NAMI News

In its quarterly scientific publication, The Decade of the Brain, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) has published the results of the first survey ever taken of consumers with severe mental illnesses (SMIs) about their views of scientific research.

Tomorrow, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case of Olmstead v. L.C. and E.W. (No.98-536), in which the State of Georgia is appealing an 11th Circuit federal court of appeals decision that held the institutionalization of two women with mental illness and mental retardation to be discriminatory under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) today thanked Montana Governor Marc Racicot for signing into law a bill to end discrimination in health insurance benefits for persons suffering from severe mental illnesses.

As this country's attention turns to yet another tragic incident involving someone with severe mental illness, millions of Americans who struggle with these disorders and their families agonize over the sensationalized news headlines and the true meaning of this event.

U.S. Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Paul Wellstone (D-MN) today introduced legislation that will end harmful and discriminatory health insurance coverage for adults and children with the most severe mental illnesses.

In testimony before a Senate appropriations subcommittee today, Wanda Mohr, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N, assistant professor of the nursing of children at the University of Pennsylvania, described the use of restraints in psychiatric hospitals as "situations that go out of control," that easily turn into "tragedies."

On April 13, 1999 Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) will convene a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education & Related Agencies, at 9:30 a.m. in 186 Dirksen Senate Office Building, addressing the deadly use of restraints in facilities serving the disabled.

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) today urged New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman to sign into law legislation to end discrimination in health insurance coverage for persons with severe mental illnesses.

NAMI is pleased with the leadership that members of Congress are providing today with the introduction of three bills to address the need for national standards to prevent abuse of restraints and seclusion in psychiatric facilities.

NAMI today applauded the introduction of three bills by Senators Joseph Lieberman and Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, and Representatives Diana DeGette of Colorado, Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Pete Stark of California, to establish national standards to prevent abuse of restraints and seclusion in psychiatric facilities.