Meet Our Keynote: Dr. David Baker

After earning rave reviews at the NAMI Montana education conference, David Baker, Ph.D, from Marquette University became a top candidate to speak at NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's 12th Annual Education Conference. A NAMI supporter, Dr. Baker enthusiastically agreed to keynote our conference Evidence for Hope: Why Research Should Matter To You on Saturday, April 21 at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott. 

An associate professor at Marquette and founder of Promentis Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Baker will enlighten conference attendees about the major shift in research on mental illness. In an easy-to-understand and engaging way, Dr. Baker will summarize the past 40 years of neurological research and explain the major change that is taking place--a change that could make a world of difference in treatment and recovery for mental illness.

Highlighting one of his own research projects on schizophrenia, Dr. Baker will illustrate that the key to unlocking the answers to is in the approach.

By the end of his keynote presentation, the audience will understand the new movement taking place in medicine development and, perhaps more importantly, leave with a feeling of renewed hope and optimism that treatment works and recovery is possible.

For more information or to register for the conference, click here. To download a conference brochure, click here. Questions? Call (412) 366-3788 or email info@namiswpa.org.

BROKEN PROMISES: Dismantling the Community Mental Health System and Harmful General Assistance Cuts

Promise Made – Candidate Tom Corbett promised to help Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable citizens, including individuals with mental illness and/or facing challenges of addiction.

Promise Broken – Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget is recommending the most significant change and cut to the community mental health system since its inception over 50 years ago.

Our Message: The cuts to Mental Health funding must be restored. The Human Services Development Fund block grant is wrong and should be stopped. Promises made to consumers and to communities must be kept.

Please see the attachment for a detailed list of the “Promises Made and Promises Broken.”  Utilize these points when contacting the leadership within the state House and Senate. Please always copy your respective state representative and senator.

Unsure who represents you in the state Senate and House? Click here. To Contact PA Senate Leadership, click here. To Contact PA House of Representatives Leadership, click here.

Search for Treatments in Early Psychosis - Annual Conference

The "Search for Treatments in Early Psychosis (STEP): Seventh Biennial Symposium" is scheduled to take place on Friday, May 18 at the Sheraton Station Square. This conference will focus on recent studies suggesting that early identification and intervention may favorably influence outcomes in psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. 

The conference is coordinated by the Mental Health Conference Planning arm of the Office of Education and Regional Programming (OERP) at the University of Pittsburgh. It will feature the top faculty and staff of Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic, as well as noted experts from throughout the world.

The Seventh Biennial Search for Treatments in Early Psychosis (STEP) Symposium will bring together international experts in the psychology, neurobiology and treatment of schizophrenia.  During the conference, they will present state-of-the-art information regarding the diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia, including developmental changes relevant to psychotic disorders, factors that could contribute to psychosis onset through impacting typical development and early identification and interventions for early psychosis.

Details can be found on this website.

For additional information or to receive a brochure, please contact Maria Peña-Jordan at penajordanmi@upmc.edu or (412) 802-6917.

NAMI Takes Part In Lawsuit Over State Budget

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania has been actively advocating for Pennsylvania legislators to restore the proposed 20 percent funding cut for mental health services, and to oppose the Human Services Development Fund (HSDF) Block Grant. Today, we took action by joining the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania (DRN) and six other organizations as petitioners in a lawsuit.

The DRN filed the lawsuit today against Gov. Tom Corbett, the Dept. of Public Welfare and the Office of the Budget over proposed budget cuts to services for Pennsylvanians with disabilities. We joined DRN, the Mental Health Association of Pennsylvania, ARC of Pennsylvania, PA Mental Health Consumers Association, Speaking for Ourselves and the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania in taking legal action to stop the proposed 20 percent cut to services and the transfer of funds to the block grant.

To read the full press release, click here.  For a copy of the petition, click here. For more information, visit www.drnpa.org or call 1-800-692-7443.

NAMI Family Support Center at Western Psychiatric

In response to last week's tragic incident at Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic (WPIC), NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania has set up a NAMI Family Support Center in the fourth floor cafeteria of WPIC.

Implemented on Saturday, the NAMI Family Support Center is a place for family members to visit if they need to talk or express their concerns about the crisis situation last week. Whatever type of reaction family members may be experiencing, they will find NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania to be a supportive listener. 

The center will be staffed by a NAMI employee this week (today through Friday) during visiting hours from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Light snacks are available.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to friends, families and colleagues at WPIC. We are here to support them.