NAMI News

Members of Congress and prominent figures from the fields of law, medicine and journalism were honored today by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) for their courage in publicly disclosing their experiences with the devastating effects of severe mental illness and their continued efforts to end stigma by openly discussing the impact serious brain disorders have had on their lives. 

NAMI is honoring five individuals who have shown outstanding courage in publicly disclosing their personal or family experiences with mental illness and who continue to forthrightly discuss the impact of mental illness in their own lives. 

In a letter delivered this morning, the nation's leading advocacy organization for individuals with mental illnesses and their families urged New Mexico Governor Johnson to sign legislation that will begin to reverse long-standing health insurance discrimination against those struck with chronic and severely debilitating brain disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression.

The New York Assembly rectified a great wrong late yesterday (2/9) by passing A8315--B, "An Act to Amend the Insurance Law." The act, which passed unanimously, is a significant step in treating illnesses of the brain like illnesses of any other organ of the body.

By putting Tennessee families first and not bending to the scare tactics of a few select special interests, Senate bill 2798 has the ability to validate in legislation what researchers have proven in science: Mental illnesses are brain disorders and treatment works. 

For too long, people with severe mental illnesses have been denied adequate health insurance coverage. HB 315 would establish nondiscriminatory parity coverage in health care plans for major mental illnesses among its state employees.

NAMI Executive Director Laurie M. Flynn today urged Congress to increase overall funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by 15 percent in FY'99.

List of Award Recipients

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) will conduct its annual legislative conference January 30 - February 1, 1998, at the Arlington Hilton Hotel.

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects approximately two million Americans today.