Quick Links
Click here to watch the latest episode featuring Dr. Robert Heinssen of NIMH
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We want to make sure that everyone knows that July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. As many of our readers know, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) mental illness affects one in five adults and one in 10 children in America. Furthermore, mental illness is a leading cause of disability, yet nearly two-thirds of people with a diagnosable mental illness do not seek treatment, and according to NAMI certain racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. are even less likely to get help.
During National Minority Mental Health Month, we encourage our readers to help raise awareness in your community. Encourage your family, friends, loved ones and clients to learn more about improving mental health and illness and how to reach out and bring mental health awareness to multicultural communities. In this issue you find out more about this from NAMI and each week in July, we will feature an article on minority mental health. We also call your attention to social media projects by the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYS-OMH) detailed in the New York News Section.
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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Summer Newsletter
The Summer 2017 edition of the
NAMI-NYS Newsletter is now available. The Newsletter contains details of our 2017 Education Conference, our upcoming NAMIWalks NYS, a summary of legislative advocacy issues on both the state and national level as well as stories on the amazing work conducted by our affiliates throughout the state and so much more.
Click here to access a pdf copy of the Newsletter.
Education Conference Addition:
Kathleen Marikangas, Ph.D
NAMI-NYS is delighted to announce that Kathleen Merikangas, PhD, Senior Investigator and Chief of the Genetic Epidemiology Research Branch in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will be presenting at the
2017 NAMI-NYS Education Conference on Saturday morning.
The major areas of Dr. Merikangas' research are: (1) studies of the patterns and components of familial aggregation of mental disorders and familial mechanisms for comorbidity of mental and medical disorders; (2) identification of early signs and risk factors for psychiatric disorders among high and low risk youth using prospective longitudinal high risk studies; and (3) large scale population based studies of mental disorders including high risk designs and prospective longitudinal research.
The major project underway in her research group is a community-based family study of affective spectrum disorders and their overlap with other mental disorders, especially anxiety disorders and medical disorders such as migraine and cardiovascular disease. The goal of this research is to identify the endophenotypes that are closer to the biologic expression of genes underlying these disorders and environmental moderators of genetic expression. Findings from this research are likely to have important implications for targets of prevention and treatment of affective illness.
NAMI-NYS proudly serves as the NIMH Outreach Partner for New York State and we continually strive to include the latest innovative work conducted by NIMH at the conference, as well as educate attendees on the importance of participating in NIMH clinical trials.
Representative John Katko Posts About
NAMI Hill Day Meeting
As we detailed in last week's E-News, as part of NAMI Hill Day, NAMI-NYS members met with the offices of 16 members of the New York State Congressional delegation, including several House members. One such meeting was with Senator John Katko (R-NY-24). Last week, Rep. Katko posted about the meeting on Facebook. Rep. Katko has proven to be a true champion in mental health advocacy. He was one of two Republican House Members from New York who voted against the American Health Care Act (AHCA). He also has been a good friend to our NAMI Syracuse affiliate, who he has worked with on a children's mental health task force. Click here to learn more about the task force.
As you will read below in the National News section we need to continue to make our voices heard as the Senate has yet to vote on their bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
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NAMI Queens Nassau Member David Sills has Letter to the Editor Published in Newsday
As the fight against the efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act wages on, NAMI-NYS has encouraged our members to join us in projecting our advocacy voice in telling the Senate to keep what works and don't cut our care. One way to voice your concerns and objections is to write a letter to the editor of your local paper. NAMI-Queens/Nassau member David Sills had such a letter published last week in Newsday.
In the letter David states: "Without adequate medical care, hospitalizations, therapies and appropriate medicines, Americans with mental health issues could be left to fend for themselves. Most assuredly, the results will be nothing less than tragic."
Click here to read the full letter from the Newsday website.
NAMI Mid-Hudson Partners with
Jack and Jill of America
NAMI Mid-Hudson and The Jack and Jill of America, Inc Mid-Hudson Chapter launched their partnership to increase mental health awareness in the African-American community with a screening of "Man of The House," a documentary based on John Palomino's traumatic life event, his father's suicide when he was 5.
Jack and Jill, Inc Mid-Hudson Vice President, DeAngela Watts and her daughter, the Eastern Regional Teen President Audrey Watts, organized the event held at Archimedes Academy, Bronx NY. A panel forum followed the screening. Panelists included, Director, John J. Palomino; Tracey Wilder, one of the actors in the film; Tina Lee, Executive Director NAMI Mid-Hudson and Westchester County Legislator Ken Jenkins. The panel answered questions from the audience and discussed the importance of breaking down the stigma among minorities.
Jack and Jill of America, Inc., is a membership organization of mothers with children ages 2 - 19, dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty. More than 11,000 active members in 238 chapters implement annual program activities to strengthen local communities. NAMI Mid-Hudson will continue to work with Palomino to bring "The Man in The House" to the NAMI On Campus groups throughout Dutchess and Ulster Counties. NAMI-NYS encourages all our affiliates to reach out to local Jack and Jill's and work to develop partnerships.
NAMI Rensselaer Finishes Latest
Family-to-Family Course
Mary Beth Honsinger and Mary Beth Nelligan of NAMI Rensselaer are proud to announce the graduation of their Family-to-Family Class on July 3rd 2017. The class was held at the NAMI-NYS offices. Mary Beth and Mary Beth report that it was a great 12 weeks with a wonderful group of participants and they look forward to continuing to strengthen the bond developed by the participants by engaging them in NAMI activities.
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NAMI Provides a Guide to National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Click here to view NAMI's guide to Getting Involved With National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, which provides background, talking points and activities.
Throughout the month the NAMI Blog will be featuring personal stories and accounts relating to multicultural mental health awareness.
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Republican Health Care Plan Could Spark Tax Battle in New York State
The New York Times recently reported about a contentious element of the Republican health care plan, found in both the House and Senate versions, that has received scant attention in Washington, mostly because it affects only one state: New York.
That is the so-called Faso-Collins amendment, which would end a funding formula that for 50 years forced New York's 62 counties to help pay for Medicaid, the public health insurance program largely for low-income people.
The amendment has naturally created its own schisms in New York, a political microburst that has mostly divided Republicans from Democrats, and upstate from downstate.
The latest salvo came from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who said last Monday that if the amendment became law, he intended to force counties to include a "Faso-Collins Federal Tax" on their property tax bills. The revenue to be raised would be equal to the $2.3 billion that would be lost because of the amendment, which he called a "reckless and dangerous political maneuver."
The next day, the state attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman, vowed to challenge the Republican health care legislation in court. "Collins-Faso amendment means 'Trumpcare' isn't just about taking away health care," Mr. Schneiderman, a Democrat, wrote on Twitter. "It's about sticking it to NYers, too. If signed, I'll sue."
Upstate County Working to Address Stigma and
Stop Police Suicides
In the last month, New York has lost three police officers to suicide, including one from the Capital Region. Most people fail to recognize the negative factors that impact police officers' mental health. Police officers see the worst of society every single day. They run into danger while everyone else runs away.
One upstate county is going the extra mile to help identify what the stress and trauma is doing to officers and then helping them through it. NAMI-NYS also discusses these issues when participating in CIT trainings. We urge police peer support and encourage the officers to look out for each other the same way they would out in the field, especially if they notice changes in their colleagues. NAMI has also released several guides on reducing police suicide and mental health among officers.
Click here to watch a news story on the Warren County initiative.
Click here to view NAMI's guide on Combating Officer Suicide.
Click here to view NAMI's guide on Police Mental Wellness.
NYS OMH To Participate in Upcoming Social Media Discussions on
Minority Mental Health
Awareness Month
The New York State Office of Mental Health will participate in three Twitter chats this month. You can join by following @MinorityHealth.
Minority Mental Health at the Community Level
Wed, July 12, 2-3 pm ET
Co-hosts: @NIMHD
#MinorityMH
HRSA's Behavioral Health
Thurs, July 20, 3-4pm ET
Host: @NHSCorps
#BHealthy
Minority Mental Health Disparities
Tues, July 25, 1-2pm ET
Host: @SaludToday
#SaludTues
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NPR Reports: For Many, Medicaid Provides The Only Route To Mental Health Care
NPR recently told the story of Ornella Mouketou, who a year ago walked into the emergency room at the George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and told them she wanted to end her life.
She spent a few days in the psychiatric ward at the hospital, and while there, she met a case manager from the McClendon Center, a mental health agency. That person followed up after she went home and is still in touch with her now.
"They kept in contact with me. They came to my house," says Mouketou, who now takes a prescription mood stabilizer and has weekly therapy sessions at the McClendon Center to manage her depression. Today, Mouketou has a job at a CVS pharmacy, earning $11.50 an hour, and she's working toward becoming a pharmacy technician.
The story reports how one of the little-talked-about effects of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, was to boost access to mental health care for the poor. For people like Mouketou, access to mental health care can mean the difference between being able to hold down a job or not.
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Fact and Myths About RDoC
Click here to watch a video of NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) program staff and grantees answer frequently asked questions about the initiative.
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2017 NAMIWalksNYS September 23rd
NAMI-NYS looks forward to building on the success of our inaugural NAMIWalks NYS. The 2017 NAMIWalks NYS will be taking place on Saturday, September 23rd, at Jennings Landing in Albany. You can
click here to start your team and/or donate to the walk.
For more information you can email [email protected]
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Click here to learn more and register for the 2017 NAMI-NYS Education Conference-
Engagement, Implementation, Internvention: Three Pronged Approach to Sustainable Mental Health Recovery, taking place November 10-12 at the Desmond Hotel in Albany.
JULY 13-
Capital District Psychiatric Center Family Services Presents:
"An Overview of Mental Health Services
in Albany County"
presented by
Tyleia Harrell, Behavioral Health Systems Manager
Thursday, July 13, 2017 from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm in the CDPC Family Resource Center. For more information or to register contact: Frank Greco, Director of Family Services (518) 549-6816.
JULY 19- Former NAMI Metro-NYC, NAMI-NYS and NAMI Board member DJ Jaffe will talk about his book, "Insane Consequences: How the Mental Health Industry Fails the Mentally Ill" and what to do about it at two NY events. Wednesday, July 19, 2017, 7:30pm | NAMI Queens/Nassau (NY). Northwell Health/Zucker Hillside Hospital, Sloman Auditorium. Entrance to the hospital is on 266th St. & 76th Avenue, Glen Oaks, Queens. For more info http://www.namiqn.org/monthly-meetings.
JULY 21-NAMIWalks NYS Bowling for Hope Second Strike, Friday July 21st, 6 pm.-8 pm at the
East Greenbush Bowling Center,
570 Columbia Turnpike,
East Greenbush, NY 12061. Tickets are $12.00 without shoe rental and $15.00 with shoe rental. Please contact Sharon at (518) 462-2000/ [email protected] to sign up.
JULY 27-
Capital District Psychiatric Center Family Services Presents:
"An Overview of the
N.Y.S. Justice Center
for the Protection of
People with Special Needs"
Thursday, July 27, 2017 from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm in the CDPC Family Resource Center. For more information or to register contact: Frank Greco, Director of Family Services (518) 549-6816.
AUGUST 3- Shakespeare & Co. Books (NYC). 939 Lexington Avenue (corner of 69th Street). Thursday, August 3, 2017, 6:30pm. Author's Talk moderated by Howard Husock of Manhattan Institute. http://www.shakeandco.com/ Must RSVP [email protected]
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2017 NAMI-NYS TRAINING SCHEDULE
Please contact your local affiliate program leaders for more information and how to enroll.
NAMI Family-to-Family Teacher Training
July 14th-16th, 2017
Trainers: Ann Canastra & Cheri Caiella
Location: Comfort Suite Cicero-Syracuse
NAMI Homefront Teacher Training
September 16th-17th 2017
Trainers: Pam Solomon & Jerry Burton
Location: NAMI-NYS Office Albany
NAMI Family-to-Family Teacher Training
October 20th-22nd, 2017
Trainers: Pam Soloman & Geraldine Burton
Location: NAMI-NYS Office Albany
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