August 28, 2017

In This Issue
 
Quote of the Week:

"Football taught me to compete against others but also to compete against myself. That has helped me tremendously in battling my bipolar illness. I compete with myself every day to get better." 

-Keith O'Neil

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We want to start this week's E-News by congratulating the winner of last week's NAMIWalk NYS contest.... JUDY WATT!!!! Congratulations once again!! We will be announcing a new contest in this week's NAMIWalks Newsletter, so stay tuned for that. We thank everyone who is contributing to our NAMIWalks efforts. The funds we raise through the walk are crucial to our ability to provide education, support and advocacy as well as award scholarships to the education conference. You can click here to go to the walks site to sign up to walk or donate.

This issue features information about the new book from 2017 NAMI-NYS Honoree Keith O'Neil, the latest episode of Mental Health Now, more resources for college students and the New York Times quoting NAMI NYC-Metro on how New York City public hospitals treat a greater share of people with mental illness. 

We will not be sending out a E-News next week. We wish all our readers a safe and enjoyable Labor Day Weekend. 
 
As always, we want to know about the work you are doing. Please email  [email protected] 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

2017 NAMI-NYS Honoree Keith O'Neil's Book:
 Under My Helmet Now Available


One of the things we are most excited about for the 2017 NAMI-NYS  Education Conference , is the addition of the NAMI-NYS Honors Leaders in Mental Health Awareness dinner on Friday evening, November 10th. One of this year's honorees, Keith O'Neil, the Special Teams Captain of the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts, just had his book Under My Helmet: Football Player's Lifetime Battle with Bipolar Disorder released. 

You can click here to order the book, which Keith will be signing on Friday evening after the dinner and it will be available at the conference as well. Anyone who heard Keith speak when he was the grand marshal of the 2016 NAMIWalks NYS knows his incredible and inspiring story of perseverance both making the NFL as an undrafted free agent and in tackling his bipolar disorder, which he has lived with since childhood. Keith also discussed overcoming his challenges when he appeared on the NAMI-NYS TV show Mental Health Now, which you can click here to watch. 

To coincide with the release of the book, Keith was interviewed in BP Magazine. One of the topics he discusses is the importance of awareness. "I want people to know it's OK to talk about bipolar. I want to erase the stigma because when I was at my sickest moment, the shame and secrecy was just as hard to live with as the illness itself. I also want people to never give up. Things will get better. If you read my story, you will see that it did for me!" Click here to read the interview. 

Click here to learn more about the conference. Click here to register. Click here for a scholarship application. Click here to learn about the marketing opportunities at the conference. 

Watch the Latest Episode of Mental Health Now
and Learn Why it is So Important to Support NAMIWalks

Click here to watch the latest episode of the NAMI-NYS produced TV show Mental Health Now. The episode features our Executive Director Wendy Burch and our new Walks Manager, Nicole Bulanchuk. Wendy and Nicole detail this year's NAMIWalks NYS as well as all the education and support services NAMI-NYS offers throughout the state and how the success of the walk is crucial to NAMI-NYS's ability to provide help and hope to so many.

Nicole also provides her insights on mental health on college campuses and explains her role as president of the University at Albany peer support program Middle Earth. Wendy also provides some details of the importance of raising mental health awareness, the NAMI-NYS Education Conference and the Leaders of Mental Health Awareness Dinner. 

The show also emphasizes how you don't need to be a Pulitzer Prize winner or a Super Bowl champion to be a leader in spreading mental health awareness, you can lead by example as a participant in NAMIWalks NYS. Click here to register for the walk or Click here to donate. 

NAMI-NYS Welcomes Lauren Prosper 

NAMI-NYS welcomes the newest member of our team, Lauren Prosper, who will be doing grant writing and other communication projects. Lauren has worked with numerous non-profits and has done extensive community organizing in Albany, NY. Lauren is a Sociology major at the University at Albany, SUNY and is in her Junior year. She is very supportive of the NAMI mission because of her personal ties as a sexual assault survivor.

We are excited to have Lauren as part of the NAMI-NYS family.   
NAMI-Rockland County Participates in 
AGAPE Press Conference
(L to R) Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, NAMI-Rockland's Anne Arias and NAMI Rockland volunteer, Anne Marie Messiano

Last week, NAMI Rockland joined Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffe and the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition (AFFC) for a press conference about the Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Program for Everyone (AGAPE) at the Rockland County Office Building. Comprehension of mental health issues is crucial for adoptive and foster families, as many of the children coming out of these systems experience unique mental health challenges. 

NAMI-NYS to Hold a Fundraiser With Blaze Pizza

On Thursday, September 14th, the Blaze Pizza at Stuyvesant Plaza will be holding a fundraiser to benefit NAMI-NYS. Click here for a flyer to present and 20% of your purchase will be donated to NAMI-NYS.
NAMI News
NAMI Provides Rules of the Road for Succeeding in College with a Mood Disorder

In last week's E-News, we featured NAMI's new college guide and the accompanying videos for students.

This week, in NAMI's continuing efforts to provide mental health support as students head back to college, they featured an article from Sharon Carnahan, Ph.D. who writes about succeeding while having a mood disorder. Dr. Carnahan states, "Young adults with mood disorders who are heading off to college can succeed-all it takes is planning, support, lifestyle care and a little luck." She goes on to offer practical tips for the journey ahead. Click here to read the full article. 


We want to remind you that the NAMI-NYS Education Conference will once again feature a Young Adult track
This year's track features four workshop sessions on Saturday, curated by the young adult steering committee designed to help people ages 16-30. We also want to make sure everyone knows that one does not need to be a college student to participate in the track. This year's session topics are:
  • Self Advocacy
  • Using Artistic Creativity to Drive Recovery
  • Understanding the Benefits of Peer Support
  • Employment
NAMI-NYS also has special scholarships for young adults and you can   click here to obtain a copy of the scholarship application. 
New York News
New York Times Quotes NAMI-NYC Metro in Report on How NYC Public Hospitals Treat Greater Share of Mental Health Patients
 
T he New York Times reports how for people in New York with severe mental illness, the path to treatment has increasingly passed through the city's public hospitals, even as health officials and private hospitals try to accelerate years of slow progress by providing people with better outpatient care. A new report shows that treatment is being provided more and more by the city's strained public hospital system, as financial pressures on some private hospitals drive them to divert psychiatric patients and close beds.
 
The number of mental health admissions at public city hospitals increased sharply over the five years ending in 2014, even as private hospitals shed psychiatric inpatients over the same period.
 
The article quotes NAMI NYC-Metro's Kinsey McManus who said: ""The mental health system is always behind in how they're handling things. Stigma is rampant on all levels, including on what's the priority in the agenda of the government, what's the priority of hospitals."
 
Click here to read the full article

Peer Led Forums Now Available for 
Medicaid Eligible Enrollees

 
Peer led educational forums are now available throughout New York for eligible Medicaid enrollees. The forums are designed to help participants understand what services are available to them and how to set goals for health, work, school and social elements.

Click here to learn more.

National News
Physical Comorbidities, Poor Adherence Appear Linked to Delayed Remission, Nonremission 
in Depression
 
The American Psychiatric Association reports how physical comorbidities and poor treatment adherence appear to be associated with both a failure to remit and a longer time to remission of depression, according to a report using data from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial. The findings, which were reported in Depression and Anxiety, point to the importance of interventions aimed at improving treatment adherence and addressing both the physical and mental health needs of the patient.

Click here to learn more. 

Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee to Hold First Meeting This Week

Last week, we told you about the new federal Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee and how NAMI CEO Mary Gilliberti will be serving on the committee. We also want to thank those who submitted comments for the committee. A few of our readers cc'd us on their comments and we are tremendously grateful to you for sharing your stories and insights. 

The committee will be holding their first meeting on this Thursday, August 31st from 9am-5pm. You can click here to learn more and watch the meeting.

NIMH News




As is our tradition, the 2017 NAMI-NYS Education Conference, will once again feature an Update on NIMH research. This year, we are thrilled to welcome 
Kathleen R Merikangas, Ph.D, Chief of NIMH's Genetic Epidemiology Research Branch. Dr. Merikangas will present on her landmark community-based family study of affective spectrum disorders and their overlap with other mental disorders and medical disorders such as migraine and cardiovascular disease.

Click here to register for the conference. 
NAMIWalks

2017 NAMIWalksNYS September 23rd

Read the Latest Edition of the 
NAMIWalks NYS Newsletter




Click here to read the latest edition on the NAMIWalks NYS Weekly News. This week's issue features new contests and highlights some of our community partners promoting our NAMIWalks.

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 [email protected]  



Save the Dates

Click here to learn more and register for the 2017 NAMI-NYS Education Conference- Engagement, Implementation, Internvention: Three Pronged Approach to Sustainable Mental Health Recovery, taking place November 10-12 at the Desmond Hotel in Albany.

AUGUST 31
- NØpiates Supports International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2017.   Please consider joining the N Ø piates Committee at West Sand Lake Elementary School Parking lot, August 31st at 6pm.  We will rally and walk to the WSL Fire House for a memorial ceremony and light refreshments.     All are welcome to attend the next N Ø piates Committee open meeting, scheduled for Monday, August 7th at 6pm at the Trinity Lutheran Church in West Sand Lake.  For more information, or to participate in our memorial event, contact The N Ø piates Committee at [email protected] .

SEPTEMBER 6-   NAMI of Central Suffolk invites you to view Dr Amen's DVD, On the Psychiatrist's Couch
on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 7:30 pm at Mather Hospital, Port Jefferson NY in Conf Room 2.
 Dr. Daniel Amen is the most popular psychiatrist in America. The people who've sat on his psychiatrist's couch came for help for:
  • Anxiety and depression
  • ADD, autism, and bipolar disorder
  • Addictions they couldn't stop
  • Relationships that were falling apart
  • Children who were out of control or failing in school
  • Others came because they wanted to perform better, sleep better, or decrease their risk for illnesses like Alzheimer's disease they saw in their parents.      
If you or someone you love has ever been concerned about any of these issues, this show is for you. This couch is for people who want to feel better and improve the quality of their lives.The program is divided into three parts. In Part One you'll learn how to quiet your mind, rather than be a victim of your anxious, depressing thoughts.  You'll also learn the one secret to dramatically improving your relationships. 

SEPTEMBER 7-CDPC Presents "Controlled Medication and their Potential for Addiction" presented by Dr. Arif Shahabuddin, C.D.P.C. Thursday September 7, 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm in the CDPC Family Resource Center, 75 New Scotland Ave, Albany NY. For more information or to register contact: Frank Greco, Director of Family Services (518) 549-6816.

SEPTEMBER 13- Annual NAMI Mid-Hudson Gala 2017. Wednesday, September 13, 2017, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM at The Grandview, 176 Rinaldi Blvd. Poughkeepsie, NY. Gala 2017 Keynote Speaker Kevin Hines, who in 2012 was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding work suicide prevention advocate and speaker by the National Council of Behavioral Health, Click here to learn more about Gala. If you have any questions, please contact Tina Yun Lee at [email protected]

SEMPTEMBER 14- NAMI Westchester, SECOND ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL FILM SERIES:THE IMPACT OF SUICIDE ON THE SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS. Thursday, September 14, 2017 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at The Picture House, 175 Wolfs Lane, Pelham, NY 10803. 

September 24th-NAMI Syracuse will be hosting their Harvest Hoopla benefit. Click here to register. 




OCTOBER 11- NAMI NYC Metro Seeds of Hope: Ending the Silence. Wednesday October 11th from 6:00pm to 9:30pm at the Metropolitan Pavilion West. For more information regarding Sponsorship or Ticket/Table Sales, please email Sarah Sheahan or call her at 212.684.3365 x 207.Click here to purchase Tickets/Tables

OCTOBER 28-Healthy Minds Empowerment Conference. from  8:00 AM-2:00 PM at  Medaille College 18 Agassiz Cir, Buffalo, NY 14214. For Teens (7th-12th grade), Parents & Teen Leaders.Questions about this event may be directed to Ann Venuto, President of NAMI Buffalo [email protected] /(716) 689-1159, or Josephine Cross, Chairman of the Health Promotion Committee of AKA Gamma Phi Omega Chapter [email protected] / (716) 636-3014. Click here for more information. Join us for a day of free workshops to explore the emotional and mental well being of youth and to empower youth and adults who care for them. *Free Breakfast & Lunch


Signature Programs

SEPTEMBER 5 - NAMI Orange Family-to-Family. Tuesdays, September 5Th, 6:30 pm -9:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 33 Park Place, Goshen, NY 10924. Teachers: Dhanu Sannesy and Marcy Felter.  Contact: Dhanu Sannesy, (845) 956-6264; (866) 906-6264 or [email protected].

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 [email protected].

SEPTEMBER 7-NAMI Huntington will begin their next Family-to-Family course at the Friends and Family Center of Pilgrim Psychiatric Center, located in Bldg.45, 998 Crooked Hill Road, Brentwood, NY 11717. The course will be held on 12 consecutive Thursdays and each class is two-hours. Refreshment will be served. For more information and to register, contact:   
Jayette Lansbury [email protected] (631)988-7619 or   Cathleen Lewald  [email protected]. (631)761-2601

SEPTEMBER 12 - Stratton VA Medical Center &  NAMI Rensselaer Homefront.  Education and Support for Military & Veteran Families. Tuesdays, September 12 - October 17, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00p.m. at the VA Network Office on corner of New Scotland Ave and Veterans Way, Albany NY. Please call to register : Elizabeth Donovan (518) 626-5347.  Click here for Flyer

SEPTEMBER 12-NAMI Saratoga/NAMI Schenectady NAMI Family-to-Family. Tuesdays,  September 12th  through November  28th  from 6:15p.m. - 8:45 p.m. at Four winds, 30 Crescent Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, Contact: Dotte Coon 518-429-5047 [email protected] or Cindy Seacord 518-344-9177

SEPTEMBER 12-NAMI Rockland Basics (Spanish Speaking)Tuesday's September 12th - October 17th from  6:00 pm - 8:30 pm. Location: St. Dominic's Community Waiver Program, 500 Western Highway, Blauvelt, NY. Contact: (845) 359-8784 / [email protected] to register . Teachers: Marilyn Matos and Barbara Martinez-Silva

SEPTEMBER 12-NAMI-NYC Metro Basics. Tuesdays, September 12 - October 17, 6:00 pm- 8:30 pm at    505 8th Avenue, Suite 1103, New York, NY 10018.   To register contact Deniece Chi at (212) 684-3365 x 203 / [email protected].

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 / [email protected]. 

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 at (212) 684-3365 x 203 / [email protected].

SEPTEMBER 14-NAMI Rockland Basics. Thursdays September 14 - October 26, 2017 (No class Thursday, September 21st) from  6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Location: St. Dominic's Community Waiver Program, 500 Western Highway, Blauvelt, NY 10913. Contact:  (845) 359-8784 or [email protected] to register. Teachers: Rita Strumph and Kate Johnson.

SEPTEMBER 17 - NAMI Orange Basics. Sundays, September 17th, 6:30 pm-9:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 33 Park Place, Goshen, NY 10924. Teachers: Dhanu Sannesy and Marcy Felter. Contact: Dhanu Sannesy, (845) 956-6264; (866) 906-6264 or [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 18- NAMI Queens/Nassau Family to Family Mondays  Sept. 18 THROUGH Dec 18, 6:30a.m.- 9 p.m. at the UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION AT SHELTER ROCK  48 Shelter Rock Rd. Manhasset, NY 11030. To register: email [email protected]  or call (516) 326-0797 or (718) 347-7284 or Leader Ellen Ritz (516) 330-9778 or [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 20-NAMI Mid-Hudson Family-to-Family. Wednesdays, September 20th- December 13th, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm at The MidHudson Regional Hospital, 241 North Road, Poughkeepsie NY. Contact: Tina Lee [email protected] or (845) 206-9892.

SEPTEMBER 27- NAMI Mid-Hudson Peer-to-Peer. Wednesdays, September 27th- December 6th, 4:00 pm-6:00 pm at the SUNY Dutchess Community College, Poughkeepsie NY. Contact: Tina Lee,  [email protected]  or (845) 206-9892.

OCTOBER 21-NAMI Mid-Hudson Basics. Saturdays, October 21, 28, November 4th, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm at the Arlington High School,  1157 State Route 55, Lagrangeville NY. Contact: Tina Lee,  [email protected]  or (845) 206-9892.

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 / [email protected].

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 at (212) 684-3365 x 203 / [email protected]. 

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 at (212) 684-3365 x 203 / [email protected]. 


 
2017 NAMI-NYS TRAINING SCHEDULE
Please contact your local affiliate program leaders for more information and how to enroll.
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: Pam Soloman & Geraldine Burton
Location: NAMI-NYS Office Albany



To have your events and Signature Programs listed in the E-Newsletter contact Christine Rickeman at [email protected].   

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