June 30th, 2016
 
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Why We Walk!!!

This week's edition of the NAMI-NYS E-Newsletter features the launching of the "Why I Walk" video series where members of NAMI-NYS NAMI Walks team explain why they are participating in our upcoming NAMI Walks. The first in the series is from one of our summer interns, Torie Keeton. 

This edition also features information on how NAMI-NYS and New Yorkers will be active during next week's NAMI National Convention. You will also find information on the call from politicians and the media to #Act4MentalHealth and pass reform legislation as well as an opportunity to make your voice heard on this issue. Finally, you will also find opportunities for nominations to the NAMI-NYS board and the NYS OMH 
Statewide Multicultural Advisory Committee.

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 the upcoming Summer 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 to be Active During 
NAMI National Convention as
New York Accomplishments are Celebrated


The NAMI National Convention: Act Advocate Achieve will be taking place next week in Denver Colorado. NAMI-NYS and New York State leaders in government, business and mental health treatment and research will be active throughout the convention. Some highlights include:
  • NAMI Rochester will be receiving the Outstanding NAMI Affiliate Award during the NAMI Business meeting on Saturday beginning at 10:45am.
  • NAMI-NYS Public Engagement Coordinator Matthew Shapiro will be participating in the "Caring for Caregivers" portion of the NAMI Advocacy Network on Wednesday beginning at 7pm to discuss New York's Paid Family Leave initiative. Click here to view the handout we will be distributing at the session.
  • NAMI-NYS member Barbara Ricci is running for the NAMI Board.
  • Dr. Mary Jane Alexander, of the Nathan Kline Institute and the recipient of the 2015 NAMI-NYS Excellence in Research Award, will be presenting on Crisis as Opportunity: Integrating Peers into Crisis Alternatives in  Parachute NYC on Friday at 2:30.
  • Frequent NAMI-NYS collaborator and President of the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder Perry Hoffman, Ph.D. will be presenting on Friday at 10:30am.
  • New York State business leaders will be participating in the session Stigma Free: Building the Movement in Business Community on Thursday at 7:30pm.
  • New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman will be presented with the Distinguished Service Award for his work in enforcing insurance parity. 
Be sure to check NAMI-NYS's Facebook page and Twitter account throughout the week for pictures and updates from #NAMICon16. There will be no E-Newsletter next Friday, but we will be sending out a special edition on Monday, July 11th highlighting the convention. 

NAMI-NYS Presents to CDPHP

Christine Rickeman, Carl Rorie Alexandrov, LMSW, Director, Behavioral Health Operations, CDPHP and 
Wendy Burch

On June 30, NAMI-NYS Executive Director Wendy Burch and Helpline Coordinator Christine Rickeman presented to the Behavior Health Operations Department at Capital District Physicians Health Plan (CDPHP) about NAMI programs and resources and how NAMI can better partner with the organization. CDPHP is transitioning to a HARP (Health and Recovery Plan) and is eager to better serve its clients.

HARP is a managed care product that manages physical health, mental health, and substance use services in an integrated way for adults with significant behavioral health needs.

As a result of the presentation, the CDPHP staff is more informed about the programs that NAMI has to offer and the group discussed ways to incorporate NAMI into the recovery of CDPHP's clients and their families. Discussions will be ongoing as both organizations seek to better serve this vulnerable population.
NAMI-NYS NAMI Walks Posters
Popping Up Around Capital Region

NAMI-NYS volunteer Seth Messina has been hard at work spreading the word about the NAMI-NYS NAMI Walks to businesses throughout the Capital Region. Seth has been visiting local shops, banks and restaurants telling them about the Walk and asking them to display posters for the event.

Also this week, our Helpline Coordinator, Christine Rickeman has been working with local government agency buildings, doctor's offices and mental health providers to get posters displayed.

Thanks Seth and Chris for all your hard work!

If you would like to help put up posters in your community, are a business owner who wants to display a poster or would like a poster for your workplace please contact NAMI-NYS Walks Manager Heide Garner at Heide@naminys.org or 518-462-2000.

The NAMI-NYS Nomination and Election Committee is Seeking Candidates for the Board of Directors


NAMI-NYS election season is upon us. In 2016 we will have five Board positions open for election. Those elected would serve from 2016-2019. There was a slight mistake the last time when we included the nomination form as it stated that nominations cannot be emailed. Nominations CAN BE EMAILED and we included a corrected form below.

Click here to read the nomination letter.
Click here for the corrected nomination form.

NAMI News
ACTION ALERT: #Act4MentalHealth

Thanks to you, the House is  voting on HR 2646 , mental health reform! Call your member of Congress and urge him or her to vote YES and take a strong step toward better mental health care.

Your voice makes a difference.
"What has made this work are...the thousands and thousands and thousands of letters and phone calls to members of Congress saying that we've got to do something about mental health." Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA)

TAKE ACTION!!!

Call (202) 224-3121
Press #2
Enter in your zip code

Here's our suggested message: "As a constituent of the Representative's, I would like him/her to vote yes on HR 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, when it comes to the floor of the House. There is a mental health crisis in this country. This bill will help. Thank you."


NAMI Explores 
ADHD in Adults

NAMI recently took an in-depth look at Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). While most associate ADHD with children and adolescents, in reality many adults struggle with this disorder as well. In fact as stated in the attached article,  "adults are sometimes misdiagnosed or undiagnosed because many physicians are not properly trained to identify the disorder in adults."
The article references several studies including one led by Rachel Klein, a professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York. The abstract of the study states that, while the research doesn't tell the whole story, participants living with ADHD tended to complete less schooling, hold lower-ranking occupations and have poorer self-esteem and social skills.
The article also offers coping and treatment options for ADHD.

Click here to read the article.

New York State News
NYS-OMH Statewide Multicultural Advisory Committee Seeks New Members
 
The New York State Office of Mental Health's Statewide Multicultural Advisory Committee is seeking nominations for new members.

If you are interested in formally advising the OMH Commissioner on multicultural issues, please review the information in this link and complete your application and send it with all other required information to Frances S. Priester Moss no later than Friday, July 29, 2016.  If you have any questions, you can reach Frances at 518-473-4144.

NAMI-NYS encourages our members to serve on this important committee.

Click here for the more information


National News
Representative Joseph Kennedy, III Details
The Need to Fix a Broken System


U.S. Representative Joseph Kennedy, III (D-MA) is speaking out on the need to fix our country's broken mental health system.

He wrote a guest column in a newspaper and on the Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC) website where he explains how he has met with physicians, families, community health centers, hospital CEOs and advocates who presented "a stark picture of the state of mental health care in our commonwealth and country. They detailed a vastly underfunded mental and behavioral health system that lacks the infrastructure required to deliver proper care to the one in four Americans struggling with mental illness."

He details the reform efforts being discussed while emphasizing that, "Any comprehensive reform effort must move beyond the margins and attack the systemic inadequacies deeply entrenched across the entire continuum of mental healthcare. First, we have to put teeth behind the federal laws that require insurance companies treat mental health the same way they treat physical health. Our health care system doesn't wait until someone has stage four cancer to offer treatment; those struggling with mental illness deserve the same."

He explains how he introduced the Behavioral Health Coverage and Transparency Act (HR4276), which would force insurers to disclose how often they deny mental health claims as well as the criteria used to make those determinations. Members of the New York State Congressional delegation co-sponsoring the initiative are Yvette Clarke (D-NY-9), Eliot Engel (D-NY-16) and Paul Tonko (D-NY-20). Rep Tonko has long been a leader on insurance parity going back to his time in the NYS Assembly where he sponsored Timothy's Law.

Rep Kennedy also focuses on the need  "to fix outdated federal regulations that currently say a person in Medicaid who requires in-patient care can receive treatment for either physical or mental health - but not both, end Medicare's 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospitals stays and fully invest in the entire continuum of mental health care - not just the crisis-stage interventions we resort to in emergency rooms, courtrooms, and jail cells at tremendous cost."

Click here to read the version of the column on the TAC website which contains a link to the newspaper column, you may want to read both as there are differences in the two.

Editors at Bloomberg News Explain Why
Better Mental Health Care Is Worth the Expense

The editors at Bloomberg detail, "When more than half of people who need mental health care can't or don't get it -- as is true in the U.S. -- other problems arise. For sufferers, these include physical illness, lost earnings, substance abuse and suicide. For society, there is greater crime and homelessness," and this is why it's time for the federal government to pass legislation to reform the mental health system.

They argue that while HR 2646 is a good first step, it doesn't go far enough and the government needs to make real investments to address the gaps in services. "For example, the legislation wouldn't change Medicare's 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric care (known as the IMD exclusion). That's especially restrictive for working-age adults on disability; better access to care could help people with mental illness rejoin the workforce. And the law would still limit Medicaid's ability to pay for inpatient adult psychiatric care."

It's important note that the NAMI-NYS has long advocated that addressing the IMD (one of the few federal laws that discriminates against a certain group of people) needs to be a part of mental health reform. NAMI-NYS was disappointed and concerned that addressing the IMD exclusion was removed from HR 2646 during the mark-up.

The editors conclude that, "Adequate spending on mental health would save other social and government costs down the road. Left untreated, mental illness drains the public purse one way or another."

Click here to read the full article.

The Orlando Shooting Could Have Long-Term Effects on LGBTQ Mental Health


A recent article explains how the tragedy at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, was not only the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history-forty-nine were killed, dozens more were injured-but will also take an invisible toll on the mental health of LGBTQ people worldwide. The shooting may produce long-term mental health effects, according to Liz Margolies, psychotherapist and founder of the National LGBT Cancer Network. People who directly experienced the attack - or know someone who did - may develop post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. "The rest of us could be more vulnerable to anxiety and depression," Margolies said in a phone interview. Click here to read the article.

A few weeks ago we detailed how NAMI-NYS participated in the Albany Pride event and our commitment to addressing the mental health needs of those in the LGBTQI community.

NIMH News


Twitter Chat Transcript Available: African American Men's Mental Health

Earlier this month we told you about the Twitter chat NIMH and National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) hosted on African American men's mental health. For those of you who were unable to participate the transcript is now available by clicking here.

NIMH Looking for People to Participate in a 
Research Study

Bipolar Disorder (Pediatric) Research Study:  Treatment of Severe Mood Dysregulation, (SMD)  (Inpatient: 12- to 15 weeks) 

This study tests the efficacy of different treatments for decreasing irritability in children with severe mood and behavioral problems. Participants have symptoms of severe irritability and are not doing well on their current medications. The child must be currently in treatment with a physician, medically healthy and not currently hospitalized, psychotic or suicidal. The study includes day or full hospitalization to discontinue medication, followed by either methylphenidate plus citalopram, or methylphenidate plus placebo. Recruiting ages 7-17. 

Click here to learn more about this study.
Click here to find NIMH clinical trials by state.

Research=Hope
NAMI WALKS 2016

NAMI-NYS NAMIWalks
Saturday September 24th, Jennings Landing Albany

Why I Walk:
Torie Keeton

The first in our "Why I Walk" video series is from our summer intern, Torie Keeton. Torie is a student at SUNY Potsdam and has become a great mental health advocate. As part of her internship with us, Torie is forming our Young Adult network.

Click here to watch Torie explain why she is walking for NAMI-NYS and Mental Health Awareness

.
JOIN THE TEAM!!!
Click here   to visit our NAMI-NYS NAMI Walks Page.
  • Start a team or join an existing team.
  • Become a virtual walker if you can't make it to the Capital Region on September 24th.
  • Donate to the NAMI-NYS NAMI Walks-Your support is crucial to NAMI-NYS's ability to continue meeting the demand for NAMI programming from communities throughout New York State.
Thank You to Our Newest Bronze Level Sponsor
NYSARC, Inc. Trust Services

NAMI-NYS would to thank our newest sponsor NYSARC, Inc. Trust Services and welcome them to our team.We deeply appreciate your support.

Click here to learn about sponsorship opportunities

 TIPS TO BE A SUCCESSFUL TEAM CAPTAIN

Click here 
to watch a short video providing tips on how to be a successful team captain.
Save the Dates
July 5- NAMI-NYS board member Marcy Rose will be appearing on the radio show The Journey: Stories of Crisis and Hope hosted by  Jessica Pirro, Director of Crisis Services. The show will air from 11am-noon. They will be discussing mental illness from the family perspective. Click here for a link to the show page.

July 12 - Brain & Behavior Research Foundation presents; Meet the Scientist:  Life Elevated: Examining Altitude-Related Effects on Mental illness, presented by
Perry F. Renshaw, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Medical Director, Rocky Mountain Network, Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Register now: bbrfoundation.org/webinar

 
July 16  - NAMI-NYC Metro's second annual NAMI C.A.R.E.S. Community Mental Health Fair. The goal of the NAMI C.A.R.E.S. (Community Advocacy, Resources, Education & Services) Community Mental Health Fair is to highlight mental health issues that specifically face communities of color. Noon to 4 pm, at the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center, located at 530 W. 166th St. at Audubon Ave., New York, NY.

July 21-Capital District Psychiatric Center Family Services presents, Overview of Crisis Services. Thursday at 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm in the CDPC Family Resource Center. As usual, there will be time for Questions and Answers as well as support services after the presentation. For more information or to register contact: Frank Greco, Director of Family Services (518) 549-6816

August 4- Capital District Psychiatric Center Family Services presents, Mental Health Legal Matters. Thursday at 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm in the CDPC Family Resource Center. As usual, there will be time for Questions and Answers as well as support services after the presentation. For more information or to register contact: Frank Greco, Director of Family Services (518) 549-6816

August 9 - Brain & Behavior Research Foundation presents; Meet the Scientist: Autism: Understanding the Causes and Developing Effective Treatments, presented by
Jacqueline N. Crawley, Ph.D. Robert E. Chason Chair in Translational Research, MIND Institute, Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento. Register now: bbrfoundation.org/webinar
 
September 13- Brain & Behavior Research Foundation presents; Meet the Scientist:  Living Well with ADHD: Scientific Guideposts to Improved Outcomes, presented by
Francisco Xavier Castellanos, M.D. Brooke and Daniel Neidich Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Professor, Department of
Neuroscience and Physiology, Professor, Department of Radiology, Dir Rsch Green Cohen Inst Prevent Sci, New York University Child Study Center. Register now: bbrfoundation.org/webinar


September 22-A
 Capital District Psychiatric Center Family Services presents The Power of Laughter. Thursday at 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm in the CDPC Family Resource Center. As usual, there will be time for Questions and Answers as well as support services after the presentation. For more information or to register contact: Frank Greco, Director of Family Services (518) 549-6816

October 7 -NAMI Rensselaer County will hold their 3rd Annual Recognition Dinner & Consumer Art Show. This year's honoree is Philip C. Nasca, PhD, Dean of SUNY School of Public Health. The event will take place from 6:30-9:00pm at Moscatiello's Italian Family Restaurant, 99 N. Greenbush Road (Rt. 4), Troy, NY

October 15The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention presents Out Of The Darkness Walk 10am, FDR Park in Yorktown.  Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck.  They need volunteers or for more information contact Maria Idoni (914) 610-9156 or midoni@afso.org.
 
OCTOBER 18 - Brain & Behavior Research Foundation presents; Meet the Scientist: Schizophrenia, presented by Herbert Y. Meltzer, M.D.Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and of Physiology, Professor, Department of Neuroscience and Physiology Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Register now: bbrfoundation.org/webinar
 
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, M.D. Professor and Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine. Register now: bbrfoundation.org/webinar
 
NOVEMBER 11-13-2016 NAMI-NYS Education Conference-
New Horizons in Recovery: Breakthroughs in Research and Treatment. The Desmond Hotel, Albany. More details coming soon!

DECEMBER 13- Brain & Behavior Research Foundation presents; Meet the Scientist:  Neuroinflammatory Hypotheses of Depression, presented byYvette I. Sheline, M.D.
 Register now: bbrfoundation.org/webinar

Signature Programs
June 2 - July 7-  NAMI Basics classes at NAMI-NYC Metro. Thursdays, 10am to 12:30pm, NAMI-NYC Metro, 505 Eighth Ave., Room 1103, New York, NY 10018. To Register: Call our Helpline (212) 684-3264
.

June 6 - July 18 - NAMI Homefront classes NAMI-NYC Metro. Mondays, 6 to 8:30pm, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, 130 W. Kingsbridge Road, Room 1B-07, Bronx, NY 10458. To Register: Call our Helpline (212) 684-3264. 

June 7 - July 12:   NAMI Basics classes at NAMI-NYC Metro. Tuesdays, 6pm to 8:30pm, NAMI-NYC Metro, 505 Eighth Ave., Room 1103, New York, NY 10018. To Register: Call our Helpline (212) 684-3264.

June 15 - August 31 - NAMI Peer-to-Peer by NAMI-NYC Metro. Wednesdays, 1 to 3pm, NAMI-NYC Metro, 505 Eighth Ave., Room 1103, New York, NY 10018. To Register: Call our Helpline (212) 684-3264.

June 25&26- NAMI Family Support Group training to become a Facilitator.  NAMI-NYS.  This training is FULL and we are not accepting applications at this time.

July 12-NAMI of Central Suffolk presents NAMI Basics Course, July 12th- August 16th from 6- 8:30 pm. Farmingville Mental Health Center. Registration is required. Please contact Andrea for more information and to register (631) 2235030 andreatchr@me.com

July 13- In Our Own Voice by NAMI Staten Island. 2:30-4:30 pm. The Jewish Community Center of Staten Island  Bernikow 1466 Manor Road

  July 16&17 - In Our Own Voice Training to become a Presenter.  NAMI-NYS.  Contact your local affiliate. This training is FULL and we are not accepting applications at this time.
 
July 22-24 - NAMI Family-to-Family Training to become a Teacher.  NAMI-NYS.  Contact your local affiliate.
 
August 27 - NAMI Ending the Silence training to become a Presenter.  St. Vincent's in Westchester.
 
August 28 - NAMI Parent & Teachers as Allies training to become a Presenter.  St. Vincent's in Westchester.

August 30 - Family-to-Family by NAMI AMICO.  Tuesdays from 6;30 to 9pm, for 12 continuous weeks.  At First Presbyterian Church, 33 Park Place, Goshen, NY 10924.  Contact Catha Weiben (845) 551-1777.
 
September 1- NAMI Queens Nassau presents Family to Family classes September1st - November 17 th 2016. 7:00-9:30 pm at Walk in Love for Jesus Church. 906 Newbridge Road, Long Island NY 11710. To register email
namiqn@aol.com  or (516) 326-0797 or (718) 347-7284

September 8-NAMI Queens Nassau presents Family-to-Family classes September 8-December 1st at Congregational At Shelter Rock, 18 Shelter Rock Road Manhasset, NY 11030 and the classes will take place from 6:30-9:00. 
To register email  namiqn@aol.com  or (516) 326-0797 or (718) 347-7284

September 26-NAMI Queens Nassau presents Family to Family classes at North Shore Zucker Hillside Hospital Ambulatory Care Pavilion, room 1237. 263rd St. and 74 Ave. Glen Oaks, NY 11004. Classes will be from 7-9:30pm. To register email namiqn@aol.com or (516) 326-0797 or (718) 347-7284

September 19-NAMI Cayuga County presents Family to Family classes at Auburn Community College, 17 Lansing Street Auburn, NY 2nd Floor Assembly Room. Classes will be from 6-8:30pm. Please contact 2maestros@twc.com to register.

September TBD- NAMI Westchester will be starting a Family-to-Family class in Westchester, dates and location are to be determined. To enroll call Sharon McCarthy at 914-592-5458 or email her at sharonm@namiwestchester.org

October 7-9- NAMI Family-to-Family training to become a Teacher.  NAMI-NYS.  Contact your local affiliate.
   
To have your events and Signature Programs listed in the E-Newsletter contact Alicia Burns at Alicia@naminys.org
 

NAMI-NYS | 99 Pine Street Suite 302| Albany, New York 12207 | (518) 462-2000