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Dr. Mary Jane Alexander to Receive Research Award and Dr. Robert Lewis-Fernandez to Receive Multicultural Award at the
2015 NAMI Education Conference
Information on Inaugural Wellness in Recovery Suite.
The work of doctors from New York State's two leading psychiatric research institutes will be honored at the
2015 NAMI-NYS
Education Conference
-Redefining Recovery: New Challenges, New Opportunities, New Hopes, taking place November 13-15 at the Desmond Hotel in Albany.
Dr. Mary Jane Alexander, the Director of the Center to Study Recovery in Social Contexts and of the Social Science and Innovation laboratory at the Nathan Kline Institute, will receive the 2015 NAMI-NYS Excellence in Research Award. The award acknowledges her work investigating how to improve the public mental health system, eliminate barriers to treatment for people living with mental illness and advance recovery from trauma. Dr. Alexander will receive the award and present on her work as part of the conference's Friday dinner program.
Dr. Roberto Lewis-Fernandez, the Director of the New York State Center of Excellence for Cultural Competence at the
New York State Psychiatric Institute, will receive the 2015 NAMI-NYS Multicultural Award. Dr. Lewis-Fernandez's research focuses on developing clinical interventions and novel service-delivery approaches to help overcome disparities in the care of underserved cultural groups. His work centers on improving treatment engagement and retention in mental health and physical health care by persons with anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and other serious mental illnesses.
NAMI-NYS is also excited to share with you the details of our inaugural Wellness in Recovery suite and the description of this year's wellness track. The suite will be open on Friday and Saturday of the conference and will have a plethora of information on wellness and offer participants a place to take a break with relaxing music. Along with hosting the wellness track workshops, the suite will also house special activities such as complimentary massages on Friday morning and Peace Paper demonstrations on Friday and Saturday.
Click here to learn more about wellness at the conference..
Click here
to REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE ONLINE. You can also register by phone by calling (518) 462-2000.
You can click here to view the conference brochure detailing the full weekend agenda.
NAMI-NYS Participates in MHANYS
Bell of Hope Celebration
On Thursday October 22nd, NAMI-NYS President Irene Turski, board member Sue Gagne, Public Engagement Coordinator, Matthew Shapiro and Affiliate Development Coordinator Tammie Paradis participated in the 2015 Mental Health Association of New York State's Bell of Hope celebration. The event honors MHA workers from around the state for their work to improve the delivery of mental health services. NAMI-NYS was proud to be invited to participate and congratulates all of this year's winners.
NAMI Rochester Holds
Jessica Henderson Memorial Event
On Tuesday, October 20th NAMI-Rochester hosted their annual Jessica Henderson Memorial Event. This year's featured speaker was Kevin Hines, author of the book
Cracked, Not Broken, who told his remarkable story of surviving a suicide attempt by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge and of recovery from bi-polar disorder.
NAMI-NYS Participates in Walk for Rita Out of the Darkness Suicide Awareness Event
On Saturday, October 18th, NAMI-NYS participated in the Walk for Rita Out of the Darkness suicide awareness event at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds. NAMI-NYS had an information table with resources from NAMI, NIMH and the New York State Office of Mental Health.
NAMI Rensselaer Holds Annual Awards Dinner
Assemblyman John McDonald Honored
On Friday, October 16th, NAMI Rensselaer held their annual awards dinner. This year's main honoree was Assemblyman John McDonald who has always been a friend to individuals and families impacted by mental illness.
The Emma Willard School Partners With NAMI-NYS to Have Mental Health Section in Their Library
The prestigious Emma Willard school in Troy, NY has partnered with NAMI-NYS to provide mental health resources to their students. NAMI-NYS provided materials for a mental health section of the school's library. NAMI-NYS is also working with the students and the staff at the school to create a NAMI mental health group at the school and several students plan on attending the
Young Adult track of the 2015 Education Conference. NAMI-NYS thanks Emma Willard for this opportunity and looks forward to increasing our partnerships with schools throughout New York State.
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NAMI Awards Major Research Grants in Serious Mental Illness
NAMI had announced the award of five-year grants to promote research in serious mental illness in two of the nation's leading university departments of psychiatry.
"One of the most important things about the grants is that our NAMI Research Fellows will help individuals who live with serious mental illnesses and their families feel more connected to research," said NAMI Medical Director Ken Duckworth, M.D. "We're confident both academic centers chosen will do an excellent job bringing the development and practice of research to life for people impacted by mental illness."
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New York Times Features NAMI Medical Director in Article About NIMH Study on New Approaches to Schizophrenia
The New York Times writes about the NIMH study, also detailed in the NIMH section, which calls into question the long-established belief that the best way to treat someone with schizophrenia is with strong doses of antipsychotic drugs that blunt hallucinations and delusions but can come with unbearable side effects, like severe weight gain or debilitating tremors.
The NIMH trial concluded that schizophrenia patients who received smaller doses of antipsychotic medication and a bigger emphasis on one-on-one talk therapy and family support made greater strides in recovery over the first two years of treatment than patients who got the usual drug-focused care.
Calling in Help: Mental Health Services for NY Students
Shenendehowa school districts are teaming up with the Saratoga Center for the Family to provide licensed professionals to be stationed on school campuses for students to be able to conveniently go to without leaving or missing school. The only extra cost to the school for this new service is the added office space because the center will bill the families' insurance for the sessions.
Click here to read more.
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Representative Tim Murphy Implores House Members to Support Minority Mental Health
On October 21st, Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA) took to the House floor to implore members to wake up to minority mental health and support his bipartisan
Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, H.R. 2646
, which provides treatment to individuals with serious mental illness in underserved populations.
Murphy's legislation targets minority mental health by authorizing for the first time in law the Minority Fellowship Program to increase the number of minority mental health providers. Further, the legislation provides alternatives to institutionalization and boosts the number of in-patient psychiatric beds. Additionally, the bill eliminates the two-day doctor rule, which prohibits a patient from seeing two doctors in one day. For minority families this regulation change is vital as it's incredibly challenging for a low-income family to find time off from work to get their loved one to another doctor.
"Our mental health system is abusive and neglectful to those with a serious mental illness. Worse yet, those policies disproportionately impact minorities and the poor," said Murphy. "If you are a minority or low income and have a serious mental illness you will likely end up in prison where 80 percent of inmates don't receive treatment."
Click here to watch Rep Murphy's statement from the House floor.
1 in 3 Children with Mental Health Needs
Only See a Pediatrician
Many children suffering from a mental illness may not have the opportunity to see a psychiatrist to be diagnosed or treated. Many only see pediatricians to diagnose and treat their mental illness.
Powerful Photo Series Shows Mental Illness
Doesn't Discriminate
Dior Vargas, who is a self-described Latina feminist, has started a photo project designed to end the stigma and discrimination of minority people living with mental illness. Vargas believes that the media narrates mental illness around white people while leaving out persons of other ethnicities and she is working to end that separation and get equal help and awareness for everyone. Her project features more than sixty photos of people holding signs with their names, their illness, and if they wish, an inspiring message.
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Directors Blog
New encouraging research from a NIMH-funded study found that coordinated treatment for first episode psychosis is better than typical care and early intervention is key. NIMH Director Dr. Insel further discusses these findings and why for the complexity and variability of schizophrenia, outcomes will be better with treatment that is individualized, multi-faceted, and attuned to the preferences of each patient.
The NIMH Research Domain Criteria initiative plays a major role in discovering the types of individualized treatments. NAMI-NYS is thrilled to welcome Dr. Sarah Morris, Interim Director of the NIMH Research Domain Criteria Unit to the 2015 Education Conference where she will be a featured presenter.
Team-based Treatment is Better for First Episode Psychosis
As is detailed in Dr. Insel's blog, new NIMH-funded research shows that a team-based, coordinated specialty care treatment plan produces better outcomes than typical community care for people with first episode psychosis. Click here to read more.
Antipsychotics Use Among Older Adults
Increases with Age.
Researchers Cite Safety Concerns, Call for Alternatives
For older adults receiving antipsychotics, the risks of dangerous side effects such as strokes, fractures, kidney injury, and mortality are increased. Despite concerns, researchers found that the percentage of people receiving an antipsychotic prescription in 2010 increased with age after age 65.
Joint Call for Expanded Access to
First Psychosis Services
The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration have issued a letter to states encouraging them to expand access to first episode Coverage of Early Intervention Services for First Episode Psychosis initiatives.
In the letter, they provide some details as to how these programs could be funding, including use of the 5% set aside in the Mental Health Block Grant and a variety of Medicaid strategies, most notably 1906, 1915.i and 1115 waivers.
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October 17
- Join NAMI Mid-Hudson as they host a new NAMI Basics course. Classes will be held on Saturday mornings from 9am - 3pm for three weeks. For more information or to register contact Jo Ann Brown at (845)832-6368 or by
e-mail
.
October 25-NAMI Rockland will present a special NAMI In Our Own Voice program co-sponsored by the Friends of the Finkelstein Memorial Library, Spring Valley. Contact (845) 359-8785 for more information.
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October 23-The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation will be hosting their complimentary 27th Annual New York City Mental Health Research Symposium at the Kaufman Music Center located at 129 West 67th St. in NYC. The 2015 Outstanding Achievement Prizewinners and select Young Investigators will present the latest research discoveries across brain and behavior disorders along with a special Keynote Presentation, followed by interactive audience Q&A. Click here for more information and to register..
October 23 - "Ask the Doctor," Dr. Jackie Feldman, Jail Diversion. 11 am to 12 noon. (888)858-6021, Participant Code 309918#.
November 4- The Mental Health Association of Westchester Community Conversation. 7pm to 9pm. Rosenthal JCC of Northern Westchester, 600 Bar Ridge Road, Pleasantville, NY.
Raising Our Youth With The Best of Intentions: The Hidden and Not-So-Hidden Pressures for Success, Is There Really an Alternative? You are invited to join us for a vital conversation about the messages we explicitly convey to our children, how we can better recognize stressors and how best to respond and what we can do to increase emotional resilience short and long term. Panelists include Christopher Borsari, Shari Applebaum and Barbara Bernstein.
November 4- Join NAMI of Central Suffolk for their monthly speaker series:
Ask The Doctor. Constantine Loannou MD, Director of Adult Inpatient Psychiatry and Director of Psychiatry Residency Training. Everything you always wanted to know about behavioral health disorders & never asked- an opportunity you've been waiting for and NOT to be missed! Mather Hospital Port Jefferson Confernece Room Two at 7:30 p.m. For more info call Deb (631)675-6831
November 4-6 - Join the Association for Community Living for their 36th annual conference. The conference will be held at The Sagamore Resort, for more information click here.
November 7 - Join NAMI Columbia County and the Apogee Center, with the cooperation of Parsons Child and Family Center for an all day workshop with Dr. Daniel Fisher on Emotional CPR. Pre-registration will be needed for this event and the cost is $10 per person. To learn more contact NAMI Columbia County by phone (518)336-0246 or e-mail.
November 8 - Team Daniel Running For Recovery From Mental Illness is running their 3rd Annual 5K run/walk at North Hempstead State Park (Bar Beach) in Port Washington, NY at 9am. Sign up is on active.com look for Team Daniel. Proceeds will be going to support NAMI/BBRF/and other Mental Health charities.
November 9-
December 11- The Mental Health Empowerment Project Presents: Free Peer Specialist Training in Troy, NY. Tues-Wed-Thurs each week. 9am-4pm. To register or for more information please contact Marianne at the Empowerment Exchange. (518) 235-2173.
November 10 - Join the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation as they welcome Carol A. Tamminga, M.D., for their monthly webinar. Dr. Tamminga's topic will be Schizophrenia. The webinar will be from 2pm -3pm,
click here
to register.
November 11- Join NAMI Westchester for their speaker series at St. Vincent's Hospital in Harrison, NY with presenter Jeff Fink of Go Fetch Wellness. Jeff Fink will be presenting on the therapeutic effects of incorporating therapy dogs into the overall treatment plan of people struggling with mental illness. Contact NAMI Westchester at (914)592-5458 for more information.
November 12- Join NAMI Staten Island for their 25th Annual Awards Celebration. The honorees include: Mary Ann Clark, LCSW, Director of Customer Services at South Beach Psychiatric Center; Larry Hochwald, Chair of Mental Health Council of Staten Island; and Digna Quinones, Regional Advocacy Specialist at the New York State Office of Mental Health. The celebration will be held at 6 p.m. at LiGreci's Staaten; 697 Forest Avenue Staten Island, NY 10310
November 13-15 - Join us for the 2015 NAMI-NYS Education Conference.
Click here
to learn more.
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TO HAVE YOUR EVENTS FEATURED IN THE NAMI-NYS NEWS RELEASE PLEASE EMAIL EVENT DETAILS TO MATTHEW SHAPIRO.
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