Posted on February 17, 2022
The Press Democrat: SF Bay Area
One-time, acute crisis response is just one service inRESPONSE provides, at a cost of $1.1 million this year. Another innovative element is the “system navigators” who provide long-term, wraparound support to members of the community before and after mental health crises. The system navigators not only follow up after emergency incidents, but also operate a non-emergency hotline anyone can call to find outside resources and services. This element of the inRESPONSE program is “very unique,” according to Shannon Scully, senior manager on criminal justice policy at NAMI. “Santa Rosa is doing something that’s spot on in terms of what we see as best practices,” Scully said, because continual care ensures “you’re providing that connection to resources before the moment of crisis, as well as long after to help someone remain engaged.”
READ MOREPosted on February 17, 2022
KHN: What the Health Podcast
Julie Rovner interviews Hannah Wesolowski, NAMI CAO, about how the pandemic has worsened the nation’s mental health crisis and what can be done about it. Hannah discusses the rollout of 988 on July 16, 2022 and the need for community-based continuum of crisis services — 24/7 call centers that answer 988 calls locally, mobile crisis teams and crisis stabilization programs.
READ MOREPosted on February 9, 2022
70 Million Podcast
Police encounters during a mental health crisis have a greater chance of turning deadly if you’re Black. New response mechanisms bypass law enforcement and result in helpful interventions. Reporter Jenee Darden looks at how folks in Northern California are trying to reimagine crisis response services. Shannon Scully, senior manager of criminal justice policy at NAMI, discusses how mental health training for police officers is not consistent across states or local communities. She discusses 988 and the three things needed: someone to talk to, someone to respond and somewhere to go for mental health crisis treatment.
READ MOREPosted on February 9, 2022
The Seattle Times
Eleanor Owen, a fierce advocate in the world of mental health policy who co-founded the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Downtown Emergency Service Center, has died at the age of 101 at her home in Seattle. A “force of nature” according to her friends and family, Owen’s work included amending Washington’s Involuntary Treatment Act, which lays out when a person can be involuntarily committed for psychiatric care. “Anyone who cares about mental illness, and the people it touches, owes this remarkable woman a tremendous debt of gratitude,” explained NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. in a statement. NAMI now has more than 600 state organizations and affiliates across the country.
READ MOREPosted on February 8, 2022
CBS News: NY
(CW: Suicidal Ideation) Specifically, 988 calls will be answered by trained crisis counselors who can also link callers to more resources. If further intervention is needed, a team of behavioral health professionals — not police — are supposed to respond. “We want to avoid that escalation, and make sure we’re not putting law enforcement in that situation where they may not be equipped to respond,” said Hannah Wesolowski, NAMI chief advocacy officer. “The goal is help, not handcuffs.” New Jersey is preparing for the call volume to increase from 55,000 last year to 83,000 in the first year of the initiative. The state is also expanding access to mental health services. The article includes the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) HelpLine: (800) 950-6264 and homepage link.
READ MOREPosted on February 3, 2022
Tradeoffs.org Podcast
(CW: Suicide) This is Part 1 of a special series about 988 that explores what it will take for this new nationwide hotline to meet the needs of millions of people struggling with suicide, addiction and mental illness. “We have funded mental health this way for decades. It is pennies here, pennies there. It is out of the goodness of people's hearts that organizations are there to support people, experiencing mental health conditions. I'm hoping policymakers make the investments that we know we need to make, said Hannah Wesolowski, NAMI CAO.
READ MOREPosted on February 2, 2022
K-12 DIVE
The California law is a positive step forward, as students are likely going to face mental health fallout from the pandemic for years to come, said Hannah Wesolowski, NAMI CAO. “We are deeply concerned around what the COVID-19 pandemic has done to youth mental health,” Wesolowski said. “The earlier we can intervene, the better we’re going to be as we deal with a very long mental health tail to this pandemic.” What’s unique about the California law is that it considers cultural factors in mental health, she said, including the consideration of LGBTQ students, who can face higher rates of suicide. “I think there is widespread agreement that our children’s mental health is suffering right now,” Wesolowski said. “We’re starting to see a tide shift, and I think state leaders are realizing that they have to do something. We’re all going to pay the price if we don’t address this children’s mental health epidemic.”
READ MOREPosted on February 2, 2022
TODAY Show 3rd-hour
Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.) opens up in a new documentary about the death of his 25-year-old son Tommy, who died by suicide. The segment features Dr. Christine Crawford, associate medical director of NAMI, discussing general mental health concerns and symptoms in in the wake of the youth mental health crisis. The documentary shines a light on depression and anxiety spiking during the pandemic, particularly for younger adults.
READ MOREPosted on January 26, 2022
Healthline
Schizoaffective disorder is a chronic mental health condition. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the hallmarks of schizoaffective disorder include psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia — like hallucinations or delusions, with symptoms of a mood disorder like mania or depression. It’s a rare condition, with a lifetime prevalence of just 0.3%. Finding help for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder can be overwhelming or intimidating. It can be hard to know where to look and what to trust. Organizations that can help includes Find Your Local National Alliance on Mental Illness.
READ MOREPosted on January 19, 2022
Los Angeles Times
Give yourself a moment to take in the situation. Notice if the person appears agitated, angry, restless or engaging in risky behavior, advised Dawn Brown, national director of NAMI HelpLine Services. “That person is likely at a point in a mental health crisis where they’re at imminent risk of hurting themselves or someone else,” Brown said. NAMI’s national helpline also connects callers to local support groups, recovery strategies, resource referrals and other information. Call 1-800-950-NAMI (1-800-950-6264) or text “NAMI” to 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. One of the best tools in your toolkit is empathy, Brown said. If you work on extending empathy to others in your daily life, you’ll be more equipped to do so to a stranger.
READ MORENAMI HelpLine is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Call 800-950-6264,
text “helpline” to 62640, or chat online. In a crisis, call or text 988 (24/7).
