January 27, 2017

 
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Click here to watch the latest episode detailing mental health and the holidays.

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This edition of the NAMI E-News includes a link to our newly published NAMI-NYS Newsletter as well as information on an array of advocacy issues.

As always, we want to know about the work you are doing. Please email  Matthew@NAMINYS.org 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
NAMI-NYS Publishes Winter Newsletter
 
Click here to read the Winter 2017 Edition of NAMI-NYS News. The newsletter contains highlights from the inaugural NAMIWalks NYS and the 2016 Education Conference as well as the great work our affiliates are doing across the state and new NIMH Director, Dr. Joshua Gordon's first Director's Message.

NAMI Westchester Holds Advocacy Forum

On Wednesday, January 25th, NAMI Westchester held an advocacy forum. NAMI-NYS Associate Director, Public Affairs, Matthew Shapiro gave the keynote address called "Engagement Now: Speaking As One Voice to #Act4MentalHealth," which not only highlighted the NAMI-NYS advocacy agenda and detailed how our concerns were addressed in the Executive Budget proposal, but also stressed the importance of speaking as one voice and fighting for services to address the needs of all people living with mental illness, especially the ones with serious mental illness, who cannot advocate for themselves. 

Also presenting at the forum were Brad Hanson from Families Together in New York State and parent advocate Alicia  Barraza, who detailed the need to raise the age of criminal responsibility and reform the use of solitary confinement and DJ Jaffe from MentalIllnessPolicy.org who discussed federal developments.  A large crowd attended to take part in this important discussion. 

Click here to view the slides from Matthew's presentation.
Click here to read an updated analysis of the Executive Budget Proposal.
Click here to register for our Advocacy Day.  

Albany Panera To Hold Fundraising Night for 
NAMI-NYS


On March 7th, the Panera Bread located on 50 New Scotland Ave. in Albany (across the street from Albany Medical Center) will be hosting a fundraising night to benefit NAMI-NYS. Proceeds from sales of people who present the fundraising flyer will be donated to NAMI-NYS. The fundraising initiative is only at this Panera location.

Click here to obtain a copy of the flyer to present at the store. 

NAMI Westchester Continues 
Ending the Silence Presentations
 
Members of NAMI Westchester were busy on January 25th! At the same time as the affiliate was hosting the advocacy forum, other members were taking part in a special Ending the Silence presentation for  Bedford Community Church Middle / High school youth groups.

Read NAMI-NYS Thank You Letters 
for Step Therapy Reform

As we previously detailed, at the end of 2016, Governor Cuomo signed the Step Therapy regulation bill into law. NAMI-NYS and our members had been lending our voice to this effort for several years. In this week's New York News section, you will find an article about the new law and how it will benefit those with chronic diseases. 

We also wanted to share with our readers the thank you letters sent to Governor Cuomo and the bill sponsors Senator Catharine Young and Assemblymember Matthew Titone. 

Click here to view the letters. 

NAMI News
Action Alert

Join NAMI in Standing Up for America's Mental Health

Congress is debating the future of mental health care right now. If there is one thing we know, they need to hear from you.

Ask your members of Congress to ensure continued insurance safeguards and Medicaid coverage that help people with mental illness get the treatment they need.

The 114th Congress passed important mental health reforms as part of the 21st Century Cures Act to address the mental health crisis in our nation. This brings hope to the 60 million Americans living with mental illness, but these reforms are in peril if mental health coverage is not preserved.

The Affordable Care Act includes provisions that improve coverage for mental health care and promote independence and self-sufficiency for people who live with mental health conditions. With fair and equal mental health coverage, more Americans are getting treatment when they need it, helping them to stay in school, on the job and in recovery.

Ask Congress to protect access to affordable, quality mental health care.

Click here to participate in NAMI's advocacy effort.

NAMI Explains the Importance of 
Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness 

Do you or a family member take antipsychotic medication for a mental health condition? If so, you may want to familiarize yourself with Tardive Dyskinesia (TD). TD is a neurological condition that can develop as a result of long-term use of antipsychotic medications. TD causes involuntary movements of the body such as rapid eye blinking, sticking out of the tongue, lip pursing and jaw clenching. Some people experience twitching and jerking of their arms or legs. In severe cases, the muscles associated with breathing can even be impacted.

Click here to read more.


New York State News
Homeless Deaths in NYC Increase in FY 2016


A new report details that deaths among the homeless population in New York City increased in 2016. This is very concerning to NAMI-NYS as many homeless have untreated mental illness and Homeless individuals have a greater likelihood of mental health issues, which can compound underlying medical issues. And the stress of homelessness, from living in shelters and especially from living unsheltered, can also worsen medical health issues.

Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks said the increase in deaths related to heart disease might be driven by increases in single adult males coming for shelter, many of whom are reentering communities from prison and have trouble finding mental health services.

This also speaks to the importance of three of NAMI-NYS's 2017 Action Agenda items; the need for housing. Kendra's Law and improving the criminal justice-mental illness interface.

Click here to read more.

The Utica Observer Dispatch Details 
How Step Therapy Regulation Law will Help Those with
Chronic Illness

The Utica Observer Dispatch recently featured an article on the new Step Therapy law we discussed above. In the article, our advocacy partner Kathleen Artsen says "Forcing patients to fail treatment based on cost consideration, not clinical consideration, can be dangerous and harmful and it is ethically inappropriate." Arntsen is the president/CEO of the Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, who herself has multiple autoimmune diseases.

Our colleague Glenn Liebman of the Mental Health Association discussed the impact of the procedure for those with mental illness. "With mental health, we know what happens, somebody gets on a medication through step therapy that might have been not appropriate for them. And ...; I think more with mental health medications, it takes a while to titrate the person off that medication (if it doesn't work). You have that weaning process." 

Click here to read the article.
 
National News
Caregivers Invited for Stress Research Survey

Tyler Corson, a doctoral student in the Gerontology Department at Virginia Commonwealth University and a NAMI family member in Virginia Beach, is working on a research study about caregiver stress. If you are a caregiver for a person with serious mental illness, and you are age 18 or older, you are invited to participate in an anonymous online survey that takes about 15 minutes to complete. 

The survey includes questions about mental illness stigma and your thoughts about providing care. Your participation in this survey will help us gather information that may be helpful in designing programs to reduce caregiver stress. Tyler will share the research results with NAMI when the study is complete.

Click here to take the survey. 

Why We Need Positive Psychiatry for Schizophrenia 
and Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia Bulletin recently featured an editorial by Ellyn Saks among others that details the importance of using Positive Psychiatry to treat schizophrenia. Positive Psychiatry is the science and practice of psychiatry that focuses on study and promotion of mental health and well-being through enhancement of positive psychosocial factors relevant to mental and physical health as well as illnesses. 

Click here to read more. 
NIMH News
  

NIMH e-Book Collection


Learn about mental health disorders, a range of related topics, and the latest research anywhere, anytime-with NIMH's FREE e-books. 

Select NIMH e-books, including Depression: What You Need to Know, are also available for free via Google Play, iTunes, and Nook Books.

How to View e-Books
To download and view NIMH e-books from the NIMH website on your device:

Kindle: Select Kindle. Use a USB cable to transfer the file to your Kindle.

Smartphone or tablet: Do you have an app for e-books? If so, select ePub to download and view NIMH e-books with your app. If you don't have an app, select PDF.

Desktop or laptop computer: Free software is available to read e-books on your computer. Adobe Digital Editions is one option for ePub and Calibre is one for Kindle.

Click here to learn more. 

Save the Dates

CLICK HERE to learn more.


February 14 -NAMI-NYS Advocacy Day. Meeting Room 4 Empire State Concourse. Click here to register.

February 16Capital 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.

Click here to register and for more information.

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.

March 7- Information meeting for 2017 NAMIWallks NYS. More information coming soon.

APRIL 5- NAMI of Central Suffolk's  Educational/Informational Speaker Series offers: SAVE A LIFE WITH NARCAN TRAINING ! The free training, is given by Suffolk Co DOH and will enable participants to recognize an opioid overdose, administer intranasal Narcan and take additional steps until EMS arrives. Participants will receive a certificate of completion and an emergency resuscitation kit that includes nasal Narcan . Hope you can join us at Mather Hospital Port Jefferson Conference Rooms One and Two at 7:30 pm.

April 21-2017 "A Brighter Day" event at Glenpeter Jewelers. Click here for more information.
Signature Programs
JANUARY 21-  NAMI Mid-Hudson offers a three-week NAMI Basics course through February 4th. The course will be held from 9am-3pm at the North East Community Center located at 51 South Center Street Millerton  NY 12546. 

To register, please contact: Jo Ann Brown, Program Director (845) 832-6368 or email: programs@namimidhudson.org  

Click here for more information. 
 
JANUARY 23 NAMI Long Island  Family to Family.  Mondays starting Jan 23 until April 24 (no class Jan 20 and Feb 6).  Syosset Hospital 221 Jericho Turnpike, Syosset, NY 11791. Contact information: Vincent Esselborn  (516) 742-7839 Home, (516) 941-8946 Cell.

JANUARY 30NAMI Rensselaer Family-to-Family. Mondays Starting January 30 until April 24, 6:00 pm- 8:30 pm. NAMI-NYS Office 99 Pine St. Suite 105, Albany, NY 12207. Contact information: Mary Beth Nelligan at mbnelligan@gmail.com or Christine Rickeman at (518) 462-2000 / christine@naminys.org

FEBRUARY 14NAMI Rensselaer will be hosting a Family Support Group the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month 6:00 pm-7:30 pm at the Church of Latter Day Saints, 420 New Scotland Ave, Albany NY 12208. Contact information:Jeff Kellert (518)-527-5669/jmk82652@aol.com or Christine Rickeman (518)462-2000 / christine@naminys.org

MARCH 2 - NAMI Queens Nassau Family-to-Family. Thursdays March 2nd - May 18th 7:00 pm- 9:30 pm. Walk in Love for Jesus Church, 906 Newbridge Road, North Bellmore,L.I. NY 11710. Contact namiqn@aol.com / (516) 326-0797 or (718) 347-7284 or Carol Ann Viccora (516) 221-6168 / Elizabeth Janow (516) 742-8413.

MARCH 8 -NAMI Rochester in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs will be offering a NAMI Homefront course through April 12th. The course will be offered on Wednesday's from 6-8:30pm at Vet Center located at Crossbridge Office Park, 2000 S. Winton Rd, Bldg 5, Suite 201 Rochester, NY 14618.

Click here to register. 

MARCH 13 -NAMI Buffalo Family-to-Family.Monday's from 6:00-8:30 pm at St. Pauls Church, 4007 Main St, Eggertsville, NY . Contact Jackie Thompson at
 (716) 208-5016

MARCH 16-NAMI Huntington and the Northport Veterans Administration Family-to-Family.Thursdays March 16th-June 1st at 7:00pm at the Northport Veterans Administration in Northport NY. Contact Jill Ryan 
(516) 695-0389 or Jayette Lansbury at (631) 385-0754

March 21-NAMI Mid-Hudson will be offering a Family-to-Family course at MidHudson Regional Hospital, 
241 North Road in Poughkeepsie. The course will run through June 6th from 6:30-9pm. To register, please call :845-206-9892 or
programs@namimidhudson.org
 
APRIL 4 - NAMI Queens Nassau Family-to-Family. Tuesdays April 4th - June 27th, 6:30 pm-9:00 pm. Unitarian Universalist Congregational at Shelter Rock, 48 Shelter Rock Road, Manhasset, NY 11030. Contact: namiqn@aol.com / (516) 326-0797 or Ellen Ritz RN  el.ritz@yahoo.com / (516)330-9778
Rev. Val Gittens valgittnes@aol.com / (516) 749-4432 

APRIL 4-NAMI Orange Family-to-Family. April 4th - June 27th, 6:30pm -9:00 pm. First Presbyterian Church, 33 Park Place, Goshen, NY 10924. Contact Dhanu Sannesy 
( 845)294-2749 /  namiorangeny@warwick.net
 
APRIL 6-NAMI Rochester Family-to-Family.  Thursdays, April 6th - June 22nd, 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 beth@namirochester.org.

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 beth@namirochester.org.
 
2017 NAMI-NYS TRAINING SCHEDULE
Please contact your local affiliate program leaders for more information and how to enroll.

NAMI Ending the Silence
March 4th, 2017
Trainer: Jodie Terhune
Location: NAMI Rochester Office
 
NAMI Family-to-Family Teacher Training
March 10th-12th, 2017
Trainers: Ann Canastra & Cheri Caiella
Location: Comfort Suite Cicero-Syracuse
 
NAMI Basics Teacher Training
April 1st-2nd, 2017
Trainers Almarie Tulloch & Karen Alvarez
Location: NAMI Rockland Office
 
NAMI Peer-to-Peer Mentor Training
April 21st-23rd, 2017
Trainers: Cynthia Scott & Donna Israel
Location: NAMI-NYS Office Albany
 
NAMI Family-to-Family Teacher Training
May 19th-21st, 2017
Trainers: Patti Sacher & Bonnie Goldberg
Location: NAMI-NYS Office Albany
 
NAMI Homefront Teacher Training
May 20th-21st, 2017
Trainers: Pam Solomon & Jerry Burton
Location: NAMI-NYS Office Albany
 
NAMI Support Group Facilitator Training
March 25th-26th, 2017
Trainers: Pat Sine & Jack Goldstein
Location: NAMI Rochester Office
 
NAMI Support Group Facilitator Training
June 3rd-4th, 2017
Trainers: Deniece Chi & Nancy Parker
Location: NAMI-NYS Office Albany
 
NAMI In Our Own Voice Presenter Training
June 3rd-4th, 2017
Trainers: Bill Perun & Chris Wasilenko
Location: NAMI Rochester Office
 
NAMI In Our Own Voice Presenter Training
June 24th-25th, 2017
Trainers: Cynthia Scott & Lady Charmaine Day
Location: NAMI-NYS Office Albany
 
NAMI Family-to-Family Teacher Training
October 20th-22nd, 2017
Trainers: Patti Sacher & Bonnie Goldberg
Location: NAMI-NYS Office Albany
 
NAMI Homefront Teacher Training
October 21st-22nd, 2017
Trainers: Pam Solomon & Jerry Burton
Location; NAMI-NYS Office Albany


To have your events and Signature Programs listed in the E-Newsletter contact Christine Rickeman at christine@naminys.org.   

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