Dual Diagnosis

Roughly 50 percent of individuals with serious mental illness are also affected by substance abuse. When a person has co-occurring disorders -- mental illness and substance abuse -- it is referred to as a dual diagnosis.

Research has shown that a person with a dual diagnosis needs to treat both problems to fully recover. Focusing on one does not ensure the other will go away.

There are dual diagnosis services available that integrate treatments, helping both conditions at the same time. Positivity, hope and optimism are the foundation of these integrated treatments.

For more information on treatments for dual diagnosis, click here. For information on other issues related to mental illness, visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website or call (412) 366-3788.

Memorial Day

On Memorial Day, we honor the men and women who died in military service. At NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania, we not only remember those who gave their lives for our country, but those who returned home. Many soldiers who return from war have a hard time adjusting to "normal life" once again. Some of these returning vets experience Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD).

PTSD is an illness that causes a person to feel stressed and afraid after a dangerous or traumatic event -- such as war, a hurricane or an accident -- is over. Oftentimes, the symptoms don't begin until several months after the event.

In recent months, NAMI has placed significant focus on veterans returning from war. We featured a cover story on veterans in the most recent edition of our newsletter, The Voice.

At our annual education conference on April 18, our morning session was dedicated to PTSD. We also offered an afternoon workshop on PTSD. This workshop attracted the most attendees of any of the workshops offered this year. Attendees learned more detailed information on what PTSD is, how to identify it and what treatments are available.

For more information, contact us at info@namiswpa.org or 412-366-3788. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Our Friends of the Riverfront

Are you familiar with Friends of the Riverfront? It is a local, non-profit organization that has been involved in creating nearly all of the trails you see as you bike, hike, rollerblade or paddle along Pittsburgh's shores. Friends of the Riverfront has been instrumental in transforming industrial wastelands along our rivers into scenic trails that exemplify environmental renewal.

Not only that, but they are friends -- just like the name implies. For the past two years, NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania has worked closely with Friends of the Riverfront to plan its first two NAMI Walks, which took place on the Heritage Trail in the South Side. Executive Director Tom Baxter went above and beyond the call of duty, helping in any aspect of pre-event planning and day-of labor. He didn't bat an eye when our walk manager called him in the middle of the night to help locate missing Port-o-Johns for the walk!

As we begin the planning of NAMI Walk 2009, we look forward to working once again with Friends of the Riverfront.

Don't forget to mark your calendar to join us on the Heritage Trail on Saturday, Oct. 4 for the third annual NAMI Walks for the Mind of America 5K.

Positive Feedback on "The Stigma of Mental Illness"

We received a lot of positive feedback about last night's premiere of "The Stigma of Mental Illness" on PCNC's What's On Your Mind. A congratulatory phone call from our funder, the Staunton Farm Foundation, really made our day here at NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania.

In the first segment of the program, two successful, accomplished women with mental illness shared their personal experiences of overcoming stigma. Below are Shirlee Hopper Scherch, executive director of Peer Support and Advocacy Network (PSAN), and Julie Kostenbader, peer specialist at Mental Health America (MHA).

In segment two, NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's Executive Director Chris Michaels appeared alongside MHA of Westmoreland County's Director Laurie Barnett Levine. They talked about mental illness: what it is, how it can be treated, and why stigma is the greatest barrier.


In the final segment, the co-host Dr. Safdar Chaudhary and MHA's Rich Stillwagon summarized and wrapped up the program.

Special thanks to the show's lovely and talented host Susan Brozeck Scott (pictured far right in the group photo below). If you missed What's On Your Mind, please view it this Sunday at 4:30 p.m. on PCNC.

"The Stigma of Mental Illness" Premieres Tonight

Tune in to PCNC (Pittsburgh Cable News Channel) tonight at 7:30 p.m. for the premiere of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's episode of the local talk show What's On Your Mind.

This episode, entitled "The Stigma of Mental Illness," was developed in collaboration with Mental Health America of Westmoreland County. Funding was provided by the Staunton Farm Foundation.

Stigma is a negative attitude toward mental illness. It leads to feelings of embarrassment, isolation and discrimination. Stigma prevents people from getting the treatment they need: treatment that works and can help people live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Tonight's episode of What's On Your Mind is one way we are reaching out to Southwestern Pennsylvania to break down the barrier of stigma.

NAMI Helps Train Clergy

"Mental illness is in many ways the leprosy of today." --Rev. James McIntire, Associate Pastor, First United Methodist Church of Germantown

Why does that statement from Rev. McIntire ring true when mental illness is so common that one in four families is affected?

In its continued efforts to reduce stigma, NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania took part in the 2nd Annual Mental Health Training Workshop for Clergy at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.

The purpose of the training was to help and encourage clergy, lay leaders and congregations to "minister more effectively to those experiencing mental health challenges."

The first workshop covered important issues such as how families can address a diagnosis, engage the mental healthcare system and understand the effects of substance abuse.

The second workshop addressed the congregation's role in helping families faced with a mental illness. It highlighted a counseling program at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in Pittsburgh, which was created to help families affected by mental illness.

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania presented the third workshop, which focused on family-to-family support within the community. Our Executive Director Chris Michaels, Volunteer Advocate Dick Jevon and Associate Director Debbie Ference presented their personal family stories of mental illness and offered insight, community resources and hope for recovery.

For more information on community resources and mental illness, visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website or call (412) 366-3788.

NAMI Appears "On Q"

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania recently appeared on the regional television show "On Q" on WQED-TV. The 30-minute talk show aired live on Thursday, April 30, covering teenage depression and suicide.

NAMI Southwestern PA Executive Director Chris Michaels appeared on the show, along with NAMI Board Member Dr. Charma Dudley of Family Resources. Also appearing on the show was Maria Silva of Allegheny Family Connections. Maria is the mother of a teenage daughter, Rachel, who has depression and anxiety. Rachel courageously appeared on the program to talk about her depression.

Below is a brief video clip of "On Q," specifically Chris Michaels expressing the need for screening of depression in teenagers. If you cannot run this clip, click here for a free download of Apple's Quick Time, which you can install easily in under a minute.



Click the arrow below for a few final tips on the show, provided by NAMI Southwestern PA.



For more information on depression or other mental illnesses, visit NAMI Southwestern PA's website or call (412) 366-3788.

Mad Mex Fundraiser a Success

The benefit dinner hosted by Mad Mex in Robinson hit maximum capacity with 55 attendees and raised over $1,000 for NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania. The event was coordinated by Alan Corn and the "Go CART" team for the 2009 NAMI Walk. Here are some photos from the event.

CART's Alan Corn (who coordinated the event) with CART employee Erica Guris and her mom Amy.

NAMI Southwestern PA's Executive Director Chris Michaels and her daughter Meridith Paterson of Community LIFE

NAMI Walk's Family Team Chairperson Jim Ehrman with Nancy Huff

Mad Mex General Manager Dominic, Mad Mex Server Heath, and Alan from CART

Skip Alberts from CART

Suzi Wright and Marilyn Micknowski from CART

THANK YOU Alan, CART and Mad Mex for putting on such a fun and worthwhile event!