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December 28, 2018
NAMI NH ENews
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Laconia Daily Sun Publishes Series on Managing Editor's Firsthand Experience with NH's Mental Health System
Editor's note: Laconia Daily Sun Managing Editor Roger Carroll experienced firsthand how the state's mental health system works, and doesn't work, when he went through a personal crisis recently and sought help. He writes about his experiences in three parts this week to shed light on that system and help remove the stigma surrounding mental health.
Click the links to explore the series:
To learn more about resources & supports in the Granite State, contact NAMI New Hampshire's Info. & Resources Line at info@NAMINH.org or 1-800-242-6264 (ext. 601 for general inquiries, ext. 602 to get info. for individuals 18+, ext. 603 to get info. for children/youth under 18).
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Attendees at NAMI New Hampshire's Holiday Open House had the pleasure of meeting Colby from 2018 NAMIWalks NH's Team Colby. Colby's team raised $1,100 to support Granite Staters affected by mental illness and suicide.
In addition to supporting NAMI New Hampshire, six-year-old Colby is also the star of
The Bow Tie Challenge.
Colby Barilone is a six year old boy who is diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and who has been pledging to wear a bowtie for all 180 days of his first grade school year! Like his page to watch his journey through the year as he navigates first grade and spreads a message of positivity to those around him against the odds set up for someone with ODD & ADHD.
At only six years old, Colby has been through the ringer of more doctors, therapists, & specialists than one may ever visit in their lifetime. There is still a long road ahead for him, and supporting organizations such as NAMI New Hampshire means people like Colby will get the care they need WHEN they need it, not being placed on a waiting list for six months or turned away for necessary services because the availability isn't there.
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Because of YOU...
Because of YOU, NAMI New Hampshire provided support, education, and advocacy to over 21,000 Granite Staters in FY2018, improving the lives of those affected by mental illness and suicide.
Because of YOU, families have hope:
"My family was in a very bad place...Our family was falling apart, and at the time we were feeling like we would have to have a child placed somewhere else. It was heartbreaking. With the help from NAMI NH we got the support we needed and not only kept our family together, but we have the peace of mind that we will be able to continue to be happily together."
Thank you for being a true champion of our mission.
We wish you all the best in 2019.
You can give to NAMI NH in a variety of ways!
- Join the NAMI New Hampshire Legacy Circle by including us in your estate planning, giving a lasting gift to help us continue providing support, education, and advocacy well into the future.
- Consider giving a gift of stock and potentially avoid paying capital gains tax. Click here to learn more about the tax benefits of donating stock to a charity.
- Stacking your gift may help you exceed the new standard deduction. This method of giving allows you to combine several years of charitable contributions in a single year, maximizing your potential tax benefit.
For more information, please contact Kristen Welch, CFRE, Director of Development or visit our website. However you choose to give, we thank you for your support!
NAMI New Hampshire recommends all donors consult with their legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions, to determine how to achieve the best tax savings and make a gift that best meets your financial and philanthropic goals.
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Nominations Due January 15
for NAMI NH Annual Awards!
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10-Year Mental Health Plan
It is anticipated the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services will release a final version of the 10-Year Mental Health Plan in early January. Stay tuned to NAMI New Hampshire's Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates, and don't hesitate to reach out to advocacy@NAMINH.org with any questions.
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How the Decision Ruling the ACA Unconstitutional
Impacts
People with Mental Illness
What happened?
On December 14, U.S. District Court Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth, TX issued a ruling, in the case Texas v. United States, that the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional.
What does this mean for people's coverage?
No one will lose their coverage or have protections stripped away because of this ruling at this time.
The ruling will be appealed and could be overturned. In the meantime, the White House issued a statement that read, "We expect this ruling will be appealed to the Supreme Court. Pending the appeal process, the law remains in place."
What could this ruling mean?
The invalidation of the ACA, if upheld on appeal, would touch nearly every corner of the health care system and affect virtually every American. If upheld, this would be devastating for people with mental illness:
- Millions of individuals and families covered through the ACA's Medicaid expansion, including people with mental illness, would lose their coverage.
- Millions of individuals who purchase individual or small group health insurance plans would lose important protections-and could even lose their coverage. These plans would no longer be required to:
- Cover preexisting conditions, like mental illness;
- Guarantee coverage to everyone who applies;
- Charge people with mental illness the same price as others for the same plan;
- Provide parity coverage for mental health and substance use conditions;
- Cover conditions without lifetime and annual limits; and
- Cover mental health medications the same way they cover other medications.
- Medicare beneficiaries would lose free coverage of important preventive services and could see the Part D prescription drug "donut hole" reopen, imposing higher drug costs.
- Americans who have health insurance through their employer would
- Lose their right to preventive services;
- Lose coverage of children to age 26; and
- See lifetime and annual dollar limits of coverage reappear.
NAMI will continue to monitor this situation and fight against efforts to turn back the clock to a time when health insurance plans discriminated against people with mental illness.
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DHHS Schedules Public Forums on Expanded Medicaid
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is holding a series of public forums to introduce the Granite Advantage Health Care Program, the new health insurance program for people enrolled in expanded Medicaid.
In 2019, Granite Advantage will replace the New Hampshire Health Protection Program's (NHHPP) Premium Assistance Program (PAP). During these meetings, DHHS will provide an overview on Granite Advantage open enrollment, the transition to Medicaid Care Management, and a new community engagement and work requirement for members ages 19-64.
The presentations will also cover Granite Workforce, a pilot work program for Granite Advantage members offered by NH Employment Security and DHHS, which will provide job training, case management services, and employment supports to assist them in meeting the work and community engagement requirement.
Forums are being held in Concord, Conway, Colebrook, Claremont, Keene, Laconia, Littleton and Portsmouth. All forums are posted under the "Events" section on DHHS' Facebook page.
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Yesterday in NH Emergency Departments...
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26 adults and
0 children
.
were waiting for psychiatric hospital care.
NAMI NH continues to make the ED boarding crisis a top priority of advocacy efforts on behalf of individuals and families affected by mental illness and suicide.
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Homeless Memorial Day 2018
On December 21, the longest night of the year, NAMI New Hampshire joined our community in front of the New Hampshire State House. We gathered to remember the many people who are homeless or lack secure housing, and to honor the 64 homeless individuals who died this year by offering a moment of silence and by reading their names and some short bios. Many struggled with mental illness and/or addiction, and several died by suicide. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
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NH Behavioral Health Summit
NAMI NH's Ken Norton, Elaine de Mello, and Ann Duckless presented workshops at the NH Behavioral Health Summit earlier this month. NAMI NH is grateful to all of the individuals working in the human services field across the Granite State. Jay Couture, CEO of Seacoast Mental Health Center, read a
proclamation from Governor Chris Sununu, honoring NH's human services workers.
In 2017, The NH Community Behavioral Health Association (CBHA), The NH Alcohol and Other Drug Service Providers Association (NHPA) and the NH Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors Association (NHADACA) partnered to host the Behavioral Health Conference & Public Policy Summit, focused on setting the public policy stage for key legislative and agency initiatives, integration and building capacity for mental health and substance use. This annual Summit is designed to bring together non-profit leaders, health care providers, clinical staffs, licensed professionals and public policy advocates in the mental health and substance use disorder community. The goal is to bring the behavioral health community together in a single forum where shared public policy goals, professional development and meaningful networking can occur.
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Congratulations, Heidi!
Please join us in congratulating
NAMI New Hampshire
's
Heidi Matthews Cantin
, who was presented earlier this month with the Lucy Fowlkes Breed Family Service Volunteer Award for her tireless work with
Missy's Closet
and
YWCA New Hampshire
. Much deserved recognition for her work helping survivors of domestic and sexual violence build new lives for themselves and their children!
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Suicide Prevention & Survivors of Suicide Loss
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Governor Sununu Recognizes Pinkerton Students and Staff for Suicide Prevention Training
On Wednesday, December 19, 2018, Governor Sununu recognized 15 Pinkerton Academy
students and members of the School Counseling department with commendations for their
work in suicide prevention and contributions to student safety and mental health awareness.
Ten of the students and several faculty members travelled to the State House where they met Governor Sununu
and spoke about their efforts to the Executive Council.
Working with Ann Duckless from
NAMI New Hampshire's Connect Suicide Prevention Program, the 15 students were
trained last spring. They presented what they learned this fall to 411 of their peers in Health
classes at Pinkerton. Students taught their peers about the risk factors and warning signs for
suicide. The peer-to-peer approach reduces the stigma in talking about mental illness and has
proven to be a more effective prevention model. The trained students emphasized that mental
illness is nothing to be ashamed of and that help is available, encouraging students to talk with
someone.
These efforts are part of larger efforts by the school's Prevention Specialist, Julie Donovan, who
hopes to train more students each year and educate all Pinkerton students on the warning
signs of suicide in their peers. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-34 in
NH.
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Community and Family Support Specialist
(Concord, NH)
NAMI NH is growing! NAMI NH is seeking a Community and Family Support Specialist for a 32 hour per week position. This is a salaried, exempt position.
Job Summary: This position provides education and support to families of individuals 18 and older so they can become full partners in the assessment, treatment planning and evaluation of the services they or their family member require to address their mental health needs. This work will be done by providing one on one (1:1) short term support, engaging families in NAMI NH support and education programs and building professional relationships that will enhance referrals to NAMI NH programs
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Veteran & Military Families
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NAMI Homefront
Registration is open for NAMI Homefront, a free class designed to address the unique needs of family, caregivers and friends of those who have served or are currently serving our country.
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NIMH Update
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) provides a monthly e-newsletter with the latest in mental health-related news, resources and grant opportunities from across federal government.
Highlights in the December 2018 issue included:
-- Team-based coordinated specialty care (CSC) for first episode psychosis resulted in more optimal prescribing of antipsychotics and fewer side effects when compared with typical community care, according to findings from NIMH's Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) project.
-- The suicide rate among the United States (U.S.) working age population increased 34 percent during 2000-2016. A new report published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) examined lifetime occupations of 22,053 people aged 16-64 years old who died by suicide in the 17 states participating in the National Violent Death Reporting System in 2012 and 2015.
--
This infographic from SAMHSA's National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) defines bullying and describes how bullies harass their victims through verbal, social, physical, and cyber means.
Read the full December 2018 update
here
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Magnify Voices Film & Writing Contest - Entries due March 1
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NAMI NH's Online Groups
NAMI New Hampshire offers four unique online groups - they're places to find peer support, share experiences, offer encouragement, and pass along resources. These closed Facebook groups require an add from admins - click each link below to learn more and request membership. Don't hesitate to contact
info@NAMINH.org with any questions.
This group provides a place for youth whose lives are affected by mental illness to share ideas, concerns, and questions they have about planning their future. (This group is growing - watch for an additional presence on Twitter and Instagram soon!)
A place to find support, information and to meet other family and friends of adult loved ones with mental illness. The group is intended to provide peer support to our members, to share experiences, offer encouragement and support in ways that are kind, helpful and most of all respectful.
A place to find support, information and to meet other parents, primary caregivers and loved ones of children, adolescents and young adults with serious emotional disorders (diagnosed or not). The group is intended to provide peer support to our members, to share experiences, offer encouragement and support in ways that are kind, helpful and most of all respectful.
This group is intended to be a place to find support, information and to meet other veteran and military families in NH. It is intended to provide peer support to our members, to share experiences, offer encouragement and support.
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Youth Resources on Social Media
NAMI NH and the NH Family Network offer social media platforms, including Facebook
,
Twitter
and now
Instagram
, as resources to find information and support for youth affected by mental illness. Each is administrated by youth with oversight from staff to ensure safe messaging. Check them out and help us spread the word to those youth who might benefit from accessing these tools.
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Introducing the NAMI NH Legacy Circle
Every year, mental illness impacts the lives of at least one in five adults and children in the Granite State.
NAMI New Hampshire is a grassroots organization working to improve the lives of all people affected by mental illness and suicide through support, education, and advocacy.
Many New Hampshire citizens concerned about mental illness have chosen to make provisions in their wills or trusts to support the work of NAMI New Hampshire, becoming charter members of the NAMI New Hampshire Legacy Circle. The Legacy Circle recognizes those who have generously included NAMI New Hampshire in their estate planning, and we invite you to consider joining this thoughtful and generous group!
Ways to Become a Legacy Circle Member:
· Designate NAMI NH as a charitable beneficiary of your will or trust
· Name NAMI NH the beneficiary of all or part of an Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
· Speak to NAMI NH about how to make a gift that will pay you income for your lifetime
· Name NAMI NH the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.
For more information, or to let us know you have included NAMI New Hampshire in your estate plans, please contact Kristen
or call 603-225-5359 x350. Sample bequest language is available on our
website
.
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The preparation of this newsletter was financed under an agreement with the State of New Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health, with funds provided in part or in whole by the State of New Hampshire and/or the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
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