eNews for December 11, 2018

The NAMI Connecticut eNews will be taking some much needed time off. We will see you all again in the New Year; watch for the next edition during the week of January 21, 2019.

Have a WONDERFUL Holiday Season, Everyone!

Kate Mattias, Executive Director of NAMI Connecticut (2nd from the right), was an honoree at the Art of Healing lunch held Sunday, December 2nd in Hamden, CT, sponsored by Alpha/Kappa/Alpha (AKA), the nation’s largest African American sorority.

AccessHealthCT Open Enrollment ENDS THIS FRIDAY, December 15th!

Access Health CT (AHCT) is Connecticut's official health insurance marketplace. AHCT offers Connecticut residents and employers a range of quality, affordable health and dental insurance options from several health insurance partners. For coverage that begins on January 1, 2019, AHCT open enrollment began November 1st and will continue until December 15, 2018. If you are ready to enroll click HERE.

Free, in-person help from enrollment specialists and certified brokers is currently available. For a list of locations, click HERE. To learn more visit http://learn.accesshealthct.com.

And for a list of enrollment fairs dates and locations, CLICK HERE

The holidays can be difficult for many individuals. Here are some tips for those who are having difficulty with these days:

Consider Whether Usual Traditions May Be Comforting or Challenging
Some people find it is restorative to keep their usual traditions but adapt them in some way, while others cannot imagine carrying on with their usual traditions during some holidays. There is no right or wrong here — just what works for you. It is okay to take a year off from your usual traditions and decide next year if you will resume them.

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The holidays are approaching, and when doing your online shopping, please keep in mind that if you use Amazon.com, they will donate a portion of their proceeds to NAMI Connecticut!

Just be sure to use the following link: smile.amazon.com/ch/22-2605701

Thank you, and Happy Shopping!!

To be held Friday, December 14, 8:30am - 4:00pm, in Canton.

QPR stands for "Question, Persuade and Refer" and in this class you will learn how to conduct 1.5 hour QPR Gatekeeper training, be given teaching tools geared to increase awareness about suicide risk factors, and learn life-saving suicide prevention strategies.

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NAMI Member Jen Korwitz is a sales associate for Mary Kay cosmetics and is having an open house on Sunday, December 16th from 10am - 3 pm, at 162 East Ave, Level B, in Norwalk. Jen will be donating 10% of her profits from this event to NAMI Connecticut! Participants will also be eligible to enter a FREE raffle for a lovely Coach bag!

For more information, visit Jen's website: www.Marykay.com/jkorwitz

Thank you for your support!

Check out our latest guest blog: "Love Will Defeat Stigma," written by Diane Frost, who is a NAMI member and a person with lived experience in long term recovery.

Visit: https://www.namict.org/blog/

Do you have personal knowledge and/or experience in the mental health system, private or public, and want to share them? Have an opinion on current developments or news in the areas of mental health and wellness? Do you want to share your thoughts on a personal story?

Then YOU could be our next GUEST BLOGGER! (P.S. no experience necessary)

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Stories Needed on NEMT!

The Department of Social Services (DSS) provides Nonemergency Medical Transportation (NEMT), which should ensure access to critical services like dialysis, doctors’ visits, mental health treatment, physical therapy, addiction treatment programs, and other Medicaid covered services. Over the years, CT NEMT has been fraught with systemic problems, resulting in people going without this critical medical care because their ride was late, didn't show up, or the ride that showed up could not safely transport the individual.

At this time, Connecticut Legal Services wants to identify the most current issues so that they can address these issues; please share your stories!

Read More (English)               Read More (Spanish)

In collaboration with the NAMI Shoreline Affiliate and Guilford Youth and Family Services, the Young Adult Connection Community via NAMI Connecticut is proud to offer a Teen Connection Support group for 16-18 year olds; which is held in Guilford on Tuesday evenings from 5:30-6:30 PM.

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Announcing 2 *NEW* NAMI Young Adult Connection Groups, in Niantic and Guilford!

Sometimes support is important for someone dealing with mental health challenges, especially peer support from other young adults.  That’s what the NAMI Young Adult Connection groups are all about.  The groups were developed by young adults for young adults.  They are run by young adults who have been trained in the support group model. The groups are designed to help young adults stay positive, healthy and reach their goals through peer support and community sharing.  You can drop in and talk about what’s on your mind and meet other young adults who have or are going through many of the same experiences you are. 

The NIANTIC group will meet the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, at 6pm.

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The GUILFORD group will meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, at 7pm.

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For details on other NAMI Young Adult Connection Groups, click HERE 

(Note, be sure to scroll down the page to view the Young Adult Connection Group section).

*NEW* NAMI Family Support Groups Starting in Middlebury & Seymour!

NAMI Connecticut will offer TWO NEW NAMI Family Support Groups for individuals living with a loved one with a mental health issue.

The Middlebury group will be held on the second Wednesday of the month, starting Sept, 12th, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, at the Middlebury Congregational Church.

The Seymour group will be held on the 2nd Monday of the month, 6:00–7:30 p.m., starting November 12th, at the Congregational Church - UCC, in Seymour.

NAMI Family Support Groups are free, confidential and safe groups of families helping other families who live with mental health challenges. In NAMI Family Support Groups, families join a caring group of individuals helping one another by utilizing their collective lived experiences and learned wisdom. Family members can achieve a renewed sense of hope for their loved one living with mental health challenges.

For more information on the Middlebury group, please CLICK HERE

For more information on the Seymour group, please CLICK HERE

Announcing three “new” support groups for families and individuals impacted by Opioid use.

To be held in Glastonbury, Hartford, and Waterbury.

To view the flyers suitable for downloading and sharing, please click the following links:

Glastonbury Group
Hartford Group
Waterbury Group

ANNOUNCING OUR NEXT NAMI SOUTHWEST BOOK CLUB SELECTION:  "The Bridesmaid's Daughter" by Nyna Giles

Monday, January 28, 2019, 7pm, in Greenwich

"A powerful memoir of friendship and marriage, childhood and motherhood.

"Nyna Giles, twenty-nine, was in line at the supermarket when she looked down and saw the headline: 'Former Bridesmaid of Princess Grace Lives in Homeless Shelter.' Nyna was stunned; her family's private ordeal was front page news..."

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