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Click here to watch the latest episode featuring Dr. Lloyd Sederer.
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President Obama Signs
21st Century Cures Act
Enacting Mental Health Reforms!!!
For the third week in a row, this week's edition of the E-News comes at a historic juncture as on December 13th, President Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act. The President's signature is the culmination of years of advocacy to reform the mental health system. NAMI-NYS members played a pivotal role projecting our advocacy voice calling for federal action and we should all share in the celebration of this accomplishment. For those who were not able to watch the very moving signature ceremony live, you can click here to watch it now.
As stated above the voice of NAMI-NYS was paramount in the advocacy efforts behind federal mental health reform and as you will read below, following the signing, Rep. Tim Murphy thanked NAMI-NYS for our advocacy efforts. While we rejoice in the signing, we still have more work to do here in New York. While most of our state advocacy issues in New York have been enacted this year, there is one that still needs Governor Cuomo's signature; Step Therapy Reform. In the New York News section you will find information about this Monday's Day of Action on this issue. Please help us continue to #Act4MentalHealth.
This will be the last E-News for 2016 and we want to wish all our readers the best for a joyous holiday season and a happy, healthy and peaceful 2017.
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.
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NAMI-NYS Co-Hosts A Screening of Buried Above Ground and Discussion on PTSD
On December 14th, NAMI-NYS and the Stratton VA co-presented a screening of the documentary Buried Above Ground. The screening was followed by a panel discussion on PTSD. NAMI-NYS Helpline Coordinator Christine Rickeman was among the panelists.
NAMI-NYS was pleased by the large turnout and thanks all of those who came out on a Wednesday afternoon to learn more on this important issue.
NAMI Finger Lakes Their First Completes Family-to-Family Course in Virgil, New York
Six people completed the first Family to Family course held in Virgil, New York, led by Dale and Kathy Taylor. NAMI Finger Lakes sponsored the course. Congratulations to the participants and instructors.
NAMI Rensselaer Completes Family-to-Family Course
NAMI Rensselaer County completed Family-to-Family on December 12th 2016. Mary Beth Nelligan and Christine Robinson-Cooley led the class as first time instructors and did an absolute wonderful job. It was a great group of families and friends brought together through the 12 week class.
NAMI Queens/Nassau Completes
Family-to-Family Course
NAMI Queens/ Nassau recently completed a Family to Family class, held at The Greater Allen AME Cathedral of New York in Jamaica, Queens. This is the affiliate's 14th course in 8 years of service to the in Jamaica community. Facilitators for this class were Rev. Val Gittens, Theresa Stahling and Jeannette Wells.
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NAMI Discusses the Signing of the 21st Century Cures Act
On December 13th, President Obama signed mental health reform into law as part of H.R. 34, the 21st Century Cures Act. At the signing the President said of the legislation, "It includes bipartisan reforms to address serious mental illness, it takes steps to ensure mental health conditions, and substance abuse are fairly treated by insurance companies. It also incorporates suicide prevention."
The work of thousands of NAMI advocates has paid off. Congress heard NAMI's voice through hundreds of thousands of phone calls, emails and tweets, and they answered. Now, more Americans will have access to the mental health care they need.
NAMI's Mary Giliberti and Andrew Sperling attended the signing ceremony and Mary said, "
This was anything but a lame duck session. The House and Senate vote counts showed overwhelming support for the cause that we all hold so dear."
NAMI's Winter Ask The Doctor Webinar-"I am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help!" with Dr. Xavier Amador Available Now!
NAMI recently held their winter Ask the Doctor webinar featuring frequent NAMI-NYS collaborator Dr. Xavier Amador. During the webinar, which is now available, Dr. Amador shared information on overcoming someone's lack of insight of their mental illness using LEAP-Listen, Empathize, Agree and Partner. With LEAP, a person can quickly gain trust, lower anger and tension, develop genuine understanding and empathy making it possible to partner with a loved one and help them receive treatment.
Dr. Xavier Amador is an internationally renowned clinical psychologist and leader in his field. He is the author of many popular books include I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help about the LEAP method to overcome lack of insight into mental illness. It has been helping families help loved ones for years.
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THIS MONDAY TELL GOVERNOR CUOMO
TO SIGN NYS FAIL FIRST (STEP THERAPY)
BILL INTO LAW
D
ue to all of your tireless advocacy efforts throughout the session, the State Senate and Assembly both passed our Step Therapy/ Fail First legislation (S.3419C/ A2834D) unanimously in June! Governor Cuomo has not yet taken action on this bill but must do so before the end of the year. We need your help to make sure the Governor understands how important this bill is to so many New Yorkers.
TAKE ACTION!
This Monday our advocacy coalition is asking grassroots advocates to flood the Governor's office at 518-474-8390.
Click here to learn more and read the talking points for this important issue.
Dr Lloyd Sederer Appears on Good Day New York
Dr. Lloyd Sederer, Medical Editor, Mental Health of the Huffington Post, Adjunct Professor at Columbia University and Chief Medical Officer of the New York State Office of Mental Health appeared on Good Day New York this week to discuss various mental health issues and his new book
Improving Mental Health; Four Secrets in Plain Sight.
Click here to watch his interview. You can also
click here to watch the episode of
Mental Health Now featuring Dr. Sederer.
New York State Office of Mental Health Details How
Language Matters
The New York State Office of Mental Health is encouraging all New Yorkers to learn how to properly communicate with people living with mental illness and other disabilities. They recently shared information from the Center for Disease Control which emphasizes and details "Person First" language.
Click here to learn more.
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Rep Tim Murphy Reflects on Fight for Mental Health Reform and Thanks NAMI-NYS for Our Efforts
The mental health reforms included in the 21
st
Century Cures Act originated from
The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act
, the bi-partisan House legislation authored by Rep. Tim Murphy. The legislation came after Rep Murphy held year-long hearings detailing how the mental health system has failed too many individuals living with mental illnesses and their families, especially those with serious mental illness.
From day one, NAMI-NYS was proud to stand alongside Rep. Murphy in advocating for these much needed reforms. Rep. Murphy presented at our 2014 Education Conference where he received our Government Champion Award.
Following Wednesday's Presidential signing, Rep. Murphy once again thanked NAMI-NYS on Twitter for our unwavering support during the long and arduous advocacy battle for the bill.
Rep. Murphy also reflected on the process to get these reforms enacted in an article in The Hill. He says, "I am so grateful for the support I've received along this incredibly long and uphill journey. As we move to a new year, with a new administration and a new Congress, we look to a future of promise for real treatment for so many families who for too long have suffered in silence. For them, help is surely on the way. And where there is help, there is hope."
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NIMH Update
Read the Latest Edition of Outreach Connection
Click here
to read the latest edition of Outreach Connection, the publication of the NIMH Outreach Partner Program. Along with reporting news of activities conducted by NIMH Outreach Partners, Outreach Connection contains interviews with new NIMH Director, Joshua Gordon, NIMH resources, information on upcoming webinars and events and information on research trials.
NIMH To Host a Series of Research Webinars
in January
The NIMH Intramural Research Program is hosting three webinars in January to share both research developments and what trials are being conducted at NIMH, including a new study on depression in teenagers (see below) during a January 19 webinar. In addition, Kalene Dehaut, will provide an overview of the basics of clinical research, covering the process and why it is important in the January 23 webinar.
The webinars are open to the public and we encourage all our readers to participate,
Research Study Recruitment:
Brain Imaging of Childhood Onset Psychiatric Disorders, Endocrine Disorders and
Healthy Volunteers
NIH Behavior and Brain Imaging Research Study currently enrolling children and young adults (5-25 years old) with X & Y chromosome variations. Participation includes an initial 2-day outpatient visit and a visit every 2 years to the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Compensation, transportation within US, lodging, and meal allowance provided. For more information, contact Jonathan Blumenthal, MA at [email protected] or 301-435-4516.
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DECEMBER 13
-Brain & Behavior Research Foundation presents; Meet the Scientist: Neuroinflammatory Hypotheses of Depression, presented byYvette I. Sheline, MD.
January 5-Capital District Psychiatric Center Family Services presents "Brain Images and It's Use in Psychiatry" featuring Dr. Arif Shahabuddin. The discussion will take place at the CDPC Family Resource Center located at 75 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208
beginning at 5pm and will be followed by a family support group.
January 11
-NAMI-NYC Metro presents "Thought Leaders at the Intersection of the Mental Health, Public Health and Criminal Justice Systems." 6-8pm at Kramer Levin 1177 6thAve. We open with a presentation by Chief Medical Officer for NYS OMH, Dr. Lloyd Sederer, on his new book, Improving Mental Healthcare: Four Secrets in Plain Sight. The book provides a springboard for a discussion, moderated by Dr. Lisa Dixon, on the intersection of the criminal justice system and mental health care. Our panel includes New York thought leaders in psychiatry, public healthcare, and criminal justice: Francis Greenburger of the Greenburger Center for Social and Criminal Justice, Cindy Rodriguez of WNYC, and Detective Jeff Thompson of the NYPD. Seats are free and limited. Click here to RSVP.
January 25th-
NAMI Westchester will be holding their 2017 Advocacy Event featuring NAMI-NYS Associate Director for Public Affairs Matthew Shapiro and other speakers. The event will be taking place from 7-9pm at St. Vincent's Hospital
275 North Street, Harrison, NY 10528
February 16-
Capital District Psychiatric Center Family Services presents "Overview of Mobile Crisis Services" featuring Katie Flanagan, LCSW. The discussion will take place at the CDPC Family Resource Center located at
75 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208
beginning at 5pm and will be followed by a family support group.
February 16-NAMI Westchester will hold a screening of "People Say I'm Crazy" at the Picture House, 175 Wolfs Lane, Pelham, NY 10803
Doors open 6 p.m. -- Screening begins at 6:15 p.m.
Panel Discussion to follow screening with leading professionals
in the field of schizophrenia and individuals living in recovery.
Tickets $15 per person
Tickets must be purchase in advance by February 12, 2017
Click here for more information.
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