National Mental Health Awareness Month - Upcoming Events

Source: NAMI

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and we're only a few days away! If you would like to add an event or activity to our list, please email dgarda@namiswpa.org.
 
Allegheny County

Allegheny Family Network’s 5th Annual Mental Health Expo
Journey’s Through Mental Health, Leveling the Field
Tuesday, May 5
Marriott City Center
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
http://tinyurl.com/lsjgscz

Day of Self Discovery 15th Annual Conference
The Art of Recovery Management
Friday, May 15
Herberman Conference Center
UPMC Shadyside Hospital
http://tinyurl.com/lyp772f

Senior and Disability Resource Expo
Friday, May 22
Pittsburgh Mills Mall
Begins 9 a.m.
For more information, email Amber Lepic at alepic@pasen.gov

Beaver County

Beaver County’s Annual Youth Community Day
Thursday, May 7
Beaver Valley Mall
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
http://tinyurl.com/kb253w5

Butler County

Butler County Walk for Mental Health
Saturday, May 30
Alameda Park
Begins 9 a.m.
$20 per walker
(724) 431-0069 or 724-287-1965
Presented by NAMI PA Butler and MHA of Butler County

Fayette County

Masontown Community Health & Wellness Resource Fair

Tuesday, May 5
201 Spring Avenue, Masontown
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Call Michelle Voithofer at (724) 583-1091 for information.

Chestnut Ridge “Keys to Recovery” Conference

Wednesday, May 6
Jumonville Retreat Center, Hopewood
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Call Marta at (724) 437-0729 x657 to register.

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day Event

Thursday, May 7

Hutchinson Park, Pavilion 7, Hopewood

5 p.m. to 7 p.m.


Greene County
8th Annual Greene County Recovery and Wellness Conference
Tuesday, May 19
Greene Arc Inc., 197 Dunn Rd., Prosperity
8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
To register, call (724) 852-5276

Indiana County

NAMI- Indiana’s Walk to Raise Awareness
Tuesday, May 5
Indiana County Courthouse
Begins 11:30 a.m.
Call (724) 422-4718 for information.

Westmoreland County

19^th Annual Families, Consumer and Providers Conference

Alternatives

Thursday, May 7

McKinniss Auditorium, Torrance State Hospital

Begins 8:30 a.m.

Call (724) 459-4604 or (724) 459-4482 for information.

The 2015 VBH-PA Mental Health Awareness Walk
Saturday, May 12
Twin Lakes Park, Pavilion 7
Registration begins at 12 p.m.
http://tinyurl.com/kk2vmtz

2nd Annual Mental Health Awareness Fair
Saturday, May 16
Westmoreland Mall, Center Court
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
http://tinyurl.com/m6jqej4

Conference Recap: Coverage Tonight at 5:45p.m.!

Don't forget to tune in to WTAE-TV Action 4 News at 5:45 p.m. to see Brandon Marshall and NAMI!

 

Anticipation in the ballroom of the Pittsburgh Airport Marriot was palpable on Saturday morning. Over 300 attendees awaited the arrival of Brandon Marshall as the morning keynote speaker of NAMI Southwestern PA's 15th Annual Education Conference aptly titled, Game on: Tackling the Stigma of Mental Illness. Brandon was met with a standing ovation as he took the stage, along with WTAE-TV news anchor and sports reporter Andrew Stockey.

 

For one and a half hours, Brandon, who is an all-pro wide receiver for the New York Jets, answered questions from Andrew Stockey and audience members about his diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, how and where he began treatment, and his outspoken advocacy efforts including the infamous $10,500 fine from the NFL for wearing green cleats during Mental Health Awareness Week.

Brandon insisted that you don't need a platform of thousands to make a difference with advocacy and the lives of those with mental illness. He credits the group therapists and clinicians at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts for their pivotal role on his road to recovery. He talked with candor about growing up in Pittsburgh, his family, his football career, his wife and newborn twins and, jokingly, why he could not play for the conservative owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers -- even though the audience cheered for and encouraged it.

He left the stage to another enthusiastic standing ovation and said NAMI's conference was the best speaking engagement of his life.

 

MEDIA

Following his presentation, Brandon interviewed with Andrew Stockey for a segment that will appear TONIGHT at 5:45 p.m. on Action 4 News. Don't miss it!

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was present and published an article on Brandon and the conference.

STIGMA

Prior to Brandon's entrance, stigma researcher and professor Dr. Otto Wahl of the University of Hartford gave an excellent presentation on combating the stigma of mental illness. "Stigma undermines the possibility of recovery," Dr. Wahl said.

ADDICTION

In the afternoon, Dr. Dennis Daley of the University of Pittsburgh led an indepth plenary session on addiction as an illness.

ADVOCACY

A highlight of the day was awarding longtime advocate Connie Roman, one of NAMI Southwestern PA's founding members and a former board member, the coveted Dick Jevon Advocacy Award. Mr. Jevon, now retired, was present and also shared a few words.

WORKSHOPS

Six simultaneous workshops closed the day: Ask the Doctor, Two Tales of Suicide Stigma, NAMI Smarts for Advocacy, Teen Social Media and Mental Health Usage Trends, Anxiety and Depression in Children, and Future Planning for Individuals with Special Needs.

Thank you to Value Behavioral Health of PA, pictured below with Brandon Marshall, for serving as our Keynote Sponsor of this event.

On behalf of the NAMI Southwestern PA staff, thank you to all of our board members, sponsors, exhibitors and everyone who attended!

Game On: Tackling the Stigma of Mental Illness



Only four more days until our 15th Annual Education Conference! Don't miss this rare chance to see All-Pro Wide Receiver and Mental Health Advocate Brandon Marshall as the keynote speaker.

Please see the agenda below, noting some speaker times have changed.

15th Annual Education Conference

Game On: Tackling the Stigma of Mental Illness

Pittsburgh Airport Marriott

Saturday, April 11

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

AGENDA

8:00 - 9:00 a.m. - Registration/Continental Breakfast/Exhibits

9:00 - 9:15 a.m. - Welcome and Opening Remarks
Christine Michaels, MSHSA, Executive Director, NAMI Southwestern PA

9:15 - 10:30 a.m. - "Combating Stigma"
Otto Wahl, PhD, Professor of Psychology, University of Hartford

10:30 - 10:45 a.m. - Break and Exhibits

10:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Keynote Address
"Stepping off the Sidelines: Tackling the Stigma of Mental Illness" Brandon Marshall, All Pro Wide Receiver, New York Jets Moderated by Andrew Stockey, New Anchor/Sports Director, WTAE-TV Action News 4

12:15 - 1:15 p.m. - Pittsburgh Style Buffet Luncheon
NAMI Southwestern PA Annual Meeting
Presentation of the Dick Jevon Advocacy Award

1:15 - 2:30 p.m. - Afternoon Plenary Session
"Addressing Substance Use as an Illness: Integrated Approaches to Treatment"
Dennis C Daley, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine - Dept. of Psychology

2:30 - 2:45 p.m. - Break and Exhibits

2:45 - 4:00 p.m. - Afternoon Workshops



Everyone in attendance will receive a green awareness band. Special thanks to Keynote Sponsor Value Behavioral Health of PA. This conference is open to the general public. Continuing Education Credits are available for professionals and educators. High school seniors and college students are welcome. Registration is required.





An Invitation: Please join us on April 11 at the NAMI Conference

Dear Friends,
 
I invite you to join us for NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's 15th Annual Education Conference, Game On: Tacking the Stigma of Mental Illness on Saturday, April 11 at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott. 

Each spring, we bring remarkable speakers to our regional conference, and this year is no exception. Dr. Otto Wahl, an expert on stigma, will start our day and provide a solid overview in his presentation, Combating Stigma. He will include ideas and suggestions for what each of us can do to help end the stigma of mental illness.
        
With special thanks to Value Behavioral Health of PA, we will hear Brandon Marshall speak in his morning keynote address, Stepping Off the Sidelines: Tacking the Stigma of Mental Illness. Brandon Marshall's courage to speak out and take a stand against the stigma he and so many others faced will inspire us to take action as individuals and a community.
        
After lunch and the presentation of the Dick Jevon Advocacy Award, Dr. Dennis Daley will deliver the afternoon plenary session, Addressing Substance use as an Illness Integrated Approaches to Treatment. Stigma stops individuals from seeking treatment and impedes recovery. The stigma of mental illness is often compounded with the stigma of a co-occurring substance user disorder.
        
Then, our variety of workshop topics will offer something of special interest to everyone.

At the end of the day, every conference participant will leave feeling like they made the team, the NAMI Southwestern PA's All Pro Championship Anti-Stigma Team. GAME ON EVERYONE!

I look forward to seeing you at the conference.

Sincerely,

Chris
Christine Michaels, MSHSA
Executive Director, NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania

Register Now

 

 

Game On! Which Workshop Will You Attend?

 

All-Pro Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall | Source: Chicago Tribune

"Game On: Tackling the Stigma of Mental Illness"

Saturday, April 11

Pittsburgh Airport Marriott

8 am to 4 pm
 

In addition to Brandon Marshall, Stigma Researcher Dr. Otto Wahl and Addiction Expert Dr. Dennis Daley, the NAMI Conference offers six afternoon workshops from which to choose. See the list below to choose your workshop and REGISTER TODAY!  



Source: Medrabotnik

Workshop 1: Ask the Doctor

Individuals with mental health conditions and family members often have many questions that can't be quickly answered in a short doctor's visit. During this workshop, Dr. Curtis Mayernik will answer participants' wide variety of questions concerning mental illness while discussing effective treatments and supports that promote recovery and healthier living.

Source: Kater 4 Kids

Workshop 2: Anxiety and Depression in Children

Presented by Charma D. Dudley, PhD, FPPR, this workshop will provide an introduction to the manifestations of anxiety and depression in children, including a brief overview of their diagnostic characteristic features and various types of therapeutic interventions that can be used. A number of evidence-based practices with proven positive outcomes such as cognitive-behavioral therapy will be highlighted, in addition to other interventions - including relaxation training, development of social skills and effective medication management.

Source: SKAR

Workshop 3: NAMI Smarts
for Advocacy

Do you know how to tell your recovery story in a way that moves policymakers? NAMI Smarts for Advocacy is a popular hands-on training program that helps people living with mental illness, friends and family transform their passion and lived experience into skillful grassroots advocacy. Presented by NAMI Southwestern PA's Executive Director Chris Michaels and Associate Debbie Ference, this training helps participants understand why advocacy is so important for mental health.



Source: PAYSPI

Workshop 4: Two Tales of Suicide Stigma

The stigma attached to mental illness and suicide affects both those who are struggling (or have struggled) as well as those impacted by the loss of a loved one to suicide death. In this session, Jennifer Sikora and Kelly Robinson from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) will discuss how stigma affects these two different groups - illustrated by the speakers' personal experiences - and will provide specific communication
recommendations for help-seeking and grief processing.



Source: BBFA

Workshop 5: Teen Social Media and Mental Health Trends

This training, presented by social media expert Ryan Klingensmith, will raise the awareness of teen culture on the Internet and how adults can communicate with and educate youth to be responsible digital citizens. The presentation will review image boards, untraceable texting/sexting, Internet predators, gossip/rumor spreading sites, video chatting, blogs, eating disorders, self-harm and suicide. The most current social media sites, youth culture and mental health practices will also be discussed.



Source: Archer Law

Workshop 6: Futures Planning for Individuals with Special Needs

Families of individuals with disabilities face significant challenges in planning for their future and ongoing financial stability. The ACHIEVA Family Trust Futures Planning Project, funded through the United Way of Allegheny County, takes into consideration parents' concerns about their children's futures by providing an array of planning services and resources to families and caregivers. This presentation, presented by Maria Smith and Rebecca Tyers Brown of ACHIEVA, will include information about future planning, special needs trusts, powers of attorney, guardianship concerns and caregiver transitioning.


Register today and see you on April 11th!