Welcome to NAMI-NYS E-newsletter |
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In this issue of NAMI-NYS, you will find NAMI-NYS news and updates including our Suicide Prevention Awareness efforts and essential information and resources for individuals and loved ones in need of emotional support. You will also find our Off The Mask Save the Date.
We also have opportunities for you and your loved ones to become more involved in NAMI-NYS's mission as a member of a committee like our NAMI-NYS Youth Advisory Council.
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National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month |
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All September long, NAMI-NYS will be joining mental health advocates, other mental health and prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members to promote suicide prevention awareness.
Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. In fact, suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues.
Every year thousands of individuals die by suicide, leaving behind their friends and family members to navigate the tragedy of loss. In many cases, friends and families affected by a suicide loss (often called “suicide loss survivors”) are left in the dark. Too often the feelings of shame and stigma prevent them from talking openly.
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month—a time to share resources and stories in an effort to shed light on this highly taboo and stigmatized topic. We use this month to reach out to those affected by suicide, raise awareness and connect individuals with suicidal ideation to treatment services. It is also important to ensure that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention. NAMI is here to help.
Checkout our resource section below for more information.
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NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group Newest Graduates |
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NAMI-NYS held a NAMI Connection Support Group State Training August 15th and August 22nd
We would like to congratulate our newest graduates: Terry Brennan of NAMI Westchester, Fran Griffin of NAMI Orange County Ny, Ashley Johnston, Tanisha Malcom, and Anthony Pantoja of NAMI NYC Metro, Elizabeth Friend, Rachel Klementowski, Kara Kniss and Nirav Patel of NAMI Capital Region NY and RPI's Peer Counseling Initiatives.
We would also like to thank Christine Rickeman, NAMI-NYS Information, Resource & Helpline Coordinator and Mary Beth Honsinger, NAMI Capital Region NY President, for leading the trainings.
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NAMI-NYS Youth Advisory Council |
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NAMI-NYS Board member Pooja Mehta has been working with the staff to expand the Youth Advisory Council. We invite Young Leaders (ages 18-29) to apply and encourage you to share this great opportunity with others.
Why Get Involved?
· Improve and expand mental health resources for you, loved ones, peers and your community
· Connect with likeminded Peers
· Direct NAMI-NYS Youth Development initiatives and the Youth Track at the NAMI-NYS Education Conference
· Gain experience, explore leadership opportunities and receive mentoring from the NAMI-NYS Board and staff
· Share NAMI-NYS Social Media to promote its mission, messages of hope, and your work
· Because Mental Health Matters
With your help, we can expand our mental health systems of support, education, and advocacy as well as create new and sustainable systems to bridge gaps in mental health resources for our New York State community members.
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2020 NAMI-NYS Education Conference
NAMI-NYS is excited to announce the details of our 2020 Education Conference-Building Momentum: Coming Together to Create Our Future.
The online event will take place October 23-24th. As with many things in 2020, this year’s conference experience will certainly be different as we transition to a virtual platform, but we assure you, your experience will be no less powerful. The conference will allow the NAMI-NYS family to come together and provide resources to help us collectively take the first steps towards recovering from the traumas of 2020 as well as inspire us to rise up and start shaping our future.
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NAMI-NYS Off The Mask
This year Off The Mask will take place on Friday, November 6th, at 7:30 PM.
With the many obstacles that COVID-19 has challenged us with, we have decided that it would be best and safest to go virtual and will be live streamed through Facebook.
Our event will feature a professionally pre-recorded fashion show which will feature approximately 20 of our model ambassadors. Each model is still expected to raise $2,500, in which they are all continually working hard and coming up with very innovative ways to reach this goal!
In addition, Off The Mask will include a silent auction, virtual art exhibit and raffle. Please keep an eye out in our future newsletters for more details and ways to be involved in the comfort of your own home.
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NAMI-NYS Affiliate News & Updates |
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NAMI Columbia County Partners with
the Mental Health Awareness & Creative Arts Gallery
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NAMI Columbia County, NY partners with local art gallery to support individuals with mental illness.
Individuals with mental illness can find art therapeutic. The Mental Health Awareness & Creative Arts Gallery, Inc. (MHAG) was started in Hudson, NY to provide a venue for creative individuals with mental illness to display and sell their artwork. NAMI-CC is partnering with the MHAG to expand their outreach into the community.
NAMI CC and MHAG share a common purpose; to champion justice, dignity and respect for all individuals, families and friends affected by mental illness in Columbia County. With legal assistance, the two organizations finalized an agreement in August whereby NAMI-CC will accept donations to help further the work of the MHAG for the benefit of the community.
NAMI-CC and MHAG are presently searching for a permanent gallery location in Hudson and soliciting donations to secure a lease. In addition to a physical gallery, artwork is displayed on the NAMI-CC website (Namiccny.org). The gallery and website will feature a rotating exhibit of artwork. Some of the artwork is available for purchase. Anyone interested can contact the gallery or NAMI CC and income from purchased artwork will help these individuals address their mental health challenges and achieve independence.
The official opening of the Mental Health Awareness & Creative Arts Gallery will be announced in the near future. Anyone may donate to the MHAG thru the NAMI-CC website, or send donations to NAMI-CC, P.O. Box 269, Valatie, NY 12184.
Those in Columbia or Greene Counties interested in having their work displayed please visit namiccny.org or send an email to Brian Belt, the MHAG manager, at namaskar47@hotmail.com.
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NAMI Orange County Family-to-Family Online
SEPTEMBER 5-Online Family-to-Family. NAMI Orange County NY, Saturdays September 5 2020 thru October 10 2020 from 10am-12:30pm. To register contact Dhanu Sannesy at 845-204-2749 / dhanu72@hotmail.com.
NAMI Mid-Hudson- Family-to-Family - Online
SEPTEMBER 21 - Family-to-Family. NAMI Mid-Hudson, Mondays 9/21/20 – 11/9/20 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm. This is a Virtual Class, to register please call Jo Ann Brown at 845-832-6368 or email: jnbrown@optonline.net
NAMI Mid-Hudson-Peer-to-Peer Online
OCTOBER 2-Online Peer-to-Peer. NAMI Mid-Hudson, Fridays October 2 2020thru November 11 2020 from 2pm-4pm. To register contact JoAnn Brown at 845-832-6368 / jnbrown@optonline.net.
NAMI Huntington Family-to-Family Online
OCTOBER 8- Online Family-to-Family. NAMI Huntington, Thursdays October 8 2020 thru December 3 2020 from 7pm-9:30pm. To register contact Jill Ryan at 516-695-0389 /quiltanp@aol.com.
NAMI-NYS Affiliate Support Groups
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Pledge to #Vote4MentalHealth in 2020 |
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The 2020 elections are fast approaching. Across the country, including our community, one issue is on every ballot: mental health.
Once elected, policymakers make decisions on policies that directly impact mental health care in our community. Your vote can send a clear message that mental health matters.
Join us. Together, we can make a difference for everyone affected by mental health conditions. NAMI won’t tell you how to vote – that is a decision that is yours. But we’ll provide information on how to ask candidates about their positions on important issues, updates on how to cast your ballot and reminders for key voting dates in our state.
Take the first step. Pledge to #Vote4MentalHealth.
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NAMI Ask the Expert: Eating for Better Mental Health |
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Thursday, September 10, 2020 4:00 pm |
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People with mental health conditions are at a higher risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and other physical health problems. While most of us recognize that mental and physical health are linked, it can be hard to figure out how to best support our own well-being. Developing research shows that specific dietary choices not only support physical health, but directly contribute to mental health as well.
Nutritional Psychiatrist, Dr. Uma Naidoo, will explain why some foods are good for your brain while others aren’t. She will describe her work in Nutritional Psychiatry, sharing the current evidence between nutrition and mental health, as well as how we can eat better for better mental health. Dr. Naidoo will describe her Pillars of Mental Wellness Approach and how you can start today to improve your emotional well-being.
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Our Expert
Dr. Uma Naidoo is a Harvard trained psychiatrist, Professional Chef and Nutrition Specialist. Her niche work is in Nutritional Psychiatry and she is regarded both nationally and internationally as a medical pioneer in this more newly recognized field.
In her role as a Clinical Scientist, Dr. Naidoo founded and directs the first hospital-based clinical service in Nutritional Psychiatry in the USA. She is the Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) & Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital Academy while serving on the faculty at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Naidoo graduated from the Harvard-Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program in Boston during which she received several awards, some of which included a Junior Investigator Award (American Psychiatric Association), Leadership Development for Physicians and Scientists award (Harvard), as well as being the very first psychiatrist to be awarded the coveted Curtis Prout Scholar in Medical Education. Dr. Naidoo has been asked by The American Psychiatric Association to author the first academic text in Nutritional Psychiatry. In addition, she is the author of "This Is Your Brain On Food."
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NAMICon 2020 Session Recordings are Available Now!
We hope that NAMICon reaches new members of our community and continues to inspire new discussions.
All workshops were recorded and are now available, view here.
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NAMI Blogs
NAMI Blogs are resources for people who are interested in mental health.
NAMI features the latest research, stories of recovery, ways to end stigma and strategies for living well. Most importantly: NAMI features your voices.
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My Friend Is Suicidal:
What Should I Do?
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NAMI's Black Mental Health Resources |
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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
It is committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.
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Crisis Text Line: In a crisis?
Text HOME to 741741 to Connect with a Crisis Counselor
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Crisis Text Line is free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text 741741 from anywhere in the US to text with a trained Crisis Counselor. Crisis Text Line trains volunteers to support people in crisis.
Crisis Text Line is here for any crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.
How to Deal with Suicide
You are enough. You matter. Your life is worth fighting for. Suicide is a leading cause of death. It’s also preventable. In U.S. alone, we have the ability to save nearly 45,000 lives every year.
Suicide is a leading cause of death. It’s also preventable. In the U.S. alone, we have the ability to save nearly 45,000 lives every year. Globally, that number is closer to 800,000.
But, hold up. Before we get to saving the world, let’s check-in. If you’re feeling like ending your life, you can always ask for help managing your emotions. Asking for help is brave. You are brave. You are valuable You are important. And, the world needs you.
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NIMH's Let's Talk About Suicide Prevention Awareness Campaign
Let’s talk about suicide prevention. Everyone can play a role. Use these resources to help raise awareness about suicide prevention. Share science. Share hope.
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Often, family and friends are the first to recognize the warning signs of suicide and can be the first step toward helping an at-risk individual find treatment with someone who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.
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AFSP's National Suicide Prevention Awareness Week - #KeepGoing |
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The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. AFSP is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide.
In the era of Covid-19, as we all try to protect our mental health and cope with uncertainty, it’s more important than ever that we be there for each other and take steps to prevent suicide.
You don’t have to be a mental health professional to make a difference. There are simple things we can all do to safeguard our mental health, and you don’t have to do it alone. From learning the warning signs for suicide and what to do if you are worried someone is struggling, to advocating for smart suicide prevention legislation, to having a #RealConvo about your own or others’ mental health, to bringing education programs to your community, we can all learn new ways to help each other save lives. Together, we #KeepGoing.
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APA's Stress & Trauma Toolkit for Treating African Americans
in a Changing Political and Social Environment
Both overt and covert acts of racism influence the psyche of African Americans. Historical trauma occurs when there is a collective agreement that members of a certain group have been mistreated, and this understanding helps shape their identity. Throughout American history, African American people have suffered from physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological trauma during enslavement, the Jim Crow era and the Civil Rights Movement.
Acts of covert racism can take the form of microaggressions or slights that leave the recipient with a perceived sense that an act of prejudice occurred toward them during the interaction. Experiencing frequent microaggressions may cause chronic stress and/or adverse health behaviors, either of which can lead to mental and physical health consequences.
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NAMI-NYS encourages everyone to continue practicing social distancing and other lifesaving preventive measures. And please continue reaching out and finding ways to engage with your loved ones, support systems and community members. Remember you are not alone, NAMI-NYS and other mental health services and resources are available.
We will continue to provide numerous updated resources, information and tools to help ensure that everyone is addressing their mental health needs as we cope with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak.
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COVID-19 Emotional
Support Helpline:
1-844-863-9314
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Please note that if you are in a crisis please text the word "NAMI" to 741-741, The Crisis Text Line.
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NAMI-NYS Temporary Helpline:
518-248-7634
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NAMI NYC Metro Helpline:
212-684-3264
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Research & Research Opportunities |
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NAMI Research Opportunity
What is the study?
This study is an anonymous online survey about the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic (coronavirus). The goal of the study is to learn more about how the pandemic, stay-at-home orders, financial and social changes may affect your mental health and wellbeing. Participants will be asked questions about their experiences in the past three months, any physical or mental health symptoms, and how they are feeling and coping. Participants who report significant mental health difficulties, including suicidal ideation, will be offered online and virtual support resources. The survey will take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
Who can participate?
Individuals may be eligible for this study if they: Are aged 18 or older
There will be approximately 2,500 people participating in this study.
How to participate:
Participants can access the survey using this link:
If you have questions or would like more information, please refer to the study consent form available at the survey link or contact the study coordinator at Jenelle.Richards@mountsinai.org.
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NAMI-NYS invites you to participate in this wonderful giving opportunity!
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If you have questions or concerns, please contact
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