In The News

Improving the Federal Response to Challenges in Mental Health Care in America

Posted on January 20, 2016

U.S. Senate HELP Committee

NAMI New York's Hakeem Rahim, EdM, MA testified for NAMI at a Senate hearing on reform of the mental health care system. Video and text are presented.

What Obama’s Executive Action Means for Mental Health Funding

Posted on January 5, 2016

ABC News

$500 million would  provide a great help for people needing mental health care.  States across the country cut mental health funding during the recession by approximately $4 billion

Mental health legislative update: 2015 achievements acknowledged, 2016 ambitions outlined

Posted on January 1, 2016

MinnPost

NAM's report “State Mental Health Legislation: Trends, Themes and Effective Practices” recognized three states— Minnesota, New York and Virginia--as national leaders. NAMI itself has many great executive directors. but it doesn't hurt that Minnesota's director is willing to make herself a thorn in the side of decisionmakers.

Neighbor worries that neighbor has mental illness

Posted on December 31, 2015

Ask Amy (syndicated column)

NAMI medical director Ken Duckworth is consulted an advises that depending on the severity of a situation, a person can start by simply asking the  neighbor, “Do you have a friend or family member I can call for you?”

U.S. police get little training to handle crises with mentally ill

Posted on December 29, 2015

Reuters

Police are being asked  to fill the gaps that have been created by an inadequate mental health care system.

Still in a Crib, Yet Being Given Antipsychotics

Posted on December 15, 2015

New York Times

Many doctors worry that these drugs are used despite no published research into their effectiveness and potential health risks for children so young

Find the happy medium with a mentally ill family member

Posted on December 15, 2015

Washington Post (syndicated)

Advice columnist Carolyn Hax recommends NAMI Family-to-Family education program

Three years after Sandy Hook, more states cut mental health funding

Posted on December 15, 2015

Washington Post

NAMI Report on State Mental Health Legistion in 2015.

See www.nami.org/statereport for full PDF copy of report (75 pages)

A New Study Raises Old Questions About Antidepressants and Autism

Posted on December 15, 2015

NPR

Taking antidepressants during the second or third trimester of pregnancy may increase the risk of having a child with autism spectrum disorder.

Do prenatal antidepressants cause autism?

Posted on December 15, 2015

STAT News

The most the study shows is  association.  Prenatal antidepressants might cause autism or they might not. Maybe a third factor causes both antidepressant use and having an autistic child.