September 9, 2010

News from NAMI

December 17, 2009

Film highlights recovery from mental illness

By DENA POTTER, AP
December 17, 2009

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- As she hopped out of the car and maneuvered through three lanes of traffic to the edge of the bridge, Michelle Sese-Khalid was certain if she jumped she could fly to her children.

Luckily, her husband and a police officer caught her just before she jumped. The incident ultimately led to her being diagnosed with schizophrenia - one of more than 106,000 individuals treated for mental illness in Virginia this year.

Sese-Khalid is one of five Virginians showcased in a new film, "Voices of Hope and Recovery," that follows their struggles and recovery from mental illness. More than 100 people attended a premiere of the 50-minute film held by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services at the state Capitol on Thursday.

The message: Recovery from a mental illness is possible. "That dragon is there and it wants to swallow you up," said Sese-Khalid, of Woodbridge. "Recovery is you put the armor on and you go out there and you fight the dragon in order to live life."

The film was paid for by a $50,000 federal grant to educate the public about mental illness. Following the premiere, the film will be available on the department's Web site.

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 26 percent of Americans over age 18 suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. Advocates say that makes it critical for the public to understand the diseases and the likelihood of recovery.

For decades, there has been a move away from warehousing the mentally ill in fortified psychiatric hospitals toward treatment in a community setting. But the focus on recovery is a recent one, said James Reinhard, commissioner for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

Reinhard said he never learned about recovery in medical school. For years, he said, physicians simply told those with the mental illness what was best for them. He hopes the video will offer a message of hope, that people can take control of their illnesses and become well.

"To the extent that we don't emphasize that part of the equation enough, I think we'll always be chasing our tail in terms of having a system that's woefully under funded that doesn't recognize that there are effective treatments and that those treatments can help the majority of people," he said.

Those featured in the video talk about the realization of their disease and life after the diagnosis. Some talk about being terrified of self-destruction or about the stigma of mental illness. Each says recovery is a lifelong process.

View the film by following this link: View Film. (Requires Adobe Flash Player)

January 12, 2009

F.E.A.S.T. Celebrates National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders (F.E.A.S.T) is sponsoring an informational event to include a short presentation: "Everything You Need to Know About Eating Disorders but You Were Too Uncomfortable to Ask" by Laura Collins, an author and frequent speaker on the topic. Click for details.

June 7, 2007

10-Year Retrospective Study Shows Progress in American Attitudes About Depression and Other Mental Health Issues

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (June 2007) — The Mental Health Association of Fauquier County, together with Mental Health America and its 320 affiliates nationwide, released a 10-year retrospective study showing significant progress in Americans’ attitudes about mental health problems, but also continued shame and discomfort around these health problems. Mental Health America (formerly known as the National Mental Health Association) released these findings nationally at the opening of its 2007 Annual Meeting, Bringing Wellness Home, in Washington D.C., June 6-9, 2007. Click to read more.

April 18, 2007

Mental Health America Warns Public to Avoid Diagnosing or Profiling Others as a Reaction to the Virginia Tech Shootings

A Statement by Dr. David Shern, Ph.D. Mental Health America President and CEO

The shootings at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University affects Americans across the nation. As individuals, campuses and communities come together to respond to this tragedy, Mental Health America (formerly known as the National Mental Health Association) warns the public – students, children, adults, educators and community leaders alike – to avoid diagnosing others with mental health problems or engaging in other "profiling." Wondering or discussing classmates, neighbors and colleagues mental health or potential for violence is not a productive way to deal with feelings of anxiety and fear.

When disasters of any type occur many people react with a range of emotions – from anger, fear, depression and 'numbness'; however, it is important to come together with friends and families to cope with these feelings productively and not begin diagnosing, profiling or asking 'what if' questions that can be damaging and counterproductive to improving feelings of wellbeing and community safety.

While it is important to share any suspicious incidents or behaviors with people in authority, this is a time to come together and support other students, friends and family members who may be struggling – rather than questioning their behaviors and possibly isolating others who are struggling with this tragedy.

If feelings are overwhelming, help and support is available. Mental Health America can connect people with community resources and information. For information, please call 800-969-6642 or visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net.

April 4, 2007

Real Lives Aims to Break the Silence Surrounding Mental Health Issues
For too long, misunderstanding and fear has reinforced the wall of silence that surrounds people living with mental health problems in the United States. 

Mental Health America aims to change that with Real Lives, a new online project that invites people who've struggled with mental illnesses to break the silence and share their stories. more... 

March 29, 2007

House Passes Bill to Improve Veterans' Healthcare
The House of Representatives last week unanimously passed the Wounded Warriors Assistance Act, legislation designed to address the shortcomings in outpatient healthcare reported at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The bill would streamline the transition in care for veterans from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans Affairs; set up a complaint hotline; and improve training for healthcare providers, case managers and patient advocates in identifying mental health problems among veterans. ( Los Angeles Times, 3/29/07)

Senate Amendment Would Provide Additional Funds for Mental Health Services
Sens. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., proposed an amendment last week to the $121 billion supplemental funding bill for the war in Iraq that would provide more than $100 million to provide mental health counselors to veterans and their families. The amendment would also provide for additional hospital mental health caseworkers for veterans, improve services for women in the military with PTSD or who have been sexually assaulted, and pay for an update to a 1983 National Academy of Sciences report on veterans' mental health needs. ( Kansas City Star, 3/28/07)

Latest Research News
Teens' ADHD Linked to Later Alcohol Problems: Teens who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are at a greater risk for abusing alcohol and developing alcohol dependence in later life, a study in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research indicates. These teens, who generally begin drinking around age 15, have a greater likelihood of developing these problems if they also have parents who have alcohol problems or have high levels of stress in their families, the researchers note. They also write that investigating why there's a higher prevalence of alcoholism in among teens with ADHD is part of their ongoing work. ( Reuters, 3/28/07)

March 7, 2007

New Orleans Mental Health Services "Overly Stretched"
The city of New Orleans is struggling to care for residents who are still in the city and have chronic mental illnesses. The number of psychiatrists in the city has fallen from 196 before Hurricane Katrina hit to just 22 today, and the number of psychiatric hospital beds in Orleans Parish has fallen from 422 before the storm to only 82 today. This has left what mental health services available in the city "overly stretched," according to experts. Adding to the problem is that the city can't use federal aid approved by Congress after Katrina to provide mental health services to people whose mental health problems don't stem directly from the storm's aftermath. ( WSJ.com, 3/7/07)

February 26, 2007

Military Mental Health System Found to Be Lacking
There is no evidence of a "well-coordinated or well-disseminated approach to providing behavioral health care to [military] service members and their families," an American Psychological Association task force concluded in a report released yesterday. This is particularly true of many veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families due to a military mental health system that is overwhelmed and understaffed, according to the task force. The task force, chaired by an active military psychologist and comprised of other military and Veterans Health Administration psychologists, noted that "relatively few high-quality" mental health programs exist in the military, leaving far less than one-half of the estimated 30 percent of veterans with mental health problems without access to care. A Pentagon official hadn't read the report, but noted that the military to proud of the mental health services it offers. ( Los Angeles Times , 2/26/07) 

Health Care Spending to Double During Next Decade
Spending on health services in the United States is expected to nearly double during the next decade, from $2.1 trillion in 2006 to $4.1 trillion in 2016, a study published in the journal Health Affairs indicates. Fueling the spending increase would be rising demand for new pharmacological therapies largely by the Baby Boom generation, the leading edge of which has begun to retire. The surge in costs will come despite a recent leveling off in health care spending. The study was conducted by the National Health Statistics Group, which is a part of the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. ( Reuters, 2/21/07)