Mental health resources: How to get help for yourself or your loved ones
Posted on October 23, 2019
CBS This Morning
Highlights where to learn more about mental health and finding support. Provides a link to the NAMI program webpage.
READ MOREStop The Stigma: A Conversation About Mental Health
Posted on October 23, 2019
CBS This Morning
In an effort to help break down stigmas surrounding mental health, CBS This Morning did a special 1-hour live broadcast focused on mental illness, “Stop the Stigma” which featured Ken Duckworth, NAMI medical director, in two segments on the show.
READ MORESchools now letting students stay home sick for mental-health days
Posted on October 22, 2019
Washington Post
In the face of rising rates of depression, anxiety and suicide among young people, some states and school systems have started allowing students to take mental sick days off from school. Last year, Utah changed its definition of valid excuses for absences to include mental health issues. This summer, Oregon enacted a law that allows students to take days off for mental health. Students in other states, including Colorado, Florida and Washington, are attempting to get similar laws passed.
READ MOREHow to talk about mental health, according to the experts
Posted on October 22, 2019
CBS This Morning
Reports that when talking about mental health, language matters. Additionally, don't refer to people as their illnesses by saying someone is schizophrenic, someone is bipolar, or someone is mentally ill, says Teri Brister of NAMI.
READ MORESuicide Attempts Rising Among Black Teens
Posted on October 14, 2019
HealthDay
Historically, black teenagers in the U.S. have had lower suicide rates than whites. But a new study in Pediatrics finds that more black teens have been attempting suicide in recent years and experts are not sure why.
READ MOREHow to Improve Youth Mental Health Outcomes, According to an Expert
Posted on October 10, 2019
Thrive Global
Editorial Piece by Ken Duckworth, medical director, about a session at the World Economic Forum focused on youth mental health called “Building the Mental Wealth of Young People Globally.” This session was part of a larger goal of improving mental health outcomes across the globe. Youth mental health — including prevention, early support, and services — plays a key role.
READ MORETrump’s claims and what experts say about mental illness and mass shootings
Posted on August 23, 2019
ABC News
Reports that under pressure to take action, the president has repeatedly tried to shift the cause of mass shootings away from guns and toward mental illness. There was strong reaction as well from NAMI acting CEO Angela Kimball. "The president should be talking about better care and earlier access to intensive treatment, not revisiting the shameful institutions of our past," she said in a statement. "Words matter, Mr. President. 'These people' are our friends, neighbors, children, spouses. They're not 'monsters,' 'the mentally ill' or 'crazy people' -- they're us. Talking about reinstitutionalization only further marginalizes and isolates the 1 in 5 people with mental illness. Instead, we need to be talking about the power of early treatment and effective intervention to change lives," she said.
READ MORE‘Trauma Doesn’t Go Away By Itself.’ How El Paso Is Tackling Mental Health Stigma After the Walmart Mass Shooting
Posted on August 20, 2019
TIME
Reports that since the mass shooting at Walmart in El Paso, those working in the mental health care field say there has been increasing demand for their services and they believe it may be a turning point in public perception. “It can span from religion, to the belief that [mental illness] just doesn’t exist, or a ‘people just need to get over it’ attitude — sort of machismo culture where you don’t admit anything’s wrong with you, you’re not allowed to cry and you just have to get over something,” says Isidro Torres, director of outreach and fundraising, NAMI El Paso, which has for decades attempted to reduce the stigma in the area. Torres says more resources can help everyone.
READ MOREFive-Question Interview with Doug Beach, NAMI FaithNet
Posted on August 19, 2019
Faith in Healthcare
Interview with Doug Beach, Chairperson of NAMI’s FaithNet Advisory Group. FaithNet encourages and supports outreach to faith communities through NAMI’s local and state affiliates across the country. Beach is also a NAMI Family-to-Family instructor and leads a Family Grace faith-based support group for families impacted by mental illness. “People are surprised to learn that, if persons with mental illness can get care and find community, 80 to 90% of the time they get better,” he said. “Building community and providing family education does not replace medical treatment, but they are a critical component of people getting better. The importance of spirit and community means faith communities have a huge role to play in the process. They not only provide the belief structure, but they provide community.”
READ MOREAdvocates slam Trump for remarks on mental illness
Posted on August 18, 2019
Washington Times
Mental health advocates chastised President Trump for saying the U.S. could fight gun violence by reopening institutions to keep “mentally deranged and dangerous” people off the streets, saying it could stigmatize patients. Others said focusing on people who have mental illness distracts from the issue at hand. “It’s easier to get a gun in the United States than it is to get mental health care,” said Angela Kimball, acting CEO of NAMI.
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