Connecting Mind, Body & Spirit

With Easter right around the corner, spirituality is on many people's minds. Whether you practice a religion or not, more and more research is showing that spirituality -- whether in the form of religion, meditation, yoga or another activity that brings a sense of peace -- is beneficial for individuals with mental illness.

BP Magazine published an interesting article by Nicole Peradotto on the connection between mental health and spirituality, citing that spirituality can help a person with mental illness in "profound ways." While the article is very favorable toward spirituality, it also touches upon the negative impact religion may have on a person with mental illness. Here is a caption from the article, entitled "Connecting Mind, Body and Spirit."

“There’s a capacity for excessive self-blame and a feeling of unredeemable sinfulness, especially for people who have depressive symptoms and are prone to depressive patterns,” says Dr. Fallot, editor of Spirituality and Religion in Recovery from Mental Illness (Jossey-Bass, 1998). “They can start ruminating on things that have gone wrong and see them as signs of moral or spiritual weakness.”

Overall, the article concludes that spirituality can play a positive role in treatment and mental health professionals are recognizing that.

"Today, however, studies and educational trends suggest that an increasing number of mental health professionals are understanding better the spiritual factors that can impact a person’s well-being, and are more open to addressing spirituality with their patients."

To read the article in full, click here. For more information on mental illness, visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website.

TAKE ACTION: Final Push Needed On Health Reform

The U.S. House of Representatives may vote as early as this week on final health care reform legislation that can be sent to President Obama for his signature. As reported by the press, the current plan is for the House to pass an identical bill to that which was passed by the Senate on December 31, 2009. This will be followed by a separate bill, making critical improvements to the Senate-passed bill. It then must go back to the Senate to pass under expedited rules as budget "reconciliation."

Take Action Today!

Advocates are strongly encouraged to contact their House member to urge them to support immediate House passage of the Senate bill. The Senate bill has a range of important reforms designed to expand and improve coverage of mental illness treatment - in both private group health plans and public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

View provisions in the Senate-passed bill that the House will be voting on.

Advocates can reach their House member by calling 800-828-0498.

You can also send you House member an email message by clicking here

It is time to finish the job on health care reform legislation. Call your Representative today!

For more inforamtion on NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's advocacy efforts, visit our website.

Registration Is Open for NAMI Education Conference

This year marks the 10th anniversary of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's Annual Regional Education Conference. To commemorate, we are hosting our first ever two-day conference titled "The Power To Ignite Change: A Personal Call To Action." Join us for one or both days on April 23 and April 24 at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott.

Developed for individuals with mental illness and family members, this conference is also accredited for psychologists*, counselors, therapists, educators and other healthcare professionals.

Register online or download a registration brochure by clicking here. For more information or to receive a conference brochure, call NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's office at (412) 366-3788 or email info@namiswpa.org.

Mood Disorders Conference: Friday, March 12

The "Advances in the Treatment of Mood Disorders: 2010" conference is scheduled to take place March 12 at the Sheraton Station Square.

This meeting will offer a succinct way for clinicians to assimilate recent advances in mood disorder treatment. The speakers will present new developments in the treatment of depression and bipolar disorder. This conference will also include a series of workshops, which will offer an intimate didactic learning opportunity for increasing understanding of psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic techniques. Some of the topics to be addressed include treatments for insomnia, the use of light therapy for depression and decision processes in suicidal behavior.

Details can be found on this website: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

For additional information or to receive a brochure, please contact Maria Pena-Jordan at penajrdanmi@upmc.edu or 412-802-6917

For more information on mental illness, visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website.

Join NAMI at the American Jewish Museum

On Monday, March 8, Dick Jevon, Volunteer Advocate for NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania, will lead a discussion surrounding the history of mental health treatment in the United States and the evolving medical and societal perspectives of mental illness.

Mental Health Treatment: Historical Perspectives and Current Practices

Date: Monday, March 8

Time: 6 p.m.

Place: American Jewish Museum (Levinson Hall) at 5738 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

This program is free and open to the public.

This discussion also focuses on forms of recovery. Photograph Charlee Brodsky and exhibit contributor Jennifer Matesa participate in the discussion and will talk about the exhibit I Thought I Could Fly.

In the exhibit I Thought I Could Fly, Charlee Brodsky's photographs are paired with narratives by individuals conveying personal experiences with mental illness. A short film with interviews of people whose narratives are in the exhibit brings to life their experiences regarding coping mechanisms, acceptance and recovery. The exhibit is traveling to southwestern Pa. venues throughout 2010.