Introducing...NAMI Basics!

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We are pleased to announce the addition of NAMI Basics to NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania’s signature education programs. NAMI Basics is designed for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illness. The course is taught by trained teachers who are the parents of children that developed the symptoms of mental illness prior to the age of 13.

The course consists of six classes, lasting two and a half hours each. All instruction materials are FREE to participants.

The goals of NAMI Basics are:

* To give the parent/caregiver the basic information necessary to take the best care possible of their child, their family and themselves.

* To help the parent/caregiver cope with the impact that mental illness has on the child and the entire family.

* To provide tools for the parent/caregiver to use after completing the course that will assist in making the best decisions possible for the care of the child.

The course includes current information about mental illnesses; insights into understanding the lived experience of the child diagnosed with the mental illness; current research related to the biology of mental illness and the evidence-based, most effective treatment strategies available; specific skill building classes to learn problem-solving, listening and communication skills; and dealing with the school system, among other topics.

The first class will be held at Monroeville United Methodist Church each Thursday evening beginning March 3 to April 7 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania Associate Director Debbie Ference and NAMI Volunteer Denise Michaels will be teaching the class.

SPACE IS LIMITED. If you are interested in signing up for the class, please call the NAMI office at 412-366-3788 or email dference@namiswpa.org.

Contributed by Lora M. Dziemiela, Program Secretary

Dispelling ADHD Myths

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In a fast-paced world filled with electronic distractions, social networking and multitasking, it’s easy to feel pulled away from the present moment.  Modern life is filled with a multitude of diversions, leading some to feel that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a symptom of our culture, a sign that the nature of concentration and focus may be shifting entirely.

The interesting New York Times article “Untangling the Myths About Attention Disorder” by Perri Klass, M.D., quickly dispels these myths about ADHD while discussing new ADHD research and findings, highlighting environmental and genetic factors that come together to impact focus, impulsivity and attentiveness.

For more information about mental health, visit NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania online and keep up with our blog with a subscription to our RSS feed!


Contributed by Lora M. Dziemiela, Program Secretary

A Healthy Start to 2011: Nutrition Tips from Helpguide

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It's the start of a brand new year! Many will make resolutions to incorporate healthier habits into their lives to impact their overall well-being, and changing diet and nutrition routines are common New Year's resolutions.

Are you interested in beginning 2011 with healthier eating habits? Visit Helpguide's Diet and Nutrition page for articles on sensible dietary changes that can increase your energy, boost your mood and help you get 2011 off to a great start.

For more information about mental health and wellness,  be sure to visit NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania online and keep up with our blog with a subscription to our RSS feed!


Contributed by Lora M. Dziemiela, Program Secretary

Dealing with Winter Blues

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The last few weeks of the winter holidays are upon us, as are the shortest days of the year.  What can we do to boost our mood and keep things merry and bright?

The article "Lighten up!  How to beat back winter blues" provides suggestions for deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is described as periods of depression that correspond with the seasons of the year, usually occurring in fall or winter.  The article advises exercise, healthy eating and sunlight exposure for dealing with symptoms commonly associated with SAD (depressed mood, anxiety, irritability, fatigue, carbohydrate-craving and weight gain or loss).

For more information about mental health issues related to the winter season, read our recently posted holiday tips provided by the American Psychological Association (APA) and look over our post featuring a Mental Health America article about stress and depression during the holiday season. As always, visit our website for more information about mental health and wellness!

Contributed by Lora M. Dziemiela, Program Secretary

Maintaining Holiday Cheer: Tips from the APA

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We're right in the middle of the winter holiday season!  While this is the season "to be jolly," the winter holidays can also be a time when family and economic pressures increase and dim our holiday cheer. 

The American Psychological Association (APA) has a variety of online publications to help manage stress while navigating the holiday season.  Articles such as "Making the Most of the Holiday Season" and "How to Stay Calm During the Holidays" give tips for dealing with common as well as unique stresses during the holidays (family tension, breakups, time pressures and tragedies.)  Articles like "Tips for Parents on Managing Holiday Stress" and "Dollars and Sense: Talking to Your Children about the Economy" deal with helping children understand financial pressures in age-appropriate ways.  For more general information about building emotional resilience, read the APA's brochure, "The Road to Resilience."

For more information about mental health, visit NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania online and keep up with our blog with a subscription to our RSS feed!


Contributed by Lora M. Dziemiela, Program Secretary

Beets for Brains!

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New research from Wake Forest University indicates that a daily serving of beet juice boosts blood flow to your brain, which can keep your mind sharp and can help protect against dementia and poor cognition as you age.  

Summarizing the research findings, an article on Medical News today discusses how nitrate-rich beets work to boost blood flow in areas of the brain that need it.  As nitrate is processed by the body, it is turned into nitrite, and this opens up blood vessels and thus improves blood flow.  Previous research has looked at how eating beets can lower blood pressure and improve exercise performance, but this is the first study that has examined how this super-food impacts the brain.

For more information about mental health and wellness,  be sure to visit NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania online and keep up with our blog with a subscription to our RSS feed!


Contributed by Lora M. Dziemiela, Program Secretary

Service Dogs Used to Treat PTSD

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According to the Time Magazine online article "Bringing Dogs to Heal: Care for Veterans with PTSD" by Mark Thompson, some 40,000 troops have been physically wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq, but 10 times as many exhibit symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  Amid many high-tech treatments that are emerging to treat PTSD (such as hyperbaric oxygen chambers and virtual-reality exposure therapy), the use of service dogs may be a promising alternative treatment, providing friendly, healing support.   

Interested in learning more?  Read the full online article and watch the related video, "How Dogs Help Veterans Cope with PTSD".   

For more information about mental health be sure to visit NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania online and keep up with our blog with a subscription to our RSS feed!


Contributed by Lora M. Dziemiela, Program Secretary