NAMI News

A British study published in the current issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, comparing old and new antipsychotic medications, has two major implications for federal and state policies, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) today advised.

Frustrated and concerned by popular misconceptions that trivialize depression as “just the blues” or dismiss it entirely as an “imaginary disease,” seven prominent physician, patient and civic nonprofit organizations have joined together to launch a public education campaign to tell Americans the truth about depression Read More.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the nation's largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with serious mental illnesses, and their families, has joined the District of Columbia's Police Complaints Board (PCB) in calling for a police crisis intervention team (CIT) to improve and strengthen police responses in situations involving individuals experiencing psychiatric crises in the District.

The release today of a study by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) showing than 64 percent of local jail inmates, 56 percent of state prisoners and 45 percent of federal prisoners have symptoms of serious mental illnesses is an indictment of the nation’s mental healthcare system. Read More.

NAMI is deeply saddened by the tragic death on September 3, 2006, of Dr. Wayne Fenton, director of the schizophrenia research branch of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Justice has been served by the finding of a Texas jury today that Andrea Yates is “not guilty by reason of insanity” (NGRI) in the tragic deaths of her children five years ago. Read More.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has honored the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) with its Excellence in Community Mental Health Services Award in recognition of their outstanding efforts to educate people about the available medications for the treatment of mental illness. Read More.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) announced today that Magellan Health Services, Inc., the nation’s largest manager of mental health and substance abuse services has expanded their program sponsorship of NAMI’s national Provider Education Program. Read More.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is appealing to the news media and other authorities to publicize heightened risks of heat exhaustion and heat stroke for people with mental illnesses who take psychiatric medications. Read More.

Individuals with depression and limited access to treatment incurred an average of nearly three times the annual out-of-pocket costs for medication, psychotherapy and other treatment costs than individuals with less restricted access ($4,312 versus $1,496), according to results of a new survey.