Happy Memorial Day

With the extended holiday weekend upon us, many of us are spending time with loved ones, relaxing, traveling or doing other things we enjoy.

This is a good time to review the national education campaign Live Your Life Well from our friends at Mental Health America (MHA).

The basis of this campaign is 10 ways to manage stress better. The tools are listed below. The details on each one can be found at MHA's website.

The 10 Tools

1. Connect with others

2. Stay positive

3. Get physically active

4. Help others

5. Get enough sleep

6. Create joy and satisfaction

7. Eat well.

8. Take care of your spirit.

9. Deal better with hard times.

10. Get professional help when you need it.

We would like to wish you an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend!  The NAMI office will be closed on Monday, May 31.  For information or resources on recovering from mental illness, visit our website.

Call to Action: Contact Your Legislator

Tuesday, May 25, is an important day to contact your House Representative. 

Today, the House of Representatives will take up legislation on House Bill 2435 (HB 2435) introduced by Rep Dwight Evans, majority Appropriations Committee Chair, that proposes raising revenue, thus decreasing the need for further funding cuts for essential community services.

So far, the General Assembly has responded to the state's revenue-challenged budget crisis with cuts to behavioral health and developmental disabilities services, community and economic development, services to low-income seniors and other critical services. HB 2435 finally acknowledges the need to end the cuts.

Please contact your House Representative today and share the following:

• *I am a constituent and I urge you to support HB 2435.
• *We demand that there be no more cuts to essential services. Urge for support in raising new revenue.
• *Solving the budget crisis with cuts alone will leave thousands more Pennsylvanians vulnerable and will cost jobs.

To find your Representative, click here and type your zip code into the upper right hand corner. Your state representative's name and contact information will appear. For today, contact each rep at his or her Harrisburg number.

For more information on HB 2435, click here.  For more information on mental health advocacy, visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Highlights Mental Illness

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette photographer Tony Tye recently wrote an editorial about his personal experience with bipolar disorder.  Click this link to read his article Millions of us have mental illness; you are not alone. 

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

Documentary on PTSD To Be Filmed In Pittsburgh

WQED-TV is producing a documentary on the impact of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) on returning war veterans. Award-winning producer David Solomon will serve as the producer/writer of this program, which is set to be filmed in Pittsburgh this summer. He is currently seeking personal stories from veterans and/or family members of veterans who have been affected by PTSD. 

While David is open to all stories, here are some of particular interest to him: 

A Woman's Story. With more women serving in the military, the impact of PTSD on a female veteran might offer different perspectives.

A Generational Story. David would like to compare and contrast the challenges faced by WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans with those from more recent combat. Ideally, he would like to speak to an older veteran who faced PTSD--perhaps someone who counsels younger veterans.

A Family's Story. PTSD not only affects the veteran, the whole family is impacted. It could be a situation where the family recognizes and is dealing with the issue, but understands it could be a life-long process.

A Success Story. This is just as it sounds: someone who has come a long way. It's the type of story that could provide hope for others.

A Counselor's Story. Is there someone who is doing great work in this field? An unsung hero who helps others, is up-to-date on the latest treatments? Someone who is much appreciated in the veterans' community?

 

If you or anyone you know is interested in sharing his or her story, please contact Darcey Garda at (412) 366-3788 ext. 23 or email dgarda@namiswpa.org. 

Join Us: How Diet, Exercise & Nutrition Impact Our Mental Health

Join NAMI on Thursday for a special presentation in McKeesport called "How Diet, Exercise and Nutrition Impact Our Mental Health."  This session is geared for both the caregiver and the person in recovery, as well as anyone interested in the connection between mental and physical health.

How Diet, Exercise and Nutrition Impact Our Mental Health

Presented by: Meridith Paterson, MS, RD, LDN

Thursday, May 13

Penn State McKeesport Campus

7 p.m. 

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

New PSA From NAMI Montana

Our friends at NAMI Montana produced a new PSA (public service announcement) for mental illness. Click this link to view the 30-second PSA and tell us what you think. 

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

STEP Symposium: May 14

The Search for Treatments in Early Psychosis (STEP): Sixth Biennial Symposium is scheduled to take place May 14 at the Sheraton, Station Square.

This symposium will focus on recent studies suggesting that early identification and intervention may favorably influence outcomes in psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. The Sixth Biennial STEP Symposium will bring together international experts in the areas of psychology, neurobiology and treatment of schizophrenia.

During the conference, they will present state-of-the-art information regarding the nature, pathophysiology and treatment of symptoms in schizophrenia, including cognitive impairments, with a focus on early illness manifestations, as well as ongoing research on novel therapeutic development.

Details can be found on the website, http://www.wpic.pitt.edu/oerp/conferences/.

For additional information or to receive a brochure, please contact Maria Peña-Jordan at penajordanmi@upmc.edu or (412) 802-6917.  For information on mental illness, visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website. 

Happy 80th Birthday, Dick Jevon!

Today the staff at NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania celebrated the 80th birthday of dedicated longtime volunteer Dick Jevon.


Dick has been with NAMI since its inception over 25 years ago--back when it was called ADMIT (Advocates for the Mentally Ill). Dick has served on the Board of Directors since 1990 and currently volunteers 125 hours a month at NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Dick identifies himself as a Volunteer Advocate, but he is much more. Dick is an activist who has personally -- through unrelenting, persistent advocacy -- brought about changes to the community mental health system.


According to Executive Director Chris Michaels, "Dick offers distraught families great emotional support and comfort through education about mental illness and the service system. He exudes empathy and understanding through shared experiences retold over the phone and in person. Dick offers hope that treatment works and recovery is possible by freely sharing his knowledge and personal experiences."

We at NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania are honored to have Dick as part of our organization, and what better reason to celebrate than on the occasion of his 80th birthday.


Happy Birthday to our friend and fellow advocate Dick Jevon!