Join NAMI Today - We Need Your Voice!

What does it mean to be a member of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania? It means that you are part of NAMI’s movement to improve the mental health system, to end stigma and to create a culture of knowledge and understanding about mental illness.

 

Membership is the first level of grassroots advocacy and the best way to support the NAMI movement.  The more members who stand behind NAMI, the more it strengthens our collective voice as we advocate!

Join or renew your membership to NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania and you will receive:

• New, personalized membership card.
• Subscription to our quarterly newsletter The Voice. 
• Discounted registration fees to events, including our 15^th Annual Education Conference on Saturday, April 11 featuring all-pro wide receiver and mental health advocate Brandon Marshall.
• Automatic membership to NAMI National and NAMI PA.

Click Here to Join or Renew Your Membership Today

Numbers count. Every membership to NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania is extremely meaningful as we work each day to fulfill our mission of recovery focused support, education and advocacy for those affected by mental illness.
 

Voices count. As a member, you will have a chance to give back. You'll receive Call-to-Action Alerts that give you an opportunity to get involved, reach out and make a difference in the simplest way possible. Your voice is invaluable to the NAMI movement.

Take a stand today. Become a member! This is the single greatest way you can support NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania. 

Donations to NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania are tax-deductible. Official registration and financial information on NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania may be obtained from the PA Department of State by calling toll-free within Pennsylvania: 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

Winter 2015 Events Calendar

Join NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania for the following educational events.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Class
Get certified! Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, caregivers, educators, school staff, coaches, human service workers, youth group leaders and caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis. This free, one-day course is for any adult who regularly interacts with young people. At the end of the class, each attendee will receive a Youth Mental Health First Aid Certificate.

Date: Saturday, Jan. 31
Time: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Place: The Children's Institute,
1405 Shady Ave., Pittsburgh 15217
Cost: Free
Registration: Contact Susan Harrington at sharring@namiswpa.org or (412) 366-3788 ext. 114.

Continental breakfast and light lunch are included.

Family-to-Family Teacher Training
Has someone helped you on your family's journey to recovery? Do you want to help others and give back? Consider becoming a Family-to-Family teacher! Teachers must have a family member living with mental illness. It is not mandatory that participants have taken a Family-to-Family course, but it is recommended. For more information, contact Susan Harrington at sharring@namiswpa.org or (412) 366-3788 ext. 114.

Date: Friday, Feb. 20 to Sunday, Feb. 22
Place: NAMI Office, 105 Braunlich Drive
McKnight Plaza, Pittsburgh 15237
Cost: Free
Materials and food are included. However, participants are responsible for the cost of travel and accommodations, if needed.

NAMI Basics for Parents & Caregivers
NAMI Basics is a six-week course for the parents/caregivers of children and adolescents who have been diagnosed or are experiencing symptoms of mental illness.

Pittsburgh
Begins: Monday, March 9
Time: 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Place: The Children's Institute
1405 Shady Ave., Pittsburgh 15217
Cost: Free
Registration: Contact Julie Trbovich at jtrbovich@namiswpa.org or (412) 366-3788 ext. 125.

Waynesburg
Begins: Wednesday, April 15
Time: 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Place: Green County Education Center
Westmoreland County Community College
100 Evergreene Drive, Room 4
Cost: Free
Registration: Call Barb (724-833-5779) or Brenda (724-998-2023)

Family-to-Family Classes
Our signature education program, Family-to-Family is a free, 12-week course for family members who have a loved one living with mental illness. It is taught by trained family members and has been called "life changing" by many participants.

Ross Township
Starts Thursday, March 12
6:30 to 9 p.m.

Upper Saint Clair
Starts Wednesday, March 4
6:30 to 9 p.m.

Monroeville
Starts Monday, March 9
6:30 to 9 p.m.

Beaver
Starts Wednesday, March 4
6:30 to 9 p.m.

NAMI Southwestern PA 15th Annual Education Conference
Featuring Mental Health Advocate and All-Pro Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall
Date: Saturday, April 11
Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Pittsburgh Airport Marriott
Registration: Not open; information will follow.

NAMI to Present at Whitehall Elementary

For the first time, NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania will be presenting a workshop on Anxiety in Children and Teenagers for the Baldwin-Whitehall School District. Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend this free educational event.

What: Anxiety in Children and Teenagers
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 28
Location: Whitehall Elementary School Library
Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's Julie Trbovich and Susan Harrington will present on the signs and symptoms of anxiety in children. Problem solving strategies and positive communication techniques will be discussed. Parents will be given an opportunity to ask questions following the presentation.

For more information or to register, contact Amy Lewis at alewis@bwschools.net or (412) 885-7525.

Open Enrollment: A Message from the Mental Health Association of PA

Only 29 days to go!

The countdown is on to the end of the Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment period for 2015. 

On Feb. 15 - less than one month from today - open enrollment for 2015 health insurance coverage ends. If you need health insurance or want to change your plan, visit healthcare.gov now to get started. Don't wait until the last minute.

Here are some things to know to get you started:

·         Help is Available. If you have questions or are having trouble enrolling, get the answers and help you need from one of MHA's Health Insurance Marketplace Navigators. Call 1-855-274-5626 (toll free) or contact a Navigator serving your region of Pennsylvania.
 

·         You can compare plans and prices before enrolling. You can explore your options, based on your budget, before you apply here.
 

·         You may be eligible for CHIP or Medicaid. Your family might be eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Medicaid, which covers doctor's visits, prescriptions, and immunizations. Learn more here.
 

·         You can change plans for 2015.  No matter what plan you had in 2014, you can change plans - even if you were enrolled automatically for 2015, and even after your new coverage has started. Learn about changing plans here.
 

·         There's a fee for not enrolling. If you don't have qualifying health coverage, you may need to pay a fee with your federal tax return or get a health coverage exemption. Learn more here.

 

·         Gather information ahead of time. To apply for insurance you will need the following: Name, birthdate, social security number, and income information for yourself and all family members needing coverage.

Got NAMI Smarts?

Do you have a story to tell? 

 

Can you tell it such a succinct and powerful way that it may actually effect change?

Many of us struggle to find the words to articulate the struggles and triumphs we have faced on our journey, or our loved one's journey, of recovery. Even if you have the most clear and compelling story, do you know how to use it to make an impact on policy makers?

Now, there is a training program called NAMI SMARTS for Advocacy.

NAMI Southwestern PA’s Executive Director Christine Michaels and Associate Director Debbie Ference were invited by NAMI National to be trained as NAMI SMARTS for Advocacy teachers. 

NAMI SMARTS teaches individuals how to be advocates by providing step-by-step tools and hands-on practice that helps participants enhance their own advocacy skills and help shape a powerful and personal story that will impact policy makers.  The program helps participants understand why advocacy is so important for mental health.

The training is divided into three modules: Telling your Story, Emails and Phone Calls, and Meeting Your Legislator.

Telling your Story  This module guides participants through writing and delivering a concise and compelling version of your story that will serve as a springboard for your advocacy

Emails and Phone Calls  This module shows participants how to write emails that get attention and make phone calls that policy makers remember

Meeting Your Legislator   This module demonstrates how to orchestrate a successful dialogue with elected officials.

Stay tuned for more information about NAMI SMARTS. 

Pay it Forward the NAMI Way

Did someone help you during your family’s journey of recovery?

If you want to give back in a meaningful way, become a Family-to-Family teacher.

Qualifications

-Your family member lives with mental illness.

-You are willing to co-teach a Family-to-Family course.

-Available for teacher training Feb. 20 to 22 in Pittsburgh.   

 

NAMI's Family-to-Family program is a 12-week education course for family and friends of adults who are living with mental illness. The course is designed to help individuals understand and support their loved one living with mental illness. More family members are needed to teach so that this course can be offered on a more frequent basis.

No prior teaching experience is necessary. NAMI will provide you with everything you need so that you feel confident and comfortable in co-teaching this curriculum.
 

It is recommended that you've already completed the Family-to-Family course yourself but not necessary. 

Download an application for the Teacher Training.
 

Free Youth Mental Health First Aid Course

Do you interact with young people on a regular basis? You may want to consider becoming Youth Mental Health First Aid certified. NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania is holding a free certification class on Saturday, Jan. 31. 

 

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Saturday, Jan. 31

The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, caregivers, educators, school staff, coaches, human service workers, youth group leaders and caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis. This free, one-day course is for any adult who regularly interacts with young people.

To register, contact Susan Harrington at (412) 366-3788 ext. 14 or sharring@namiswpa.org. More information about Youth Mental Health First Aid can be found here.

Announcing Keynote Speaker of our Spring Conference

Save the date for our 15th Annual Education Conference on Saturday, April 11, featuring keynote speaker Brandon Marshall.

 

Date: Saturday, April 11

Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Place: Pittsburgh Airport Marriott

Who is Brandon Marshall?
Chicago Bears all-pro wide receiver Brandon Marshall was facing a different type of opponent prior to his mental health diagnosis in 2010.  While he excelled on the football field, Brandon struggled in his personal life. For years, he lived with emotional instability that soon crept its way into this career, his relationships and ultimately the rest of his life. But everything changed in 2010 when he was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder.  As he sought treatment and began his journey of recovery, Brandon and his wife Michi took an oath to help others affected by mental illness.

Now an outspoken mental health advocate, Brandon Marshall will share his story at NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's 15th Annual Education Conference on Saturday, April 11.  Registration information and conference details will follow.