First Media and Mental Illness Awards A Success

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania was pleased to join the Entertainment Industries Council (EIC) and Staunton Farm Foundation for the first-ever Media and Mental Illness Awards last night at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh.

Hosted by Susan Brozeck Scott, regional director of EIC, the awards ceremony honored regional journalists who reported accurately and responsibly on mental health topics.

And the winners are...

Television News - Program Length
Losing Lambert: A Journey Through Survival and Hope
Producers David Solomon and Paul Ruggieri of WQED Multimedia

Television Community Affairs Program
Long Road Home
Producers David Solomon and Paul Ruggieri of WQED Multimedia

Television News Series
The Impact of Mental Illness in Pittsburgh and the Hope of Recovery
WTAE-TV's Michelle Wright, Mike Lazorko, Tim Lohle and Terry Connell

Television News Segment
Doctor: Pittsburgh Police Murder Suspect Doesn't Seem Insane
Paul Van Osdol, WTAE-TV

Internet News Story
A Soldiers Heart - Part 3 (PTSD)
Andrew Rush, Michael A. Fuoco and Rebecca Droke of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Radio
Does Summer Make You Depressed
John Shumway and Larry Richert of KDKA Radio

Magazine
Moving Beyond Mayview
Sean Hamill, Pittsburgh Quarterly

Newspaper Story
Millions of us Have Mental Illness; You Are Not Alone
Tony Tye, Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Outstanding Achievement
Mayview State Hospital: Last Reminder of a Lost Era Closes Parts 1 and 2
Joe Fahy and Dennis Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The late Joe Fahy, writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, was also recognized for his outstanding achievements and contributions to the industry. Joe covered many mental health issues and was a friend of NAMI. A well respected journalist, Joe lost his battle with cancer nearly three years ago. His son drove from New York to accept the award on his dad's behalf.

NAMI would like to extend its heartfelt congratulations to all of the winners, as well as the other distinguished nominees. We know the impact the media can have on the public's perception of mental illness, and we are grateful to have worked with many of you in the past few years. Thank you for all of your efforts to portray mental illness accurately in the news.

Flu and Pneumonia Vaccines Available

Community Human Services (CHS) opened a influenza and pneumonia vaccine clinic on Oct. 1. The clinic offers flu and pneumonia vaccines, while supplies last, at the following locations, days and times:

• Every Monday through 12/12/2011:
Location: CHS Health Station, 374 Lawn Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

• Every Tuesday through 12/13/2011:
Location: Jubilee Medical Clinic, 2005 Wyandotte Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Time: 9 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.

The vaccine will be provided free of charge to adults 18 years and older. Individuals who are specifically targeted are adults with chronic medical issues, person aged 65 and older and populations who suffer disparity and may not otherwise have access to receiving these vaccinations.

The vaccine protects against three strains of influenza virus expected to circulate this season –H1N1 Type A, H3N2 Type A, and a Type B influenza virus. 

Influenza is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection that can cause mild to severe illness, sometimes leading to death, primarily in the elderly and the chronically ill. 

There are many sources for the flu vaccine. Ample supplies are expected to be available this flu season and can be obtained with minimal charge through many local pharmacies, primary care physician offices and the Allegheny County Health Department. Anyone who wants the vaccine should be able to get it.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause mild to severe illness, sometimes leading to death, primarily in the elderly and chronically ill.

There are many sources for the pneumonia vaccine. Ample supplies are typically available and can be obtained through primary care physician offices.

Suggested ways to find where you can receive information about a vaccination:

• Call your Primary Health Care Provider
• Call your local Health Department
• Check your local newspaper or local newsletters
• Check with your employer/employee health if applicable

For more information, contact:
Community Human Services Corporation
374 Lawn Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-246-1600

Contact: Rebecca LaBovick, RNBC
412-532-2132, e-mail: rlabovick@chscorp.org

Top Walk Fundraisers... WOW!

For the NAMI Walk, our participants were given a deadline of Oct. 31 to turn in funds for our team and walker contests. We will be announcing winners and totals over the next week. Today we are thrilled to announce our top five fundraisers for 2011. Their enthusiasm and commitment to NAMI is evident in their efforts. The funds they have raised--along with the rest of our walkers and sponsors--will support the NAMI mission all year long. Thank you, our superstar fundraisers!

1. Jim Ehrman (Jim's Jocks) - $7,850

2. Raymond Baum (Leo's Team) - $2,234.44

3. Lora Dziemiela (Porky's Paws for a Cause) - $2,175

4. Stephanie Sluka (NHS Human Services) - $1,745

5. Eileen Lovell (South Hills Stampede) - $1,565

We are collecting donations through November for the NAMI Walk. If you have not yet made your donation, click here and support us today.

NAMI Walk In The News

Did you happen to see our NAMI Walk in the news? Take a look below at some of the great coverage we received. The Pittsburgh media have been extremely helpful in raising awareness of mental illness and recovery!

Channel 11 News did a two-minute segment on the walk! Take a look.

Channel 4 Action News also covered the event with their News Anchor Michelle Wright leading the walk.

Michelle Wright also posted this video on Facebook of her interview with NAMI Southwestern PA Executive Director Chris Michaels at the walk.

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review made the NAMI Walk the cover story of its magazine insert with four pages of editorial content on NAMI, mental illness and the walk! Special thanks to journalist Gen Payne for her work on this piece.

If you are not already following us on Facebook or Twitter, please do so and keep abreast of happenings, photos and more. You can also link to our social media on the NAMI Southwestern PA website.

Fall Newsletter

Have you had a chance to look through our fall newsletter?  It's chock full of information on:

- Integrating physical and behavioral health
- Legislation and policy updates for the southwestern Pa. region
- A recap of our mental health system breakfast event
- Highlights of the NAMI National Convention
- Interview with Patricia Valentine, Executive Deputy Director for Integrated Program Services, Allegheny County Department of Human Services

As always, keep up with the latest in mental health news in southwestern Pa. by visiting our website and following us on Facebook and Twitter! Interested in becoming a member? Click here!

Contributed by Lora M. Dziemiela, Program Secretary

October Events at the EECM Community Stress Center

Come out for the following free events, sponsored by the East End Cooperative Ministry Community (EECM) Stress Center:

Tuesday, October 18

East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh PA  15206

1 - 3 p.m.

"Ask the Pharmacist" - Laura Schmidt, Lincoln Pharmacy

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

"Stress and Illness" - Dr. Charlotte Brown, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh

Wednesday, October 19

Carnegie Library - East Liberty Branch, 130 S. Whitfield Street, Pittsburgh PA  15206

5:30 - 6:45 p.m.

"Taking Care of the Caregiver:  Understanding Memory Loss and its Effect on Family Members" - Dr. Jennifer Lingler, Director of the Education and Information Core of Pitt's Alzheimer Disease Research Center

Thursday, October 20

East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh PA  15206

1 - 3 p.m.

"Ask the Psychiatrist" - Dr. John Kasckow

1 - 3 p.m.

Zumba Class - Lisa Sobek, fitness instructor

Saturday, October 22

St. Paul Baptist Church, 6701 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh PA  15208

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Blood Pressure Screenings, Blood Sugar Screenings

Workshops on: Stress and Illness, Menopause, Prostate Cancer, Diabetes, Navigating the Maze of Today's Healthcare System: A Basic Survival Guide

For more information, call 412-383-5137 or visit the East End Cooperative Ministry's website at www.eecm.org/programs.

Contributed by Lora M. Dziemiela, Program Secretary

WOW, What A Walk!

It's hard to imagine worse weather than what we experienced at the NAMI Walk on Sunday, Oct. 2 in Pittsburgh's SouthSide Works. It was cold (39 degrees) with sharp winds and rain showers. Volunteers and sponsors--and a few brave walkers--trickled in slowly in the early morning hours. By 9 a.m., there were a few dozen walkers, all bundled and seeking shelter under any tent that was available.

Even our mascots--the Pittsburgh Pierogies in their weatherproof costumes--were hesitant to run around in the rain!

But something happened. People started coming in droves. The coffee, hot chocolate and gourmet tea provided by Bean Catering, as well as refreshments from the Kaufman House, warmed our walkers and got them moving.  DJ Dale McCue started playing lively music, and to our surprise, people began dancing in the rain!

By 10 a.m., when John Tucci regaled us with the Star Spangled Banner and our dedicated walkers waved tiny flags in the air, over 1,000 people had arrived and were lined up and ready to walk.

Our three major television news stations covered the event: all of these wonderful walkers coming out in horrible weather to raise awareness of mental illness and to celebrate recovery. That is the NAMI spirit, and we are still amazed by our phenomenal teams, walkers, volunteers and sponsors who brought sunshine on a cold, wet and dreary day. And yes, the sun came out right as the walk began!

The 5th Annual NAMI Walk may be over, but our teams are still holding fundraisers and we are still collecting online donations on the walk website throughout October. We are inching our way to our $150,000 goal and appreciate every dollar we have received so far. Thank you for your generosity and support!