ARKANSAS NAMIWalk is Saturday, May 11, 2013!

Clinton Presidential Center

Registration is 9:00 a.m. - Walk begins at 10:00 a.m.!

The route we'll walk is a 1.2 mile loop - walk around 3 times for a little over a 5K or more if you want to walk for more exercise!

Remember - the NAMIWalk is a RAIN or SHINE event!


There is still time to qualify to win a Samsung Galaxy Tablet - you can register online at www.namiwalks.org/arkansas or you can register at the WALK site and bring your donations there - each increment of $50 raised qualifies you for an entry for a drawing.  You can continue to qualify for the Tablet with donations until noon, Friday, May 17, 2013!



NAMI Arkansas is proud to recognize
May 9, 2013 as
National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day

Image created for CASSP Public Policy Committee in Arkansas



Raise funds for NAMIWalk Arkansas, and YOU might WIN a SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB!

 

 

All you have to do is raise money for NAMIWalks Arkansas to qualify to win one of two Samsung Galaxy Tabs! Our contest began at noon on Thursday, May 2, and will end at noon on Friday, May 17. For every $50 an online walker raises during that period he/she will get a chance to win the prize and the online Team Captain who’s team raises the most funds during that period will win a Tab! What, you haven’t registered for the Walk? Don’t worry, there’s still time to register and to get into the competition, just follow the link – www.namiwalks.org/arkansas. See below for all the details regarding how YOU can be one of the lucky winners of a Samsung Galaxy Tab!

 

How it works:

 

For every increment of $50 you (an online registered NAMIWalks’ walker) raise between noon, Thursday, May 2nd and noon, Friday, May 17th you will be entered into a raffle to win a tablet! So, if you raise $50 you get 1 chance to win, raise $100 you get 2 chances, raise $150 you get 3 chances, etc. The more you raise the better your chances are to win the Samsung Galaxy Tab!

 

Don’t worry Team Captains, we haven’t forgotten about you and the hard work you’re doing! The team that raises the most money between noon, Thursday, May 2nd and noon, Friday May 17th will win its Team Captain a Samsung Galaxy Tab! Now that’s one lucky Captain!

 

Donations must either be made online during the raffle timeframe by a donor using his/her credit card or money must be submitted to the Walk Manager or to the NAMI Arkansas office by noon, Friday, May 17th. Unverified donations that are posted to the website by a walker/Team Captain will not count toward the contest. Previously submitted donations do not count. This is a clean slate, everyone is starting from zero!

 

If you are mailing in donations in the form of checks, please include a note indicating your name, and what Team or Affiliate you wish to receive credit for your funds. Send donations to NAMI Arkansas, 1012 Autumn Road, Suite 1, Little Rock, AR 72211. Donations must be received/in-hand by noon, Friday, May 17th. Mail post marked May 17th doesn't count if it arrives after 12:00 PM that day.

 

So, walkers and Team Captains get ready to start contacting your family and friends to make a donation to your Walk efforts! Contact them in person, through online social networks, or by phone or email! Remember to download the NAMIWalks’ app to your Droid or iPhone and have people donate to you in the palm of their hands! For those who haven’t registered for the Walk, there’s still time! Follow this link –www.namiwalks.org/arkansas – to register today! When registering make sure to select the Facebook option, so your Facebook friends will see that you're raising money for NAMIWalks Arkansas!

 

Make sure you’re registered and ready to get your family and friends to start donating at noon today!

 

Thank you for supporting NAMI Arkansas!

Remember our WALK is Saturday, May 11!

   

 




Take a moment to remember

Today our hearts and thoughts remain with those in Boston - those injured and those who responded  - we think of them and remember their immediate needs and their future ones.

It is the future needs that expand farther than Boston.  In our connected world of websites, streaming videos, Twitter, Facebook, radio and television, many persons have seen and heard much.  

Now, more than ever, we need NAMI Arkansas across our state - in all areas - local affiliates and support groups to assist families and those with mental illness with support and education in alliance with their treatment communities.  Events like those in Boston affect lives across the country - please help those in Arkansas by giving to NAMI Arkansas. Click on the donate button at the top of the page or donate to our NAMIWalk at www.namiwalks.org/arkansas.  Help us help those who will need us.

Thank you,
Kim Arnold, Executive Director
 

Monday, March 25th - June 10th (off May 27)
6:30 p.m.  – 9:00 p.m.
Freeway Medical Building
5800 West 10th Street
Little Rock

FAMILY-to-FAMILY
EDUCATION PROGRAM

Free for family members, partners and friends of individuals with any mental illness including:

Major Depression
Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)
Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Panic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Co-occurring Brain Disorders and Addictive Disorders 

A series of 12 weekly classes structured to help caregivers understand and support individuals with serious mental illness while maintaining their own well-being.  The course is taught by a trained NAMI family member volunteer who knows what it’s like to have a loved one struggling with a brain disorder.  There is no cost to participate in the Family-to Family Education Program.  Over 80,000 people in the U.S., Canada and Mexico have completed this course.  We think you will be pleased by how much assistance the program offers.  We invite you to call for more information.  Registration required.

Teachers:
Connie Detmers: 870.879.4514
Marquitta Magnini: 870.540.3038
or call the NAMI State Office: 1-800-844-0381
Classes limited please call to reserve your spot today!



Newtown Tragedy: NAMI Condemns NRA Position as "Outrageous and Wrong"

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 21, 2012 -- Michael J. Fitzpatrick , executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has issued the following statement:

"The National Rifle Association (NRA) response to last week's tragedy in Newtown Connecticut -- in which 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School were killed -- is outrageous and wrong.

The NRA has called for putting more guns in schools and creating a bigger list of people treated for mental illness -- which presumably includes civic leaders, teachers who take prescriptions for anxiety or depression, police, fire fighters and veterans returning home from Afghanistan.

The NRA posed the question 'How many more copycats are waiting…A dozen more killers? A hundred? More? How can we possibly even guess how many, given our nation's refusal to create an active national database of the mentally ill?'

One in four American adults experience a mental health problem in any given year, yet the U.S. Surgeon General determined over a decade ago that 'the overall contribution of mental disorders to the total level of violence in society is exceptionally small.'

Law already exists requiring states to report the names of people 'adjudicated as mentally defective' to the National Instant Background Check System (NICS). It has never been properly implemented because of confusion surrounding the highly stigmatizing term "mentally defective" and the uncertain meaning of 'adjudicated.'

After the Virginia Tech tragedy in 2007, NAMI recommended that Congress clean up existing law by adopting standards consistent with modern medical knowledge and clear legal procedures. We continue to support that approach.

When violence occurs, it is usually because something has gone terribly wrong in the mental health care system.

We must address the fact that less than a third of Americans who have a diagnosable mental illness are able to get treatment. The NRA's proposal to create a bigger "active" national database will only discourage people reaching out for help. Stigma will be imposed. Stigma will be internalized. Stigma will turn into prejudice and discrimination.

NAMI condemns the NRA position. We hope the NRA instead will join others in seeking positive, workable, appropriate solutions. NAMI stands ready to work with the President, Congress and states to accomplish that end."




"At age 34 I had my first hospitalization  two days before Christmas. I was told I had a nervous breakdown. For the next 10 years I was diagnosed as depressed even going through ECT treatment. In 2000 I was diagnosed as Bi-Polar after having a suicide plan. It was then my psychiatrist encouraged me to attend a support group which lead to me finding NAMI in 2004. Where I first trained for a family support group.

Since then I have been doing support groups Co founding  a consumer/family group in Illinois in 2004 and continuing by establishing a NAMI Connection support group when I moved to Arkansas in 2008." - Ruth Trowbridge, NAMI Connection Facilitator and State Trainer



Please support NAMI Arkansas – you could make a donation as a holiday gift to a friend or relative, or in honor or memory of a loved one.  Please consider making your tax-deductible donation to NAMI Arkansas before the end of the year by:

  • Clicking on the “Donate Now” link on our home page, http://namiarkansas.org
  • Mailing a donation to the NAMI Arkansas office at the address below.
  • To ensure that we can continue to provide support, education, and advocacy across the state, we need your help now.  Please note that donations sent to the national NAMI organization do not directly support NAMI Arkansas programs – so, if you have already supported NAMI National, please also donate to NAMI Arkansas. 

On behalf of the NAMI Arkansas , I wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!  Thank you for all your efforts to improve the lives of those that live with mental illnesses and their families.  Please join me in supporting NAMI Arkansas!

Sincerely,

Ruth Trowbridge,NAMI State Trainer/NAMI Connection Facilitator



Disaster Distress Helpline Offers Immediate Crisis Counseling

Call 1-800-985-5990 or text "TalkWithUs" to 66746.

Our texting service also is available to Spanish speakers. Text "Hablanos" to 66746 for 24/7 emotional support.

TTY for Deaf/Hearing Impaired: 1-800-846-8517

The recent shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, continues to bring out strong emotions across the Nation. The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, can provide immediate counseling to anyone who needs help in dealing with the many issues and problems that might arise from this tragedy.

Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Helpline immediately connects callers to trained and caring professionals from the closest crisis counseling center in the nationwide network of centers. Helpline staff will provide confidential counseling, referrals, and other needed support services.

The Disaster Distress Helpline is a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week national hotline dedicated to providing disaster crisis counseling. The toll-free Helpline is confidential and multilingual, and available for those who are experiencing psychological distress as a result of natural or man-made disasters, incidents of mass violence, or any other tragedy affecting America's communities.


Statement from Kim Arnold, NAMI Arkansas Executive Director, and Greg Mashburn, NAMI Arkansas Board President, on Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy:

Our hearts ache for the children, families and community of Newtown, Connecticut.  We concur with the statement from NAMI below.  We also know that our children here in Arkansas may begin to ask questions about their safety.  In addition to the suggestions in the NAMI statement, as Outreach Partners with NIMH (National Institute on Mental Health), we have a publication from them that you may find useful on talking to children about violence and disasters. We've added the attachment. (PDF can be downloaded at the bottom of this page)
 
The Sandy Hook Elementary School Tragedy; NAMI Statement Includes Trauma Resources

[National Alliance on Mental Illness. (PRNewsFoto/National Alliance on Mental Illness)]

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI<http://www.nami.org/>) has issued the following statement which includes recommended links to trauma resources for families:

"Like other Americans, NAMI is horrified and saddened by today's tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. As of Friday at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern), news reports indicated that close to 30 people were shot and killed, most of them children. We extend our sympathy to their families and to all who knew and loved them.

It is extremely important that the Newtown, Conn. community be prepared to provide trauma services and resources to all those affected by the tragedy. Our national community must do so as well. The tragedy will inevitably leave an impression on many children. Parents and caregivers throughout the country will need to reassure them.


American Psychiatric Association recommendations<http://drbeckerschutte.visibli.com/share/he23Ln> include:

*        Create an open and supportive environment where children know they can ask questions.

*        Give honest answers and information. Use words and concepts they can understand.

*        Help children to find ways to express themselves and to know that people are there to help. Remember also that children learn by watching parents and teachers react and listening to their conversations.

*        Don't let children watch too much television with frightening repetitious images.

*        Monitor for physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches or other pains.

Additional resources are also available from the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS<http://www.aacap.org/galleries/default-file/csts_restoring_sense_of_safety_after_shooting.pdf>), the University of Maryland Center for School Mental Health (CSMH<http://csmh.umaryland.edu/Resources/OtherResources/CSMHListofTraumaResources.pdf>) and the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA<http://www.samhsa.gov/children/trauma_resilience.asp>).

NAMI will follow news reports closely as more details become known. At this time, there is no indication that mental illness was a factor in the tragedy. It is important to not make assumptions or speculate in such cases. The overall contribution of mental disorders to the total level of violence in society is exceptionally small.

When tragedies occur, no matter what their nature or cause, national, state and local communities must come together to find out what went wrong and to take steps to ensure it does not happen again. We expect such scrutiny to occur in days and weeks ahead. Today, however, is a time to mourn and pray for the victims of a senseless act and for their survivors. As a nation, we must reassure each other."

About NAMI

NAMI<http://www.nami.org/> is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope.

SOURCE National Alliance on Mental Illness

PR Newswire<PR%20Newswire> (http://s.tt/1wZhD)


Kim Arnold, Executive Director
NAMI Arkansas
1012 Autumn Road, Suite 1
Little Rock, AR 72211


**REGISTER NOW!**
NAMI Arkansas 2012 Annual Meeting
 "Raising the Standards of Excellence"
Saturday November 10, 2012
Freeway Medical Tower 9th Floor, Suite 900
8:15 a.m. registration/check-in
Conference 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (lunch included)
Pre-Registration
$15.00 - members
$35.00 - non-members
Become a member prior to registration and save!

John C. Fortney, Ph.D. will present on a study that was jointly funded by NIMH and DOD about the mental health of Veterans in Arkansas Community Colleges.


John C. Fortney, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Director of the Division of Health Services Research. For the last 20 years Dr. Fortney's research has focused on issues of access to care, especially the delivery of mental health services in rural areas.  His research has been supported by NIMH, NIAAA and the VA.



Healing Minds, Changing Attitudes
AETN 7pm - 9pm
join us for a panel discussion on smoking cessation




In 1990, the U.S. Congress established the first full week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) in recognition of NAMI's efforts to raise mental illness awareness. Since 1990, mental health advocates across the country have joined together during the first full week of October in sponsoring many kinds of activities.


James Mahowald - Voices for Recovery

 

"If governors opt their states out of the health law’s Medicaid expansion — as many are now threatening to do — it’s the poorest Americans who would find themselves getting the rawest deal.

This set of charts from our graphics department helps explain why: People who earn less than 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Line (about $11,170 for an individual) are ineligible for tax credits to purchase health insurance. In a state like Arkansas, for example, that could be a big deal:" - Posted by Sarah Kliff on July 5, 2012 at 10:25 am


NAMI ARKANSAS NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

Mental illness is a serious medical illness that affects one in four families.

NAMI Arkansas' support and public education efforts are focused on educating Arkansas about mental illness, offering resources free of charge to those in need and insisting that mental illness become a high priority in the state of Arkansas. For us to continue doing this we need your support! Here is What you can do:

  • Donate $35 for 100 resource brochures/pamphlets and you educate the public about a specific disorder (in English or Spanish).
  • Donate $125 for one day coverage of the NAMI Arkansas Helpline , and you help many individuals with mental illness and family members/caregivers find an empathetic ear with a helpful yet professional demeanor. We listen and direct them to the resources they need. (We are also available by email.)
  • Donate $200 for an In Our Own Voice presentation , and you educate the public about mental illnesses and recovery and help to reduce the stigma stereotypes surrounding mental illnesses.
  • Donate $875 for a NAMI Basics Class for parents/caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illnesses, and you educate 8-10 parents/caregivers during the in-depth six week sessions.
  • Donate $1,100 for aFamily-to-Family Education Program , and you help 20 family members/friends/caregivers learn coping skills, communication techniques, and what to do when their loved one is in a crisis, along with other important information and resources during the 12 weekly sessions.
  • Donate $2,500-5,000 for a Training Program * for one of the education/support programs NAMI Arkansas offers and you allow us to expand the education/support programs and reach more family member/caregivers and individuals living with a mental illness. *(Family-to-Family Teacher Training, NAMI Basics Teacher Training, Family Support Group Facilitator Training, NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group Facilitator Training, and In Our Own Voice Presenter Training). 
ACT NOW TO HELP NAMI ARKANSAS 
 
 
Check out this story on Fox 16 about the danger inmates living with mental illness pose to a system ill equipt to deal with them and what can be done to keep everyone safe, 
NAMI Arkansas in the News

Check out these articles about Mental Illness and NAMI Arkansas!

THV Extra at 10: Treating mental illness - "The diagnosis is affecting more than 100,000 people of all ages, races, genders of Arkansans. But the good news is it's treatable."

Living with mental illness a daily struggle - link may be unavailable at this time "The leading cause of disability in Arkansas and in the U.S. has nothing to do with broken bodies. It affects more than 100,000 Arkansans and often strikes in the prime of life."

Medicare News from the Department of Health & Human Services

This press release announces that Medicare prescription drug premiums will not increase, that more seniors are receiving free preventitive care, and has information about discounts in the donut hole.  http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/08/20110804a.html

 
 
 

Check out this article about Executive Director Kim Arnold!

On May 15, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette Front and Center featured an article on our Executive Director, Kim Arnold! Spend a minute and get to know Kim and find out why she is involved with NAMI!   Full Text

 

State Mental Health Cuts: A National Crisis

Statement from Bonnie Leonhardt, President of NAMI Arkansas Board of Directors and Kim Arnold, Executive Director, NAMI Arkansas:

Arkansas experienced an increase in its mental health budget and review of the figures indicates the increase is due to the System of Care for Children.  We appreciate the efforts on the part of the Governor, the First Lady of Arkansas and the state legislators who helped make this funding a reality; however we must recognize that that this funding increase was not for adults.  Adults with mental illness need the same financial attention as do our children with mental illness.  We urge the state to see the need and increase the budget accordingly.

State Mental Health Cuts are a National Crisis; State-By-State Data Released

ARLINGTON, Va., March 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two thirds of states have cut mental health care in the last three years—even though need has increased because of the nation's economic distress and troops returning home from war, according to a report released today by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Seventeen states managed to increase mental health budgets during the same three years. For 10 of them, the increases totaled four percent or less.

"State mental health cuts are a national crisis," said NAMI Executive Director Michael J. Fitzpatrick.  "Some states are trying to hold the line or make progress, but most are cutting deep. This stands in contrast to the intense national concern about the mental health care system following the Arizona tragedy two months ago."

State Lists and Data

The report can be downloaded at www.nami.org/budgetcuts.  State-by-state tables appear in the appendices. A summary of decreases and increases appears below listing the total change in dollars, percentages and rank.

In all states, the budget squeeze is getting worse in part because of the expiration of enhanced federal Medicaid support in June 2011. Oregon, for example, which increased mental health by $57.4 million over three years, will lose $156 million because of the expiration.

The report focuses primarily on non-Medicaid mental health services, which are financed with state general funds and provided through state mental health agencies. It is the part of the mental health system that state legislatures have the most control over.

"Cutting mental health means that costs only get shifted to emergency rooms, schools, police, local courts, jails and prisons," Fitzpatrick said. "The taxpayer still pays the bill.

"Mental health cuts mean that clinics, crisis centers and hospitals close. Admissions are frozen. Emergency room visits increase. Where services remain, staff is cut, wait times for appointments are stretched and when people finally are seen, it's for shorter amounts of time.

"Cuts mean people don't get the right help in the right place at the right time. Communities suffer and families break under the strain. Some people end up living on the street or dead."

The report makes five priority recommendations:

  • Protect state mental health funding and restore budget cuts, but tie funding to performance.
  • Maintain adequate numbers of inpatient beds for psychiatric treatment.
  • Invest in research on early detection and intervention in the treatment of serious mental illness in youth and adults.
  • Implement mental health screening and assessment programs.
  • Support programs designed to educate families, peers and the public about serious mental illness and how to respond to people living with mental illness.

"Decisions need to be made carefully rather than simply cutting for cutting's sake. If done right, the state budget crisis can still be turned into opportunity," said Fitzpatrick.

To see the report, go to www.nami.org/budgetcuts.

Mental Health Parity Toolkit for Persons Living with Mental Illness, Providers and Advocates

Read the Parity Implementation Coalition's strategies for winning disputes with your health plan - NAMI to Release Updated Family Guide on Adolescent Depression

NAMI will release a second edition of its extremely popular family guide, What Families Need to Know about Adolescent Depression and Treatment Options in November. NAMI is thrilled to be able to offer this valuable resource to families once again. The updated guide includes new information on getting an accurate diagnosis, treatment options, research and more.

Through Nov. 30, you can preorder the family guide for free. You can order a single guide or submit a bulk order (in increments of 50 only please). Please send your order and mailing address to Program Coordinator Dana Markey at danac@nami.org.

After Nov. 30, the family guide will be available for purchase in the NAMI Bookstore for one dollar plus shipping and handling. It is also available online as a PDF - Mental Health Parity Toolkit


 Imagehttp://www.facebook.com/namiarkansas             

If you are interested in getting updates about what is going on at NAMI Arkansas you can follow us facebook by selecting 'like' on our page! We will keep you updated on our classes, support groups, events, and our annual NAMIWalk.