Top 10 Reasons To Attend the NAMI Conference

Save the date! The 15th Annual Education Conference is swiftly approaching:

 

 Game On: Tackling the Stigma of Mental Illness 
Saturday, April 11

Pittsburgh Airport Marriott

8 am to 4pm

 

Are you still undecided on whether or not to attend? Here are the top 10 reasons why you should register now:

 

Source: Splash

1. Our Keynote Speaker

This will be All-Pro Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall's first time coming to his hometown of Pittsburgh to talk to the mental health community about his diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. He will also share his story about overcoming the stigma he faced as a professional athlete in the NFL. Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear Brandon Marshall and be inspired by his advocacy message!

 

 

2. The Program!

From beginning to end, our one-day conference will keep you engaged and interested, thanks to our phenomenal speakers, compelling workshops and other special presentations. Take a look!

 

 



Source: University of Hartford



3.  Renowned Stigma Researcher

How often do we get to hear from a stigma researcher whose focus is to study, write and teach about how stigma impacts those with mental illness? Fresh from the 7th International Conference on Stigma in February, Dr. Otto Wahl from the University of Hartford will join us and kick off the day with the most up-to-date information, statistics and ideas on "Combating Stigma."  

4. Continuing Education Credits
Those registering at the MH professional or Educator rate can earn the following CEUs: Counselors (NBCC), Educators (Act 48), Licensed/Clinical Social Workers (LSW/LCSW), Psychologists and/or credits for other healthcare professionals.







Source: ATTC

5. Addiction Expert
If you or someone you know has an addiction, you understand that it affects the entire family. Dr. Dennis Daley will join us to explain how the family can work together to face an addiction disorder. He'll present addiction as an illness, not a choice or a weakness, and help us to break down the stigma surrounding addiction.

6. Scholarships
Scholarships offset the cost of registration. There are plenty of scholarships available for:

• Individuals living with mental illness
• Family members and loved ones
• Parents whose children/young adults have behavioral health issues
• Students/young adults (recommended age: high school seniors and up)

To apply is easy! Contact Sara at slevine@namiswpa.org or (412) 366-3788 ext. 122 for information.




Source: CBS Sports

7. Raising Awareness
Our Keynote Speaker Brandon Marshall was fined $10,500 by the NFL for wearing green cleats during Mental Health Awareness Week. He took the opportunity to spread the word on every news station. Let's continue to raise awareness!







Source: Bleacher Report

8. Awareness Bands
To support Brandon Marshall's anti-stigma efforts, everyone in attendance will receive a green mental health awareness band, compliments of Keynote Sponsor Value Behavioral Health of PA.

9. Great Workshops
The hardest part of your day will be choosing which of the six afternoon workshops to attend.

• Ask the Doctor
• Anxiety and Depression in Children
• NAMI Smarts for Advocacy
• Two Tales of the Suicide Stigma
• Teen Social Media/Mental Health Usage Trends
• Future Planning for Those with Special Needs

10. Dick Jevon Advocacy Award
The presentation of the Dick Jevon Advocacy Award will be a highlight of the day! This will take place over lunch--the Pittsburgh-style luncheon that is a conference favorite!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Register now!

See you on April 11th!

Game On: Tackling the Stigma of Mental Illness

"Like so many other football players, I thought football made me. It wasn't until I had this struggle, this fight, with Borderline Personality Disorder, that I realized I'm more than a football player. I'm here for a bigger reason. That's why I started dreaming again." ~Brandon Marshall, All Pro Wide Receiver, New York Jets 

●  How did All-Pro Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall recognize and overcome his diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder?

●  What barriers did he face as a young man, a professional athlete and a celebrity in the national spotlight?

●  How did he become the "greatest comeback in the NFL" and a renowned mental health advocate?

Brandon will share this and more at NAMI Southwestern PA's 15th Annual Education Conference on Saturday, April 11. Following Brandon's presentation, Andrew Stockey, news and sports anchor for Channel 4 Action News, will moderate an interactive discussion with Brandon. 

Game On: Tackling the Stigma of Mental Illness

Saturday, April 11

Pittsburgh Airport Marriott

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Download Conference Brochure 

Email your questions for Brandon to info@namiswpa.org. The audience will also have a chance to ask Brandon questions directly. Special thanks to Keynote Sponsor Value Behavioral Health of PA.

*This conference is open to the general public. Scholarships are available to offset the registration fee. Continuing Education Credits are available for professionals and educators. High school seniors and college students are welcome to attend. Registration is required.  

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.

Friday Five: Facts About Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Some rights reserved by Federico Coppola

- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image and behavior. This instability often disrupts family and work life, long-term planning and the individual's sense of self-identity.

- While less well known than schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, BPD is more common, affecting two percent of adults, mostly young women. Patients often need extensive mental health services and account for 20 percent of psychiatric hospitalizations. Yet, with help, many improve over time and are eventually able to lead productive lives.

- While a person with depression or bipolar disorder typically endures the same mood for weeks, a person with BPD may experience intense bouts of anger, depression and anxiety that may last only hours, or at most a day.  These may be associated with episodes of impulsive aggression, self-injury and drug or alcohol abuse.

- People with BPD often have highly unstable patterns of social relationships. While they can develop intense but stormy attachments, their attitudes towards family, friends and loved ones may suddenly shift from idealization (great admiration and love) to devaluation (intense anger and dislike). Thus, they may form an immediate attachment and idealize the other person, but when a slight separation or conflict occurs, they switch unexpectedly to the other extreme and angrily accuse the other person of not caring for them at all.

- Treatments for BPD have improved in recent years. Group and individual psychotherapy are at least partially effective for many patients. Within the past 15 years, a new psychosocial treatment termed dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was developed specifically to treat BPD, and this technique has looked promising in treatment studies.

(This week's Friday Five facts are taken from the National Institute of Mental Health's Borderline Personality Disorder fact sheet. For more information about BPD and other mental illnesses, visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website.)