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Happy Friday Readers!
As we go to print, we are still waiting to review the final details of the state budget agreement. Three things we are happy to report are: We achieved a major victory as the Governor and the Legislature agreed on the nation's strongest Paid Family Leave initiative. You will see the details about that below. There also appears to be an expansion of CIT funding and restoration of Medicaid benefits 30 days prior to release from prison or jail. We will be sending a full budget analysis once we have all the information.
This issue also details the loss of actress and mental health advocate Patty Duke and NAMI's reflection on her dedication to mental health awareness. You will also find more information on the disturbing trend to use mental illness stigma to score political points during the presidential election.
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NAMI-NYS and New York Families Achieve Major Victory with the Inclusion of Paid Family Leave in
the New York State Budget
While we are still waiting for many of the details of the now officially late state budget, one thing we know for sure is that it includes
a 12-week paid family leave program that's paid with a 70 cent deduction from a worker's paycheck. The program starts 2018 and will provide a benefit of two-thirds of a worker's pay. This is being judged as the nation's strongest Paid Family Leave initiative.
This is a major victory for NAMI-NYS and our families, many of whom have had to sacrifice their jobs and financial security to serve as caregivers for a loved one with mental illness. During this advocacy campaign, many of you have shared your stories about how having a paid family leave would have helped you during a time of crisis.We are so grateful to you for projecting your advocacy voice on this issue. It is because of you that
o
ur state now leads the nation in ensuring that working families have access to this essential and long-overdue benefit.
Of the inclusion Governor Cuomo said, "This will affect the quality of life of millions of people in this state and it's basic, it's simple," Cuomo said. "We don't live at work. We live with families and we should have the capacity to be there when the families need you."
Click here to read NAMI-NYS's full statement of the inclusion. We thank the Governor and the Legislature for caring for caregivers.
We will update you on the budget as more information becomes available.
TAKE ACTION:
Bring Mental Health Education to Schools
Earlier this week, we sent an Action Alert with the latest episode of our TV program Mental Health Now, focused on the need to incorporate mental health education in New York's schools.
As we turn the page from budget season, it's time to project our advocacy voice on other legislative matters necessary to create a more mentally healthy New York and mental health in schools remains a major priority. After sending the alert, we have received several
inquires about which legislators to focus on for the three bills we are looking to advance.
We need to focus on the Education Committees in both houses:
In the Senate, the Chair is Carl Marcellino and his office can be reached at (518) 455-2390, you can also click here to view the full committee.
In the Assembly, the Chair is Catherine Nolan and her office can be reached at
518-455-4851, you can also click here to view the full committee.
TAKE ACTION!!!
If you haven't already, you can click here to watch the episode and click here to view the full action alert with information on how to advocate on the three bills.
NAMI Mid-Hudson to Receive the Dutchess County 2016 Public Health Partnership Award
We are proud to announce that NAMI Mid-Hudson has been selected by the Dutchess County Board of Health to
receive the 2016 Public Health Partnership Award.
The Public Health Partnership Award is given each year during Public Health Week to "individuals and/or agencies performing essential public health services to recognize them for their contributions to the health of the community."
Congratulations to NAMI Mid-Hudson, your NAMI-NYS family shares Dutchess County's gratitude to you for all that you have done to support and educate people impacted by mental illness and raise awareness of mental health in your community.
NAMI-Rochester Participates in St. Patrick's Day Parade and Appears on Connection Radio Show
Last week we shared with you the exciting news that NAMI Rochester has been chosen to receive the 2016 Outstanding NAMI Affiliate Award. This week we bring two examples of how NAMI Rochester is raising awareness in their community.
Members of the NAMI Rochester staff, board and volunteer team represented NAMI Rochester and NAMIWalks in the 2016 Rochester St. Patrick's Day parade. More than 100,000 members of the community came out to celebrate the spirit of the Irish. Participants passed out almost 2,000 Twizzlers with information on how to sign up for the NAMIWalks Rochester to the eager spectators. A great time was had by all and this demonstrates the importance of NAMI-NYS affiliates engaging in large community events both to raise NAMI's visibility and show that the discussion of mental illness and mental health can occur outside of the health arena and as a part of everyday occasions.
On March 28th, NAMI Rochester Executive Director Pat Sine and
Program/Grants Manager Donna Leigh-Estes were featured on Connection radio program in an episode on Combating Stigma. Click here to listen to the show.
2016 What's Great in Our State
A Celebration of Children's Mental Health Awareness
Nominate Someone for an Award
Once again this year, NAMI-NYS will join a group of state agencies and non-profits dedicated to mental health and children's issues in producing the
What's Great in Our State
event to celebrate children's mental health awareness. This year the event will be taking place on Tuesday, May 3rd, at the New York State Museum.
Click here to visit the webpage and register for this free event.
There is still time to nominate a person, agency, school or organization (including NAMI affiliates) contributing to children's mental health awareness for an award this year. Click here for a nomination form;
THE DEADLINE IS APRIL 5th.
NAMI Cayuga Participates in Central New York
Health Fair
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Bart Wasilenko, co-affiliate president standing by the NAMI/ BHU table.
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Auburn Community Hospital recently held a Central New York health fair. NAMI of Cayuga County was represented by Bart & Terri Wasilenko, co-affiliate presidents. Tee shirts, information and resources were available to the public to make all aware of the stigma assigned to those with mental illness.
May is Approaching:
Have You Started Your Ribbon Campaign?
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and as many of you know, NAMI-NYS is launching our statewide Ribbon Awareness campaign. The campaign is designed to raise awareness of mental illness and mental health issues as well as demonstrate how NAMI is a resource for support and education and a place for people to find help and find hope. Engaging in the ribbon campaign will also help you grow your affiliate's identity in your community by providing you an avenue to establish or strengthen a relationship with your local governments and businesses.
We encourage all of our affiliates to participate in the campaign. If you haven't already, now is the time to start planning the campaign in your community. Click here to view the Ribbon Campaign resource page on our website.
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NAMI Mourns the Loss of Patty Duke
Earlier this week the mental health community lost one of our greatest champions, Academy Award winning actress Patty Duke. Ms. Duke was the first celebrity to openly discuss having bi-polar disorder and her courage helped countless people.
She was also a good friend to NAMI and a past recipient of the Lionel Aldridge Award. Of Ms. Duke NAMI Executive Director Mary Giliberti said, "People like Patty advance our mission to break down stigma and the barriers it creates for people who live with mental illness. She once said, 'Stigma is born of ignorance and fear. The more that we can teach people, the less frightened they will be. Most important is that those who need help, who are feeling the way I felt when I was lying in bed for three months at a time, will know that I'm not inventing this, that it is real, that hope exists for them."
Click here to view NAMI full article on Patty Duke's passing. NAMI-NYS is grateful for her legacy and sends our condolences to her family.
#Act4MentalHealth
NAMI Urges You to Take Action on Talk to Your Federal Representatives During Recess
Reach out to your member of Congress while they're home for spring recess. Ask them to make mental health reform a priority when they go back to Washington. Urge them to bring home a bill that:
- Improves the availability of quality mental health care
- Promotes early identification and intervention
- Reduces criminalization
- Enforces mental health insurance parity
- Supports mental health caregivers
The time for games around mental health reform is over. Reach out today.
Click here to send an email to your House Member and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand.
Why I'm No Longer Silent About My Daughter's
Mental Illness
Stigma.
It's a word that people with mental illness - and those who love them - despise.
Stigma keeps people from getting the help they need. Stigma hurts people and it destroys lives.
Stigma can make people feel alone. Erin Loraine writes about herself contributing to stigma before her daughter was diagnosed with mental illness. At first she kept her daughter's mental illness a secret. Then she began reading books on mental illness and got involved in NAMI. The more she became educated, the more she felt torn between her fear of stigma and the realization that the only way to end it was to educate others.
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New York Magazine Says
Attacking Heidi Cruz for Her Depression Is a Disgraceful Move
In a recent NAMI-NYS E-News we detailed the disappointing long-standing trend to use mental illness as a tool to score political points. Unfortunately this continued this week.
The latest development in the GOP primary is Donald Trump's twitter war with Ted Cruz, where Trump threatened to spill the beans on Ted Cruz's wife Heidi. Trump supporters have flooded the internet mocking her past mental health issues. New York Magazine writes how "t
hese recent attacks have a self-perpetuating nature to them, and are only likely to get worse. And all they do is spread the false notion that either of the Cruzes has something to be ashamed about - and that, by extension, other people dealing with mental illness do, too."
New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray Talks Mental Health with City & State
This week New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray sat down with City & State Magazine and among the topics discussed was her dedication to mental health awareness and service reforms.
Of her mental health advocacy the First Lady says, "I chose to focus on mental health because it's been something that has kind of troubled me all my life. You've probably heard me talk about my parents suffering from depression. And I've also mentioned that I had a friend in high school who took her own life. I've had many deeply troubling episodes in my life which involved people who suffered from mental illness.And then when our daughter came to us and told us that she was suffering from anxiety and depression and addiction I just - that really gave me a deeper understanding of, first of all, how common it was. And how much we needed to do to help families throughout our city who are suffering."
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Tracy Morgan Busts the Black Suicide Myth
Sixteen months after the horrific, near-fatal accident that claimed the life of one of his closest friends, funnyman Tracy Morgan made a triumphant return to Saturday Night Live.
Morgan recently talked about his "survivor's guilt" and how he spiraled into depression and was trapped in a fog of grief, as he blamed himself for the tragic collision.
The Daily Beast writes how "it is not unusual for surviving accident victims to consider taking their own life." However, within the African-American community "historically, suicide and mental health conditions are often stigmatized. Despite the growing prevalence of suicide, there is a persistent myth that we do not intentionally kill ourselves and, when we fall into despair, we need only pray...many in the community still consider suicide a white thing."
Despite this myth, suicide in the African-American community is
far more prevalent today than it was just 20 years ago. Between 1993 and 2012, researchers found suicide rates among black children doubled and, for the first time, surpassed those of their white counterparts-which dropped over the same period.
Click here to read the full article about Tracy Morgan and the misconception of suicide in the African-American community.
Student Takes Chilling Photos To Show What Depression and Anxiety Feels Like
For her senior thesis, Katie Joy Crawford decided to make a photo series that would capture her experiences with depression and anxiety. The series - which is called
My Anxious Heart
- is composed
of 12 evocative self-portraits and personal captions that convey the crippling effects of mental illness.
"It quickly became a cathartic experience for me that has led to such healing and self-discovery," Crawford told BuzzFeed. "I want those that suffer to feel like they have a voice and a hand to hold. I never want anyone to feel alone, as anxiety and depression can be isolating on its own."
NAMI-NYS believes artistic expression is a valuable cathartic outlet for people with mental illness.
Click here to read the full article and view the pictures.
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NIMH Update
Click here to read the latest Update from NIMH. Included in this Update is information on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized rule to strengthen access to mental health and substance use services for people with Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage, aligning with protections already required of private health plans.
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April 6-
W
ednesday April 6, 2016: Join NAMI of Central Suffolk for their Monthly Educational/Informational program at Mather Hospital, Port Jefferson at 7:30 p.m. in Conf Room 2. Program will be the famous Jim Ryan's MAKING HAPPINESS HAPPEN; Simple Steps for a Happier Life DVD 3 part Series April through June! April's Part One session is:
Getting Started and Creating a Vision for the Future!
Hope you can join us to start your Spring season of renewal and learn how to create the life you want! For more information contact Deb (631) 675-6831
[email protected]
April 11- Join Achieve for a free webinar. Emotional Intelligence- Responding to the Emotions of Others from 1-2pm.
For more information: www.achievecentre.com.
April 12
- Join
Brain & Behavior Research Foundation for their webinar on
Schizophrenia.
April 13
- Join NAMI Westchester for their next speaker series at 7:15pm at St. Vincent's Hospital, 274 North St., Harrison, NY. The Subject is: Marijuana, K2 and Spice. How Times Have Changed. Speaker: Robert Anderson, Executive Director, The Counseling Center at Yorktown Heights, LLC.
April 15-
Join NAMI Westchester for their next fundraising event "Tune Up" Friend and Fun Raiser at the Risko Music School in Ossining on Friday at 6:30pm. In preperation, we are calling all musicians interested in preforming to contact Ann Dealy via email [email protected]. We hope to see everyone as we raise fun and "tune up" for the walk. The suggested donation for the event is $10. Appetizers will be served.
M
ay 2
- Join Achieve for a free webinar. Respectful Workplace- Strategies for a Healthy Environment from 1-2pm. For more information: www.achievecentre.com.
May 5- NAMI Syracuse Children's Conference: Addressing Challenging Behavior in Children & Youth. 9am to 9pm at Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Syracuse, NY. Presenters: Adrienne D. Allen, MD, Children & Youth Services, HPC Outpatient Clinic, Regina Canuso, NYS Council on Children & Families, Coordinator, Hard to Place/Hard to Serve Unit, Bridget Hier, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, School of Psychology, University of Buffalo, and Panel of Family Members sharing what has worked for their child.
May 5- In anticipation of the walk and Mother's Day, NAMI Westchester is "charmed" to announce the date for our annual Alex & Ani event. The event will be held at the Rye Alex & Ani store, 52 Pirchase St., on Thursday, from 3 to 6pm. A percentage of purchases made by phone or in the store will go to NAMI Westchester.
May 7
- The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention presents Hike For Hope at 11am, FDR Park in Yorktown.
May 10&11
- The Association for Community Living will host its 2016 Annual Management Symposium - Critical Information and Strategies for a Changing World (Open to All) on Tuesday, May 10th - Wednesday May 11th at the Saratoga Hilton, Saratoga Springs, NY. Visit http://aclnys.org/aclnys_events/acl-management-symposium-2/ for more information.
May 18-NAMI Queens/Nassau will be sponsoring another FaithNet event this year topic will be: Clergy's Role in Psychiatric Hospitals. Some of the questions that will be answered by them are: How did you come to be a chaplain of an inpatient psychiatric hospital? What do you feel is your most successful approach when dealing with patients that have a mental illness and their families? Can you share a story about a particularly meaningful relationship or impact you had on a psychiatric inpatient? The event will take place at Zucker Hillside Hospital's Sloman Auditorium beginning at 7:30
June 8
- Join NAMI Mid-Hudson for their Annual Fundraising Gala 2016. At The Grandview, 176 Rinaldi Blvd, Poughkeepsie. 5pm to 9pm. To Honor: Andrew O'Grady, Executive Director, Mental Health America Dutchess County and Michael P Hein, Ulster County Executive. With Special Guest Dr. Xavier Amador author of: "I'm Not Sick. I Don't Need Help!". For more information, please visit:
www.namimidhudson.org
October 15-
The 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 [email protected].
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March 19&20
- NAMI In Our Own Voice training to become a Teacher. NAMI Rochester.
March 21
- NAMI Family-to-Family by NAMI Mid-Hudson. March 21st through June 13th, 6:30pm to 9:00pm. MidHudson Regional Hospital, 241 North Road, Poughkeepsie, 12601. Pre-registration Required: Jo Ann Brown at [email protected] or (845) 832-6368.
March 22
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NAMI Peer-to-Peer by NAMI NYC Metro. Tuesdays, March 22nd - June 7th, 6 to 8pm, NAMI NYC Metro, 505 Eighth Ave., New York, NY. To Register: Call our Helpline (212) 684-3264.
March 26
- NAMI Family-to-Family by NAMI NYC Metro. Saturdays, March 26th - June 25th, 10am to 12:30pm, NAMI-NYC Metro, 505 Eighth Ave., New York, NY. To Register: Call our Helpline (212) 684-3264.
April 2
- NAMI Basics by NAMI Mid-Hudson. April 2, 9 & 16. 9am to 3pm. Arlington High School, 1157 NY-55, Lagrangeveille, 12540. To Register: call Jo Ann Brown (845) 832-6368 or email [email protected].
April 4
-May 16- NAMI Basics by NAMI of Central Suffolk. 10am to 12:30pm, Mondays, at the Farmingville Mental Health Clinic. For more information to to register please call Beth (631) 697-6097 or [email protected].
April 4
- NAMI Family-to-Family by NAMI Putnam. 6:30 pm to 8:45pm at the Mahopac Library. Call for information or to register Wanda Crowley (914) 522-3812 or www.NAMIPutnam.org.
April 7
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NAMI Peer-to-Peer by NAMI NYC Metro. Thursdays, April 7th - June 23rd, 12 to 2pm, NAMI NYC Metro, 505 Eighth Ave., New York, NY. To Register: Call our Helpline (212) 684-3264.
April 11
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NAMI Family-to-Family by NAMI NYC Metro. Mondays, April 11th - June 27th, 6 to 8:30pm, NAMI NYC Metro, 505 Eighth Ave., New York, NY. To Register: Call our Helpline (212) 684-3264.
April 12
- June 28- NAMI Family-to-Family by NAMI Saratoga & NAMI Schenectady. 6:15 to 8:45pm, at the New Saratoga Mental Health Clinic, 135 South Broadway, Route 9, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. To register contact Dotte at (518) 429-5047 or [email protected] or contact Cynthia at 518) 344-9177 or [email protected].
April 15-17
- NAMI Family-to-Family training to become a Teacher. NAMI-NYS. Contact your local affiliate.
April 18
- NAMI Family-to-Family by NAMI NYC Staten Island. Starts at 7pm and continues for 12 weeks at Fr. Dominic-Espifano Parish Center at Holy Roasry Parish, 85 Jerome Ave., Soluthy Beach, NY. Registration is required. Contact (718) 477-1700 or [email protected].
April 21- Join NAMI Rockland for NAMI Basics. 10am to noon, Rockland Independent Living Centrer.
May 3 - June 7
- NAMI Basics by NAMI of Central Suffolk. 10am to 12:30pm, Tuesdays at the Sagamore Childen's Center in Dix Hills. For more information or to register please contact Beth (631) 697-6097 or [email protected].
May 9-July 18
- NAMI Peer-to-Peer, 6:30 to 8:30pm. At the Patterson room in Samaritan Hospital, Troy, NY. To register call Christine Rickeman at (518) 462-2000 or (518) 506-6484, email [email protected]. Or Gregory Hitchcock (518) 921-4146, email [email protected].
May 14&15
- NAMI Family Support Group training to become a Facilitator. NAMI-NYS. Contact your local affiliate.
May 16
- NAMI Family-to-Family classes by NAMI Greene. Twice a week for 6 weeks on Monday & Thursday nights. Windham Hensonville United Methodist Church, Windham, NY. 6pm to 8pm. To Register: call Jackie at (518) 734-4383.
June 2- NAMI Family-to-Family classes by NAMI Greene. Twice a week for 6 weeks on Monday & Thursday nights. Windham Hensonville United Methodist Church, Windham, NY. 6pm to 8pm. To Register: call Jackie at (518) 734-4383.
June 25&26
- NAMI Family Support Group training to become a Facilitator. NAMI-NYS. Contact your local affiliate.
July 16&17
- In Our Own Voice Training to become a Presenter. NAMI-NYS. Contact your local affiliate.
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.
October 7-9- NAMI Family-to-Family training to become a Teacher. NAMI-NYS. Contact your local affiliate.
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