Make a Plan to #Vote4MentalHealth!
This year, voting is going to feel different for many of us. There are more options than ever to cast your ballot, and many voters are planning to cast their ballots before Election Day.
Do you have a plan to #Vote4MentalHealth? Do you know what your options are, and have you decided on the option that works best for you?
In Maryland, you can either vote in-person during early voting or on election day by mail-in ballot. - On election day, you can vote at any election day vote center in the county in which you live. Vote centers are open continuously from 7 am until 8 pm on. Anyone in line at 8 pm will be allowed to vote.
- Already received your ballot in the mail? Make sure to use black ink to fill out your ballot. If you don't want to wait until October 26, you can drop off your ballot at a designated Ballot Drop Box in your area!
To learn more about these options, NAMI has a tool to help you find all the information you need to know to #Vote4MentalHealth this year. With Election Day fast approaching, it's important to make your plan to cast your ballot NOW. Voting before November 3 may feel strange, but it is important that you choose the option that is safest and most convenient for you to #Vote4MentalHealth this year.
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Depression - Out of the Darkness and
Into the Light
Depression is now recognized as one of our most serious health concerns. Each year, more than ten percent of American adults experience a major depressive episode, and more than twenty percent will experience at least one episode over their lifetime. Furthermore, we know that depression is the major risk factor for suicide, now the second leading cause of death in the 10 - 34 year old age group and the fourth leading cause of death among adults ages 35 - 54. We also know that depression is a significant risk factor for substance abuse.
In this workshop, Dr. Dan Hale, draws on his own struggles with depression, his work as a psychotherapist, and his experiences as a father who lost a daughter to depression, to offer guidance for individuals and families impacted by depression.
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Dr. Dan Hale is Special Advisor to the President of Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and Director of the Healthy Community Partnership. He also is an Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, with appointments in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and the Division of Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology.
Prior to assuming his position at Johns Hopkins Bayview in 2011, Dr. Hale was Professor of Clinical Psychology at Stetson University. He is the author of several books, including Depression - Out of the Darkness and Into the Light (Gateway Press, 2020). In 2016 he was named Mental Health Professional of the Year by NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore, and in 2018 he received the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry Anti-Stigma Advocacy Prize.
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Minorities & Mental Health:
Mind, Body, & Soul
We are excited to announce we are sponsoring Radio One's Minorities & Mental Health: Mind, Body, & Soul! On Monday, October 26th, at 7:00 pm. Radio One will host a virtual mental health forum. Station personalities will moderate the discussion with prominent mental health professionals. Listeners will be able to interact with the panelists through live Facebook comments and questions. Topics that will be covered may include:
- How mental health impacts our daily lives
- The signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Where to find local resources
- How to cope with the current COVID-19 pandemic
Radio One is the voice in the African American community in Maryland and we are thrilled to be part of this incredible event! Listen live on Monday, October 26th, 2020 at 7:00 pm.
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Start a Conversation with Neuro Blooms!
Neuro Blooms began with artist Leslie Holt's mixed media art based on PET scans of brains with different mental health conditions. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans reveal unique maps of brain activity and provide compelling visual evidence that mental illness is a brain disorder. The pins spark curiosity and conversations about the causes and stigmatizing myths of mental illness.
The Neuro Blooms project has grown to include events in conjunction with art exhibits designed to deepen awareness of mental health issues in multiple community settings.
For this month only, 25% of all proceeds from Neuro Blooms benefit NAMI Maryland!!
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View new 2021 plans and lower prices now!
Open enrollment is just around the corner. Marylanders can start exploring new plans and lower prices for 2021 health coverage today! Prices have fallen for the third year in a row. Rates for 2021 average 35% less than they were in 2018.
Open enrollment begins Nov. 1 and runs through Dec 15 for coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2021. A third insurance company, UnitedHealthcare, is returning to the marketplace for 2021, joining CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Kaiser Permanente.
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Managing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that makes it difficult for a person to pay attention and control impulsive behaviors. A person with ADHD may also be restless and almost constantly active. Although the symptoms of ADHD begin in childhood, ADHD can continue through adolescents and adulthood. ADHD can have a significant impact on social and family relationships, as well as schoolwork. Children and adolescents with ADHD may face extra challenges dealing with changes during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In observance of ADHD Awareness Month, NIMH will host a livestream event on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 from 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm with Mary Rooney, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and chief of Child and Adolescent Psychosocial Interventions Research Program at NIMH who will discuss signs, symptoms, treatments, current research, and tips for helping children and adolescents manage ADHD during the pandemic.
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 COVIDConnect is here or you!
It's a place for those who have recovered - or who are in process of recovering - form their illness. You can promote action and find support on COVIDConnect - share your recovery story, learn about the latest research opportunities, find mental health
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The Problem Gambling Clinical Webinar Series is now open for FY21!
We invite you to join the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling (the Center) for the 2020-2021 series of free webinars designed to provide additional problem gambling prevention, clinical and recovery training on a variety of topics. Webinars are one (1) hour in length, 12:00-1:00 PM EDT and award one (1) CEU (unless otherwise specified).
NEXT WEBINAR:
Promoting Resilience in the Family: Working with Families of the Problem Gambler
Friday, October 30, 2020 | 12:00 PM
The family members of the problem gambler experience a great deal of emotional stain and stress. Families need support and assistance to restore balance and psychological equilibrium. Join us for this interesting and informative presentation on family dynamics and building family resilience. Learn how to help families heal, grow, and recover. This workshop will address the treatment issues that are common and unique when working with the families of the problem gambler.
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 Study Makes Case for Rigorous Re-Testing of Opioid Antagonists to Treat Schizophrenia
An analysis of 30 past clinical studies found evidence that medicines which block the body's opioid receptors may significantly reduce symptoms in schizophrenia. It called for rigorous re-testing of the concept.
Learn more.
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 New Study Demonstrates Non-Invasive tDCS Brain Stimulation Can Enhance Cognitive Control in Schizophrenia Patients
A preliminary test of tDCS, a form of non-invasive brain stimulation, in patients with schizophrenia showed that it can enhance a type of cognitive control often impaired in people with the illness.
Learn more.
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 Study of Seniors With Depression Shows How They Are Dealing With the COVID-19 Pandemic
A study of 73 seniors with preexisting depression highlights coping strategies many used to combat relapse during the first months of the pandemic crisis, but also suggested their qualms about their ability to endure social isolation indefinitely.
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Our NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore affiliate has created a new zine! Their team of young adult volunteers have been working diligently and passionately on the first ever NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore Zine (or online publication), and they are proud to share the first edition!
Their mission with this Zine is to amplify the voices of people impacted by mental health conditions, break stigma, create a safe space emphasizing mental health & wellness, and of course, spread the word on all things mental health!
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Maryland's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program: A Tool to Support Safer Prescribing Practices
November 5, 2020 from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Join MACS and the Frederick County Health Department in learning about using Maryland's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program as a tool to support safer prescribing practices. After registering on Eventbrite, you will receive a calendar invitation from WebEx after 1-2 business days.
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NAMI Maryland's Strategic Planning Group has redoubled their efforts to draft the organization's 2020-2025 Strategic Plan. We are asking you to participate in our "Tell Us What YOU Think: Future Steps for NAMI Maryland" survey, so you may share YOUR vision of our organization with us!
This survey will only take 10-15 minutes to complete. Please know that your feedback and responses are completely anonymous and will be kept confidential. However, quotes may be used anonymously to help describe NAMI Maryland's mission in documentation for outreach and other purposes.
Information gathered will be reported only in summary form and will be used during NAMI Maryland's strategic planning sessions. We thank you for your support!
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