News You Can Use
from NAMI Massachusetts
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NAMI Mass Annual Convention: Buy your tickets before Oct. 28th!
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40th Annual Convention:
Changing Tomorrow Together
Saturday, November 5, 2022
The Westin Hotel
70 3rd Ave, Waltham, MA
We are excited to announce that Ken Duckworth, MD – Chief Medical Officer, NAMI – will kick-off the 40th Annual State Convention as the keynote speaker. He will discuss his new book, You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health, which provides an essential resource for individuals and families seeking expert guidance on diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, featuring inspiring, true stories from real people in their own words. He will moderate a keynote panel with some of the local individuals referenced in his book, as well. You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health will be available for purchase at the convention, with a book-signing hosted by Dr. Duckworth.
We will offer 10 workshops on a variety of mental health topics including crisis response and peer respites, the healing power of art, building community in group homes and more. Please Note: some of our workshops might have limited capacity. If the workshop you are interested in has reached capacity, don’t worry! Your name will be added to our waitlist. We will try our best to make sure everyone is able to attend their top-pick of workshops. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
Registration for the 40th Annual Convention will close on Friday, October 28th. Don’t wait – register today! Day-of registration will not be available this year.
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NAMI Mass Annual Convention: Workshop spotlight
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Today is the last day to apply for the Art Marketplace at Convention!
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The Art Marketplace is a unique opportunity for local artists to sell their goods at NAMI Massachusetts’ Annual State Convention. The Art Marketplace is open to people selling artwork, crafts, books and other handmade goods that are designed by or made by the seller. Sales of commercially made or mass-produced goods are not permitted. All accepted artists will be required to pay a $50 fee. This fee includes breakfast, lunch, parking, (1) table, and (2) chairs. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, October 21st. To apply to sell your work at the Art Marketplace, please click here. Tables are limited, so apply now!
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NAMI Family-to-Family Classes
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FALL/WINTER COURSE OFFERINGS
NAMI Newton-Wellesley Family-to-Family Class
Thursdays, starting October 20, 2022
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
NAMI Central Middlesex Family-to-Family Class
Tuesdays, starting October 25, 2022
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
NAMI Greater North Shore Family-to-Family Class
Tuesdays, starting January 10, 2023
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
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NAMI Central Middlesex Family-to-Family Class
Start date has been moved to January 2023. Exact dates are TBD. More information to come.
NAMI Greater Lowell Family-to-Family Class
Start date has been moved to January 2023. Exact dates are TBD. More information to come.
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Do you have a loved one struggling with mental health? We can help. Register now for our FREE virtual #NAMIFamilytoFamily
classes this fall. Visit our website for more general information about Family-to-Family classes. Please note, registrants should sign up for the class that is closest to their own geographical area.
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Two new Family Support Groups available!
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NAMI Cambridge-Middlesex presents a support group for Adult children of people with Mental Health conditions. This support groups meets once a month from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM. For more information and to register, please contact [email protected].
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NAMI Cambridge-Middlesex presents a support group specifically for Black family members and friends of people living with a mental health condition in the Cambridge-Middlesex and Greater Boston areas.
Black Family Support Group meetings occur once a month on Wednesdays at 7:15 PM - 8:45 PM.
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Make a Plan to #Vote4MentalHealth
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General Election Day: November 8, 2022
General Election Ballots Mailed: October 18, 2022
General Election In-Person Early Voting Opens: October 28, 2022
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NAMI Mass In Our Own Voice Public Presentations
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NAMI Mass is excited to offer monthly virtual In Our Own Voice (IOOV) presentations that are open to the general public.
IOOV is a powerful presentation that aims to change attitudes, assumptions, and stereotypes about people living with mental health conditions. Two trained presenters with lived experience of a mental health condition will talk openly about their experiences and how they have found pathways to hope and healing. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions, learn more about mental health, and challenge misconceptions.
NAMI Mass In Our Own Voice presentation
Thursday, November 3, 2022
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
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NAMI Mass Sharing Our Stories Public Presentations
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NAMI Mass is excited to offer monthly virtual Sharing Our Stories (SOS) presentations that are open to the general public.
Sharing Our Stories (SOS) is a presentation that aims to provide hope, guidance, and connection to individuals who are caring for a loved one living with a mental health condition. Two trained presenters with lived experience of caregiving talk openly about their experiences and how they have found hope, support, and comfort. Audience members have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about available resources.
NAMI Mass Sharing Our Stories presentations
Monday, November 14, 2022
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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NAMI Central Middlesex 7th Annual "Stand Up to Stigma" Scarecrow Contest
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The COHR Solution: A Community Response to a Fragmented System
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Tuesday, October 25, 2022
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Somerville Theater, 55 Davis Square, MA 02144
This documentary explores the challenges of accessing care in the current healthcare system. It highlights the positive impact that an embedded clinical unit, within a Police Department, can have in addressing social determinants of health. Specifically how a follow up and aftercare model addresses current gaps in services and supports individuals through their journey in accessing resources to improve quality of life. Following the film, there will be a panel discussion consisting of local service providers and public safety. Conversation will focus on the new state initiative "RoadMaps to Health," and the 988 support hotline, as well the various ways public safety and public health continue to partner.
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NAMI MetroWest Annual Meeting
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Wednesday, October 26, 2022
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of MetroWest (NAMI MetroWest) has its annual meeting on October 26, 2022, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. This will be a Zoom meeting. They are happy to have supported you and your family in the past. Now, more than ever, they need your support.
Please register for the meeting and renew your membership today.
NAMI MetroWest members and those interested in supporting their mission of advocacy, support, and education for families and individuals experiencing mental health issues are invited.
Their guest speakers with be John DeRonck, LICSW, Vice President of Advocates, Inc. Psychiatric Emergency Services, and Lauren Massola, LICSW, Director of Advocates Inc. Outpatient Services. The speakers will talk about the new Massachusetts Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs).
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The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is recruiting for a research project!
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Are you interested in improving your relationship with your child? The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is currently recruiting for a research project aimed at supporting parents to engage in meaningful activities with their children. Parent participants will have the opportunity to participate in a 10-week program and receive 1-1 support to engage in meaningful family-based activities. Through these activities, parents may improve their relationships with their children, improve communications, and increase parenting efficacy.
They are looking for parents who:
- are an adult parent between the ages of 18 and 65
- have a diagnosis of a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, or depression;
- have a child who is between 7-15 years old and is interested in participating in family leisure with you
- have legal visitation rights, joint custody, or full custody of your child, with at least weekly contact and;
- have a desire to engage in more leisure activities with your child.
Participants may be compensated up to $60 in gift cards.
If you are interested in participating or you are affiliated with a program that supports parents with mental illnesses, please contact [email protected].
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Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) is hosting a citizenship workshop
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Thursday, October 27, 2022
Starting at 5:00 PM
MIRA (Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy) Coalition advocates for immigrant rights in the Massachusetts area and the citizenship department helps green card holders obtain their citizenship by giving them free legal assistance. Part of this program is hosting citizenship clinics where they fill out citizenship applications for their clients.
They will be hosting a clinic soon in Framingham on October 27th at 5:00pm in the Brazilian-American Center (Brace).
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Department of Mental Health (DMH) wants you to join the Human Rights Committee
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One of the most rewarding membership experiences is joining the Human Rights Committee and serving patients in the greater Boston area. HRC has several goals with varying missions to advocate for mental health treatment. Some focus on a particular issue, while others concentrate their work on large scale systemic changes. The Human Rights Committee has its own mission to treat mental health with set yearly goals. We look for dedicated members from all disciplines to help give a voice to those living with mental health conditions.
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9-8-8 went live on July 16, 2022. Here’s what you need to know…
9-8-8 is a new easy-to-remember number for reaching the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In Massachusetts, we have 5 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline centers that are staffed by non-clinicians. Presently, not all these centers are 24/7 and some of them do not refer people to additional services. Starting July 16, you can call or text 9-8-8 24/7/365 and connect with a trained call taker who can listen, provide support, and refer to additional resources and services as needed. Learn more about Lifeline.
While we are encouraged that the Federal Government and Massachusetts have begun to prioritize Behavioral Health system reform, we know that 988 is a small step in restructuring the system. At NAMI Massachusetts, we envision a Behavioral Health system that includes:
- immediate access to mental health supports for individuals and families that are founded in agency dignity and choice
- services that are culturally and linguistically responsive and include options for both clinical support and peer and family support from those with lived experience,
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a full range of immediate crisis support services that are welcoming, non-coercive, and meet the needs and preferences of the individuals seeking care over the phone, in-person, virtually, or at a 24/7 crisis center, and
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a comprehensive continuum of services that links people to ongoing care and support and ensures equitable access to quality care for all.
Additionally, we promote a Behavioral Health system that addresses the high levels of ED boarding, arrest of individuals with mental health conditions, climbing suicide rates, and tragic outcomes in some police encounters. For a Behavioral Health system to respond effectively to an ongoing crisis, it needs three parts: (1) 24/7 crisis call centers, (2) mobile crisis teams, and (3) crisis stabilization. The system should also provide a continuum of care that prioritizes the prevention of a crisis, care during a crisis, and follow-up after a crisis.
Promisingly, Massachusetts will roll out a second 24/7 clinician-run Behavioral Health helpline in January 2023. This helpline will be supported by Community Behavioral Health Centers, with mobile crisis services, crisis stabilization supports, and an array of urgent and routine behavioral health care. But there are still a lot of unknowns with the Behavioral Health helpline and its intersection with 988.
First and foremost, while we appreciate these strides toward a renewed Behavioral Health system, it is important to note that 988 is not always going to mitigate police response. Without mobile crisis teams and crisis stabilization, 988 will still rely on police intervention if they do not feel they can de-escalate a situation over the phone. Secondly, we need accountability measures, feedback opportunities, and data-driven results on 988s functioning in order to address any concerns or problems. Without these measures in place, we cannot effectively judge or rely on the system for people living with mental health conditions in crisis.
While we monitor the progress of 988 and wait in hopeful anticipation of the Behavioral Health helpline, NAMI Mass continues to provide free information, ideas, resources, and support to people across the state navigating the complex mental health system and related systems of care. Our Compass Helpline is staffed by people with first-hand experience navigating the mental health system for themselves or a family member.
This is an important time for Massachusetts residents living with a mental health condition and their families. We need to ensure that an accountable and transparent system is designed and implemented by centering the voices of the most impacted. It is also important that we are realistic about where we are in Behavioral Health reform. We may not be where we want to be today, or even next week, but we are optimistic that with input from diverse providers, recovery coaches, peer support specialists, advocates, and people living with a mental health condition and their families that Massachusetts can create a well-designed Behavioral Health system.
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COVID-19 Vaccine in Massachusetts
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