mike Hein announced that Ulster County will recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Ulster County. As part of this recognition, Ulster County will be participating in the NAMI Ribbon Campaign by displaying awareness ribbons on the trees in front of the Ulster County Office Building.

  "More than 1 in 4 Americans suffer from mental health issues, individuals from all walks of life and backgrounds, and all too often stigma and fear of discrimination keep individuals from seeking out mental health services that they so desperately need" said County Executive Mike Hein. "Without proper treatment, mental health issues can significantly worsen and interfere with and individual's ability to lead a full and productive life. By raising awareness and promoting mental wellness education efforts we can support those among us in need." Click here to read more. 

Addiction Recovery Run

NAMI-NYS Executive Director Wendy Burch tables at the Suumer Smith5K in Guilderland, NY

On Saturday, May 13th, NAMI-NYS joined the team of participants and vendors at the SummerSmith5K Addiction Awareness Run/Walk.  The event was organized by Summer's mother, who lost her daughter to substance abuse.  Summer also struggled with mental health issues along with addiction, and we find many of our Helpline calls deal with those seeking support for a dual diagnosis of both mental illness and substance abuse. NAMI-NYS recognizes the need to partner with substance abuse organizations, as so many with mental illness attempt to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol, leading to addiction issues.

NAMI Rensselaer Participates in FaithNet Event

On May 11th, NAMI Renesselaer held a FaithNet program at the Macedonia Baptist Church in Albany.  Bettye Zeringue , Mary Beth Honsinger and Mary Crowley gave presentations that were well received by the attendees.

Support NAMI-NYS During Mental Health Awareness Month

We want to remind everyone that there are two other ways to support NAMI-NYS during the month of May. Throughout the month we will be partnering with Yankee Candle in a fundraising initiative.   Click here  to visit their fundraising store, which includes candles and other gifts, use the code 999968124 where it says "start shopping" and 40% of your purchase will go to NAMIWalks NYS. If you purchase $100 or more you receive free shipping. You can also spread awareness about this opportunity and our work on social media. Copy the link, and use this message: "May is Mental Health Awareness month. Help me help NAMI-NYS as they support individuals and families impacted by mental illness. Visit Yankee Candle's fundraising store, use the code 999968124 and 40% of your purchase will be used to help NAMI-NYS's mission of guiding people down the road to recovery from mental illness."



NAMI News
NAMI'S Ron Honberg Details the Future of Mental Health Care.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and this week Ron Honberg, NAMI's senior policy adviser, joined Derrick Dortch on Federal Radio to talk about how the American Health Care Act will affect health care programs designed to help millions of people with mental illness. 

Click here to listen.

New York State News
New York is Midway Through Monumental Medicaid Redesign

New York is midway through a monumental initiative begun in 2011 to redesign the costly Medicaid program, the largest purchaser of health services in the state for its 6.2 million beneficiaries.

Jason Helgerson, director of the state's Medicaid program, detailed the redesign program in Buffalo last week. He also repeated his warnings that the American Health Care Act that has advanced to the Senate could have a dire impact on patients, hospitals and taxpayers.

"The plan is a massive step backward in social justice and the core objective of expanding coverage in this country's history," Helgerson said. "I get the main point of reducing spending on health care. But there are far better ways to address that."

Click here to read more.

Mental Health Weekly Reports on Workforce Victory


Many of you helped project NAMI-NYS's advocacy voice during the campaign to increase salaries for the mental health workforce. This was a major victory for all individuals and families impacted by mental illness, as increasing worker's salaries will help us achieve our goal of having continuity of care in the community setting.

This victory has gained national attention as Mental Health Weekly featured an article on it. The article talks to consumer and provider organizations who are most directly impacted by the increase. Our colleague Glenn Liebman of the Mental Health Association of New York State is quoted in the article saying that NAMI-NYS played a role in this campaign.

Click here to read more.

CCSI Survey Corrected Link

In last week's E-News, NAMI-NYS encouraged our readers to take a moment to fill out a survey from CCSI's Center for Collaboration in Community Health. Unfortunately, CCSI provided us with the wrong link. You can click here to access the correct survey. We apologize for the mistake.

CCSI is a non-profit organization with an array of expertise in the health and human service field that offers technical assistance and consultation services throughout New York State. The goal of the survey is to better understand and define the measures and outcomes for family support services by asking people from a variety of perspectives; people that have participated in services, service providers, advocates etc. All responses are anonymous; CCSI will use your responses in an aggregated data analysis (summarized/averaged). Please feel free to reach out to Dr. Briannon O'Connor ( boconnor@ccsi.org ), Brian Smith ( bsmith@ccsi.org ) or Joslyn Teter ( jteter@ccsi.org ) with any questions or concerns!


National News
Instagram Launches #HereForYou Campaign 
for Mental Health Awareness

Instagram has recently announced their new campaign that addresses mental health issues head-on, by using social media and employing the hashtag, #HereForYou.  The campaign encourages users to open up about their personal struggles with mental health and join a global discussion. Instagram has teamed up with "Pretty Little Liars" actress Troian Bellisario, who has spoken about her own past struggles involving eating disorders, so that it could potentially help others that are currently dealing with similar issues. 

Click here to read more. 

Former US Mental-Health Chief Leaves Google for Start-Up

Former NIMH director Dr. Tom Insel, left Google on May 5 th  to start his own company called Mindstrong that will try to detect a person's mental-health status by analyzing how they use any Smartphone. He had left NIMH to start a mental-health program within Verily, Google's life-sciences group. 

"I love the idea of rethinking how we measure human behavior and coming up with entirely new behavioral features" of diseases including schizophrenia and depression, he says. New approaches to mental illness are especially important, because "we're not doing very well either on the diagnostic or therapeutic side."

Click here to read more.

NIMH News

Prescribing Patterns Change Following Direct Marketing Restrictions
A study showed how policies restricting pharmaceutical promotion to physicians affect medication prescribing found out that physicians in academic medical centers prescribed fewer of the promoted drugs, and more non-promoted drugs in the same drug classes, following policy changes to restrict marketing activates at those medical centers. The study was supported in part by a contract from the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institutes of Health. Some AMCs in America have developed policies that restrict detailing, but not much is known about what effect such policies have had on prescribing practices by physicians.

Click here to read more. 

Several NIMH Studies on Irritability in Children 
Looking for Recruits


Why study irritability? During the 1990s, there was a significant increase in the number of children being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. After years of studies, NIMH researchers concluded that, although children with severe irritability were being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, severe irritability and bipolar disorder are not the same. However, irritability, like bipolar disorder, can be very impairing for children, and little is known about what causes it or how to treat it. Therefore, today, NIMH clinicians continue to investigate severe irritability and the related diagnosis of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD).

Children pass through many phases of development as they grow up. It can be hard to know if a child is going through normal development or showing signs of something more serious. Occasional outbursts are a normal outcome of being tired, uncomfortable, or frustrated. In some children it can be chronic and explosive.

Children who enroll in NIMH studies have irritability that significantly impacts their functioning at home, in school and with other children.

Click here to learn more about the current studies and how to participate. 


NAMIWalks

2017 NAMIWalksNYS September 23rd

NAMI-NYS looks forward to building on the success of our inaugural NAMIWalks NYS. The 2017 NAMIWalks NYS will be taking place on Saturday, September 23rd, at Jennings Landing in Albany. You can click here to start your team and/or donate to the walk.  
For more information you can email  Heide@naminys.org

Information on Other NAMIWalks in New York 

May 6th- NAMIWalks Rochester, Village Gate Square-Rochester
May 6th- NAMIWalks Long Island/Queens, Jones Beach-Zach's Bay, Wantagh
May 13th- NAMIWalks New York City Metro, South Street Promenade-Brooklyn Bridge-Manhattan
May 20th- NAMIWalks Westchester , Rye Town Park-Rye

2017 NAMI-NYS Ribbon Campaign


As May (which is Mental Health Awareness Month) is fast approaching, it is time to begin preparing for this year's NAMI-NYS Ribbon Campaign. The statewide campaign allows NAMI-NYS and our local affiliates to partner with businesses, local governments, police and fire departments and schools in spreading mental health awareness and letting people know that NAMI is a place to find help and find hope. 

Click here to view a two-page brochure that details the campaign, which can be printed as a double-sided sheet to give to prospective ribbon campaign partners. 

Click here to download the ribbon order form.
Save the Dates
May 17th-NAMI Queens/Nassau will be holding their annual Faithnet event "Conversations with Clergy & Community" On EXPLORING FAITH, RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY as Resources for Individuals & Families Struggling with Mental Illness. The event begins 6:30 and will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock 48 Shelter Rock Rd., Manhasset, NY 11030.

All are welcome Please email Ellen Ritz at el.ritz@yahoo.com by May 8 to register. Complimentary Lite Supper will be provided. Click here for more info.

MAY 17th-NAMI Montgomery-Fulton- Hamilton Family Wellness Series. "Walking the Road to Recovery" How Languages move us Forward- presenter Kevin O'Keffe. 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. #2390 Riverfront Center, Amsterdam,N.Y. 12010. For more information (518)843-3261

May 18-Join the CDPC Family Support Group for a special presentation: How to Assist Someone with Mental Illness When They Encounter The Criminal Justice System," by NAMI Schenectady's Bob Corliss. The meeting starts at 5pm at CDPC Family Resource Center located at 75 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208 For more information or to register contact: Frank Greco, Director of Family Services (518) 549-6816

May 18 - Annual Mental Health Conference Living With Stability and Dignity at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi.  The conference focuses on the challenges and need for housing with featured speakers Toni Lasicki, Executive Director, Association for Community Living, Ralph Fasano, Executive Director, Concern for Independent Living and Denise Bauer, Director, Beacon of Hope, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. Program starts at 6 pm. Light dinner served. Building 4, 2nd Floor,1400 Pelham Parkway, Bronx, NY. RSVP 718-918-3906.    

May 24th- The Albany County Department of Mental Health
Presents the 5th Annual
May is Mental Health Month Health and Wellness Fair
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
11:00am - 1:00pm
Department of Health/Mental Health Building
175 Green Street, Basement
Alabny, NY 12202
For more information contact Vikki Williams at (518) 447-4555

MAY 24th-NAMI Montgomery-Fulton- Hamilton Family Wellness Series. Know the 10 Signs:Early Detection Matters-presenter Gullermo Hinrichs. 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. #2390 Riverfront Center, Amsterdam,N.Y. 12010. For more information (518)843-3261

MAY 31st- NAMI Montgomery-Fulton- Hamilton Family Wellness Series. New York State Office of Mental Health-presenter John Stenson.            5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. #2390 Riverfront Center, Amsterdam,N.Y. 12010. For more information (518)843-3261

June 13-Join the Brain and Behavioral Research Foundation for their latest Meet the Scientist webinar. The topic is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and the presenter will be Carolyn I. Rodriguez, M.D., Ph.D., Stanford University School of Medicine. The webinar will take place from 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. EST. Click here for more information.

Signature Programs
 
June 1 -NAMI Queens/Nassau will hold a Family-to-Family class at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock 48 Shelter Rock Rd. Manhasset, NY 11030 from 10am-12:30. 
Register: (718) 347-7284 or (516) 326-0797 or email namiqn@aol.com

JUNE 3-NAMI Queens/Nassau Family-to-Family. Saturdays June 3 rd - August 26 th  1:300 pm- 4:00 pm at  The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York, 110-31 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11433.  To register call (718) 347-7284 or (516) 326-0797 or email namiqn@aol.com.  Co-Leaders Rev. Val Gittens, Theresa Stahling, Jeannette Wells. This class is full, please contact Jeannette Wells for future Family -to-Family Class information.(646)-483-3885.

JULY 12-NAMI-NYC Metro Basics PROFESSIONAL CLASS (for professionals only). Wednesdays, July 12th - August 16th at 505 8th Avenue, Suite 1103, New York, NY 10018.  To register contact Deniece Chi (212)684-3365 x 203 / parent@naminyc.org

JULY12th -NAMI Central Suffolk Basics. Wednesday evenings July 12th- August 23rd from 6:00 pm-8:30 pm at the  Farmingville Mental Health Clinic, 15 Horseblock Place Farmingville, NY 11738. Registration is required. Contact: Andrea Stolz, astolz@fsl-li.org (631) 223-5030 

SEPTEMBER 6- NAMI Rochester Family-to-Family. Wednesdays, September 6th -November 29th, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm. NAMI Rochester Office, 320 N. Goodman Street, Suite 103, Rochester, NY 14607. Contact Beth Winslow-D'Amico at (585) 423-1593 or beth@namirochester.org.

SEPTEMBER 12- NAMI-NYC Metro Basics. Tuesdays, September 12 - October17, 6:00 pm- 8:30 pm at    505 8th Avenue, Suite 1103, New York, NY 10018.   To register contact Deniece Chi (212)684-3365 x 203 / parent@naminyc.org.

SEPTEMBER 13- NAMI-NYC Metro Basics (SPANISH SPEAKING). Wednesdays, September 13th-October 18th, 6:00 pm- 8:30 pm at 505 8th Avenue, Suite 1103, New York, NY 10018.  To register contact Deniece Chi (212)684-3365 x 203 / parent@naminyc.org. 

SEPTEMBER 14 - NAMI-NYC Metro Basics. Thursdays, September 14th- October 19th 10:00 am-12:30 pm at 505 8th Avenue, Suite 1103, New York, NY 10018.  To register contact Deniece Chi (212)684-3365 x 203 / parent@naminyc.org.

NOVEMBER 1 -NAMI-NYC Metro Basics. Wednesdays, November 1st-December 6, 6:00 pm- 8:30 pm at 505 8th Avenue, Suite 1103, New York, NY 10018.  To register contact Deniece Chi (212)684-3365 x 203 / parent@naminyc.org.

NOVEMBER 2 - NAMI NYC Metro Basics. Thursdays, November 2nd - December 7th, 10:00 am-12:30 pm at 505 8th Avenue, Suite 1103, New York, NY 10018.  To register contact Deniece Chi (212)684-3365 x 203 / parent@naminyc.org. 

NOVEMBER 3-NAMI-NYC Metro Basics (SPANISH SPEAKING) Fridays, November 3rd - December 8th, 10:00 am-12:30 pm at 505 8th Avenue, Suite 1103, New York, NY 10018.  To register contact Deniece Chi (212)684-3365 x 203 / parent@naminyc.org. 


 
2017 NAMI-NYS TRAINING SCHEDULE
Please contact your local affiliate program leaders for more information and how to enroll.
NAMI Support Group Facilitator Training
June 3rd-4th, 2017
Trainers: Deniece Chi & Nancy Parker
Location: NAMI-NYS Office Albany

NAMI Family-to-Family Teacher Training
June 9th-11th, 2017
Trainers: Patti Sacher & Bonnie Goldberg
Location: NAMI-NYS Office Albany
NAMI In Our Own Voice Presenter Training
June 24th-25th, 2017
Trainers: Cynthia Scott & Lady Charmaine Day
Location: NAMI-NYS Office Albany
CLASS IS FULL NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATION
NAMI Family-to-Family Teacher Training
July 14th-16th, 2017
Trainers: Ann Canastra & Cheri Caiella
Location: Comfort Suite Cicero-Syracuse
NAMI Homefront Teacher Training
September 16th-17th 2017
Trainers: Pam Solomon & Jerry Burton
Location: NAMI-NYS Office Albany
NAMI Family-to-Family Teacher Training
October 20th-22nd, 2017
Trainers: Patti Sacher & Bonnie Goldberg
Location: NAMI-NYS Office Albany



To have your events and Signature Programs listed in the E-Newsletter contact Christine Rickeman at christine@naminys.org.   

NAMI-NYS | 99 Pine Street Suite 105| Albany, New York 12207 | (518) 462-2000