NAMI News

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.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) elected three new members to its national board of directors at its annual convention this week. Two incumbents were re-elected. The new board also elected officers for the 2006-2007 year.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will honor the CBS Television Network with its Outstanding Media Award for Public Service for the network’s CBS Cares public service awareness campaign on depression, during its annual national convention this week.