eNews for May 14, 2019

Find your local NAMI Affiliate Find a local Support Group Find a local Education Class

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RAIN OR SHINE!
Saturday May 18th
Bushnell Park, Hartford

**OR**

Sherwood Island State Park, Westport
9:00am Check-in ~ 10:00am Walk Start

There is Still Time to Register or Donate!

Create your Team or join a Team TODAY by CLICKING HERE

Do you want to change the way mental healthcare is provided?

Join us for our Provider Education training!

NAMI Provider is a seminar that introduces mental health professionals to the unique perspectives of people with mental health conditions and their families.

This training class (for panelists who will then deliver the NAMI Provider Education course) is intended for people living well in recovery, family members with a loved one with a mental health challenge, and health care providers in recovery or with a loved one with a mental health challenge. The training will be held June 1st & 2nd, in Litchfield.

You Are Invited! NAMI Connecticut and its affiliates are teaming up with Copper Beech Institute to share mental health benefits of practicing mindfulness for children and adults.

Reduce negative thoughts and behaviors
Increase patience, self-awareness, and focus
Learn skills to act calmly and regulate emotions
Lessen traumatic responses and reactivity
Gain compassion for self and others

For more info, and to register, please visit: http://bit.ly/2V8NCSTMindfulness

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

The theme this year is "Why Care?" - and NAMI has a TON of great information, messaging, posters and graphics to help raise awareness and support for mental health conditions.

CLICK HERE for resources

And be sure to read on below for information on a host of wonderful events celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month in Connecticut!

It's National Prevention Week!

National Prevention Week is an annual health observance dedicated to increasing public awareness of, and action around, mental and/or substance use disorders.

National Prevention Week takes place May 12 through 18, 2019. Each year around this observance, communities and organizations across the country come together to raise awareness about the importance of substance use prevention and positive mental health.

College is a critical time, since 75% of all mental health conditions begin by the age of 24, and for many teenagers, the move to college will be the first time they’ll be living away from home for an extended period of time. Symptoms of a mental health condition may surface in college, or an existing condition may worsen. It can be difficult to know whether a child is experiencing typical teenage angst or signs of a serious mental health condition.

Mental Health Awareness Seminar and Book Signing

Welcoming authors Sarah Fader, Stephanie Paige, Katherine Walsh, Tea Jay, Aaron Smith, and Norb Aikin for readings, discussions, and signings! Thomas Burr, Community Outreach Manager for NAMI Connecticut will also be available to answer questions and provide information on community resources.

May is the Mental Health Month and Jesse Lee Church, in association with NAMI Connecticut, is hosting a concert featuring the inspiring music of Elza & special guest speakers who will bring hope, awareness and compassion to those living with mental health challenges. Come and enjoy an evening of inspirational music and reflections to challenge and replace the stereotypes, fear, stigma and shame of mental illness.

ADMISSION is FREE, but tickets are required.

Reserve your seat: http://bit.ly/JesseLeeHope

In this presentation, audience members will learn the basic principles and rationale of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), and how this approach is used to conceptualize and treat anxiety-related disorders. Audience members will be introduced to the broad framework of how one's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are related to each other in the development and maintenance of symptoms of anxiety. Audience members will understand how CBT works to break unhealthy thought-emotion-behavior cycles, through select hypothetical case examples. This presentation will end with a 15-min Q&A.

Join the NAMI Southwest Connecticut Affiliate for a discussion of "What Made Maddy Run" by Kate Fagan.

The heartbreaking story of college athlete Madison Holleran, whose life and death by suicide reveal the struggle of young people suffering from mental illness today.

To be held Monday, May 20th, in Greenwich.

Attention all Golfers: Charity Golf Tournament!

All proceeds to All proceeds to benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Connecticut.

Your donation helps give people with mental health challenges the support and education they need to manage their recovery, as well as will help fund community education programs and support groups. Your donation will also help the families that are affected by a loved one’s mental health challenges.

June 1 Workshop: Protecting Children with Disabilities from Sexual Abuse

What Parents and Caregivers Need to Know About Risk, Protection, and the Role of Special Education

Children with disabilities are three times more likely to be victims of sexual abuse than those without disabilities, and the likelihood is even higher for children with certain types of disabilities, such as intellectual or mental health disabilities.

How can we all work together to help ensure that every person can be healthy and safe in all of their relationships? How can parents and caregivers reduce risks for youth with disabilities? What is the role of special education in sexual health education and prevention of sexual abuse?

The event will be held Saturday, June 1, 10am to 2 pm, in Bristol.

For further information and to register, please CLICK HERE

Keynote Speakers: Attorney Kimberly Jacobsen, and Attorney Cheryl A. Sharp, Deputy Director Connecticut Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities (CHRO). Carlson Award Honoree Attorney Kevin Brophy, Director of Elder Law, CT Legal Services.

Sponsored by the CT Coalition on Aging with support from the Harold Carlson Fund. This event is open to the public. To be held June 6, 8:30am, in Meriden.

Dear Mental Illness,

You were like a cold that wouldn't go away
I lived in fear of you everyday
I felt like my mind was slowly slipping away
You made me feel like I was lost and out of touch
Like I didn't know which way was up...

This study is looking at whether a medication called brexpiprazole is safe and effective in reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia in youth aged 13-17. Brexpiprazole has already been approved by the FDA to treat symptoms of schizophrenia in adults. The goal of this study is to increase treatment options for youth with schizophrenia.

NAMI is committed to ensuring that the most effective treatments for mental illness are available to those who need them.

Research Opportunity - Clinical Trial, Major Depressive Disorder

This study is looking at whether a medication called brexpiprazole is safe and effective in reducing the symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) when used together with other antidepressant therapies. The goal of this study is to increase treatment options for adults with MDD who have difficulty managing their symptoms with current antidepressant therapies.

NAMI is committed to ensuring that the most effective treatments for mental illness are available to those who need them.

What is the NAMI Homefront Education Program?

NAMI Homefront is a free, six-session education program for family, friends and significant others of Military Service Members and Veterans with behavioral and mental health conditions. It focuses on the unique needs of military and veteran communities, such as post-deployment and post-discharge transitions.

The course is designed to help family members understand and support their loved one while maintaining their own well-being. The trained teachers of this course are also family members who have experience with military culture and know what it is like to have a loved one living with mentalhealth challenges.

Class begins, Saturday, June 8th, in Milford.

FREE education-based discussion support group for families impacted by Opioid use. Hosted by NAMI Connecticut.

CLICK HERE for information about our Glastonbury Group

CLICK HERE for information about our Hartford Group

Raising the Volume on Mental Health in the Black Community A *NEW* Support Group

To be held the first and third Mondays of every month, in Hartford.

Do you want to make a Difference?

Spend a unique weekend experiencing and learning how to reach out to other individuals and families; how to initiate, run, maintain and facilitate NAMI family support groups.

To be held June 14th & 15th, in Litchfield, including an overnight stay (Friday) with all lodging and all meals included.

NEW NAMI Young Adult Connection Groups Alert!

Starting March 12, every second and fourth Tuesday, at 6pm, in Manchester.

*AND*

Starting Friday, April 26, 6pm, in Glastonbury.

You are NOT alone!