NAMI Walk Committee 2009

The NAMI Walk Committee met for the first time last week to plan the annual 5K walk scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 4 at the SouthSide Works & Three Rivers Heritage Trail.

What a fantastic committee! Energy, ideas and enthusiasm abounded. With this group of go-getters, the 3rd Annual NAMI Walk is sure to be a great success.

The purpose of the walk is to reduce the stigma of mental illness and to raise awareness that treatment works and recovery is possible. Proceeds benefit NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania.

For more information on the walk, visit the walk website or call (412) 366-3788.

International Bipolar Conference in Pittsburgh

Today marks day one of the 8th International Conference on Bipolar Disorder at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

Clinicians, researchers, patients and consumers of mental health services from around the world have come together to share their clinical expertise, research findings and personal experiences.

Of course, NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania is there, too. Executive Director Chris Michaels, Associate Director Debbie Ference, and Volunteer Advocate Dick Jevon are all attending the three-day conference.

For more information on bipolar disorder, click here or visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website.

Last Chance to Vote for NAMI

Wednesday is the last day to vote for NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's keynote speaker Matt Kuntz for the national People All Stars' Award.

If Matt receives the most votes from the three Pittsburgh nominees, he and NAMI will receive national recognition!

Please vote today. Simply click this link and choose the Pittsburgh Pirates logo. The three nominees will appear, and click on "Vote for Me" on Matt's photo.

You can vote as many times as you like and forward it to co-workers and friends. For more information about Matt and this award, read a previous post on the NAMI Blog.

In Our Own Voice

One of NAMI's key programs, In Our Own Voice is a 60- to 90-minute live presentation about mental health recovery.

Offered free to consumer groups, businesses, schools and other organizations, In Our Own Voice is presented by facilitators who themselves are in recovery from a mental illness. They are trained to translate their personal story into truths and insights that will resonate with each audience.

In Our Own Voice is ideal for individuals with mental illness, their family members, health providers, law enforcement officials, faith communities, high schools and universities, and civic or community organizations.

Click here for more details about In Our Own Voice or click here to download a flyer for distribution. For more information, call NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania at (412) 336-3788 or email sharring@namiswpa.org.

View NAMI's Anti-Stigma PSA

Here is NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's anti-stigma PSA (public service announcement). More information can be found on the Fight Stigma page of our website. Thank you to the Staunton Farm Foundation for funding this project.

If you have trouble viewing this video, click here for a free download of Apple's QuickTime.

NAMI Walk Kickoff Luncheon Announced

Mark your calendar for the NAMI Walk Kickoff Luncheon on Thursday, Aug. 20 at the Sheraton Station Square.

Please join us for a delicious lunch and all the details you need to participate in our 5K Walk this Fall.

Stay tuned! More details will follow.

Open House at Allegheny Family Network

Allegheny Family Network (AFN) held an open house on Friday at its new offices on North Craig Street in Shadyside.

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's Debbie Ference and Darcey Garda attended, pictured below with AFN Executive Director Ruth Fox and Jason Kennedy of Sen. Jay Costa's office.

AFN is a non-profit organization that supports families raising children with emotional and mental health needs. Among other services, it offers a support line called AFN Chat, which parents can call with questions or support. The number is 1-888-273-2361, and the phone lines are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

We look forward to spending time with AFN at the National NAMI Convention in San Francisco next month!

Vote for NAMI today

You can help shine a national spotlight on NAMI by voting online today.

NAMI Southwestern PA's keynote speaker Matt Kuntz (pictured right with Executive Director Chris Michaels) has been nominated for People Magazine's All-Star Hero Award.

To vote, click here and select the icon for the Pittsburgh Pirates. You will see three finalists, including Matt in the center. Click on Matt to vote.

Voting is open until June 24. You can vote as often as you want and forward the ballot to your friends. The winner will be announced at the National Baseball League All-Star Game in St. Louis.

To read more about Matt Kuntz, check out a previous post on our blog.

The Stigma of Mental Illness

Stigma is one of the greatest barriers to the treatment and recovery of mental illness. Here is one definition of stigma.

Stigma: an attribute, behavior or reputation which is socially discrediting in a particular way: it causes an individual to be mentally classified by others in an undesirable, rejected stereotype rather than an accepted, normal one.

One of our major initiatives at NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania is to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. We do this on an ongoing basis in a variety of ways.

Recently, we applied for and received funding from the Staunton Farm Foundation to produce a television talk show episode on stigma. Working with Mental Health American of Westmoreland County, we developed and filmed a 30-minute episode entitled The Stigma of Mental Illness on PCNC's regional talk show What's On Your Mind.

The episode, featuring NAMI Southwestern PA's Executive Director Chris Michaels (pictured below center) among other special guests, aired on May 18 and May 24. If you missed it, you can watch it on your computer by clicking here.

If you have trouble viewing it, you can download QuickTime Player in minutes at no cost by clicking here.

For more information on combating stigma, visit the Fight Stigma page of NAMI Southwestern PA's website.

National Magazine Seeking to Interview People with Depression

Esperanza magazine is working on an article, "Hope in Recovery from Depression," and wants to talk to people with depression who have found that setting goals and working to achieve them tends to make them more hopeful and more likely to recover.

Has goal-setting worked -- or not worked -- for you? Goals can be large or small.

• A person who has not left he house in weeks may set a goal of walking around the block


• Cleaning a closet


• Reconnecting with family or friends


• Taking a course at a community college


• Returning to work
  

The article is not about religion, but the magazine is interested in how spirituality may play a role in hopefulness and goal-setting.

Responses are urgently needed. The magazine has a deadline of this week. If you want to share you experience, please contact Donna Jackel of Esperanza directly at ddjackel@rochester.rr.com or (585) 797-8246.

For more information on depression or other mental illnesses, visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website.