eNews for October 16, 2018

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

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Join "I VOTE FOR HEALTH CARE"
on October 18th in Hartford to ask the Candidates:
WHAT'S YOUR PLAN FOR HEALTHCARE?

NED LAMONT, BOB STEFANOWSKI AND OZ GRIEBLE, candidates for Governor, will be debating THIS THURSDAY, October 18th at Infinity Music Hall, 32 Front Street, Hartford, CT at 2:30 PM. We need to let them know how important healthcare is to the people of Connecticut!

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)

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)

SILC Administrative Consultant Job Opportunity

The CT State Independent Living Council (SILC) is looking to hire an Administrative Consultant.

CT-SILC is an independent, nonprofit state planning council. The CT-SILC mission is to promote independent living for people with disabilities across Connecticut, in partnership with the network of community-based Centers for Independent Living (CILs).

A Moderated panel discussion followed by a Q&A period. A frank discussion of mental illness, seeking to eliminate stigma and humanize people who live with mental health challenges.

Sponsored by NAMI Connecticut, The Jared Coffin Memorial Fund, and White Oak Baptist Church

Vote4MentalHealth Website and Resources

In the final weeks of the 2018 election cycle, NAMI leaders and advocates across the country are encouraging candidates to talk about mental health. We know that the candidates that get elected this November will make the decisions on what mental health services are available in our communities.

To help with this, NAMI has launched #Vote4MentalHealth to help mental health advocates get involved in the 2018 elections.

NAMI Connecticut extends a gracious "thank you!" to everyone who participated this past weekend in the 25th Running of the Eversource Hartford Marathon. The event was wonderful, in spite of the rain, and we all had fun and more importantly raised funds and raised awareness around mental health! And if you meant to make a donation, you still can! Your support is critical to our ability to continue to keep our education and support programs free of charge to those who need them the most.

The medical model (approach) to extreme states; so called "psychosis", schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other psychiatric labels, for much too long, dominated the mental health landscape.

Now we have alternative views and ways to heal. This course is for anyone interested in finding meaning and understanding of distressing experiences. This course is relevant for folks with lived experience of the mental health system, mental health professionals, families, relatives and interested others. We will discuss a revolutionary report recently out for the general public and view videos. Dr. Blatt will donate his fee to Advocacy Unlimited. 12 CEu's are available at the completion of class.

Class dates: Tuesdays, October 16, 23, 30 November 6, 13, 20 - 6 weeks

2019 Medicare annual open enrollment started Oct. 15!

The annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period is HERE! There will be quite a few changes regarding Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage coverage options for beneficiaries in 2019. The CHOICES Regional Coordinators have provided us with information about enrollments events and presentations that will occur in their regional areas.

NAMI Southwest Presents:
Borderline Personality Disorder: A Workshop on Hope for Families
To be held October 18, in Greenwich

This workshop explores key information about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), including the symptoms, co-occurring disorders, prevalence, and origin. Learn how emotional dysregulation occurs and how families can help loved ones manage their emotions. Presenters Ann and Matt Costello will discuss the National Education Alliance (NEA) BPD Family Connections Program, effective in reducing grief, loss, sharing, and sense of burden while increasing mastery. They will review core Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills families can utilize, such as Validation, Radical Acceptance, and Observing Limits.

“That Way Madness Lies” - October 22, in New Haven!

On Monday, October 22 filmmaker and Yale professor Sandra Luckow will present and discuss her new award-winning documentary film, “That Way Madness Lies”. Watch the trailer here: www.madnessthemovie.com

The screening will be followed by a discussion with director/producer Sandra Luckow!

This thought-provoking evening will help patients, families, law enforcement officers and mental health workers to better address mental illness symptoms. Invite your friends and colleagues. Doors open at 6, showing begins at 6:30.

NAMI Southeast Presents:
"In The Know - Mobile Outreach Teams"
November 7th, in Norwich

This is a free presentation for the general public and families who are affected by mental illness featuring New London County’s MOBILE OUTREACH TEAM ( MOT) at Southeastern Mental Health Authority.

MOT is a resource everyone should know about – 24 /7 outreach and psychiatric services for all residents of New London County experiencing a Behavioral Health Crisis. MOT is committed to approaching each client as a unique person. As a result, interventions are holistic, culturally sensitive and utilize a bio/psycho/social approach to understanding and treating people with mental health problems.

Read More

NAMI Elm City Affiliate presents:
NAMI CAMPUS CONNECTION TRAINING
To be held October 20, in New Haven

Become a Young Adult Connection Support Group Facilitator!

These groups were designed by young people for young people to help
each other stay positive, healthy, and reach their goals through peer
support and community sharing.

NAMI Connecticut is pleased to announce: “NAMI Basics” Teacher Training

DON’T MISS THE CHANCE TO BRING THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM TO YOUR COMMUNITY!

We are looking for parents or caregivers of children or adolescents with behavioral health conditions who are interested in being trained to teach NAMI Basics.

NAMI Basics is designed for parents and other family caregivers of children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges. NAMI Basics helps parents and other family caregivers of children to understand the illnesses that are causing those challenges, and the critical role families play in their treatment.

Training to be held November 2nd & 3rd.

NAMI Family-to-Family Teacher Training is an intensive three-day weekend for family members and friends interested in becoming a Family-to-Family teacher. To be held Friday, October 26th through Sunday, October 28th, at the Wisdom House Retreat & Conference Center, in Litchfield.

Friday & Saturday overnight lodging and all meals provided by NAMI Connecticut!

NAMI Basic Classes: New Canaan + Hartford + Bridgeport...and more coming soon!

What is the NAMI Basics Education Program?

NAMI Basics is a free, six-session program designed for parents and other family caregivers of children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral difficulties.
NAMI Basics helps parents and other family caregivers of children to understand the illnesses that are causing those behavioral difficulties, and the critical role families play in the treatment of those illnesses. The program is taught by trained teachers who are also the parents or family caregivers of individuals who experienced emotional or behavioral difficulties prior to age 13.

NAMI Basics – NEW CANAAN
Starts Thursday, September 6th, 2018

NAMI Basics – HARTFORD
Starts Monday, October 1st, 2018

NAMI Basics - BRIDGEPORT (SPANISH)
Starts Thursday, October 4th, 2018

NAMI Basics BRIDGEPORT (SPANISH)
Starts Tuesday, October 9th, 2018

NAMI Basics – HARTFORD (NEW)
Starts Monday, October 15th, 2018

Announcing the Fall 2018 Family to Family Fall classes: So far we have scheduled classes in Bloomfield, Fairfield, Guilford, Hamden, Manchester, Milford, Newington, Norwich, Ridgefield and Stamford, …and more coming soon!

What is the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program?

NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 12-session education program for family, partners, friends and significant others of adults living with mental illness. The course is designed to help all family members understand and support their loved one living with mental illness, while maintaining their own well-being. The course includes information on illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and other mental health conditions. Thousands of families describe the program as life-changing. The program is taught by trained teachers who are also family members and know what it is like to have a loved one living with mental illness.

Read More

*NEW* NAMI Homefront – in Milford begins, Tuesday, October 16, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

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 mental health challenges.

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; to be held in Guilford on Tuesday evenings from 5:30-6:30 PM, starting October 16.

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.

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

Read More

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

*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 a NEW NAMI Opioid Support Group in Hartford

Hosted by NAMI Connecticut, this is a FREE education-based discussion support group for families and individuals impacted by Opioid use. This support group will provide support, education, and community for both those in recovery and their loved ones. There will opportunity for group problem solving and social support in each session.

The group will meet every Monday, from 7pm-8:15pm, starting September 10th, in Hartford.

And for information on our Opioid Support Group in WATERBURY, please click HERE

Other Upcoming events:

There are are always many different events being held throughout the state of Connecticut. Events include: Movie Screenings, Special Needs Planning seminars, mental-health Webinars, MHFA and QPR trainings, informational events on Opioids, and MORE. To see the entire list, please visit our website!

For more information on the above, please click on the event. For more information on NAMI Connecticut classes, please visit our EVENT CALENDAR.

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MENTAL HEALTH IN THE MEDIA

This edition of NAMI Connecticut's "Mental Health in the Media" features articles about:

and MUCH MORE!

Research_Studies_Graphic Research Studies

NAMI Connecticut helps promote mental health research by promoting research studies hosted by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the University of Connecticut, Yale University, and others.

We are pleased to announce TWO *NEW* Research Studies:

For a complete list of other available Research Studies, please CLICK HERE.