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Thankful Tuesday
It's the week of Thanksgiving and, in lieu of a traditional Tuesday Newsday, we would like to send you wishes for a very happy Thanksgiving and this personal note from NAMI NC Executive Director, Garry Crites. Dear Friends and Family of NAMI North Carolina: As I look back on Thanksgivings of my childhood, so many of my memories are about the people with whom I celebrated. I remember how my dad, [...]
A National Campaign for Care of People in Crisis
For far too long, people experiencing mental or suicidal crisis haven’t received the mental health care they deserve. Instead of receiving compassionate care, people in crisis frequently languish in ERs, interact with law enforcement and struggle with other inappropriate means of managing a crisis. It doesn’t have to be this way. With 988, the new three-digit number for mental health, substance use and suicidal crises that will go live nationwide by [...]
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) But Were Afraid To Ask
Thursdays with NAMI - November 18, 2021 - 7pm Cynthia Piltch once thought ECT was “barbaric.” Her view – like most people’s – was based on stereotypes. She thought of the movie “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” in which a mean-spirited psychiatric nurse controls patients with threats of ECT. But what is ECT exactly? It’s a medical treatment for major depression or bipolar disorder that has not responded to other [...]
Shopping? Add Mental Health To Your Cart – With No Cost To You!
If you are planning on shopping with Amazon this holiday season, please consider using AmazonSmile and choosing NAMI North Carolina as your charitable organization of choice. AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to NAMI NC or the charitable [...]
Is a PAD the Right Prescription For You or Your Loved One?!
Psychiatric. Advance. Directive. (PAD) If you or the one you love, is affected by mental illness, addiction, or any other health condition where symptoms could result in hospitalization at a psychiatric facility, NAMI strongly recommends completing a PAD as a tool of self-advocacy and effective crisis planning. A PAD is an advance directive that outlines someone's preferences for a point when they can't make mental health decisions or communicate their wishes [...]
Rate of Suicides in NC Double That of Homicides
More than 7,000 North Carolinians died by suicide between 2015 and 2019, according to data recently released by the state Department of Health and Human Services. During that period, the state's suicide rate was 15.6 per every 100,000 residents. That's more than double the homicide rate in the state over that time. "We put so much emphasis on the larger shootings and violent episodes in our country, on homicide and what's [...]
Rural NC Hospital Opens More Psychiatric Beds to Meet Rising Mental Health Need
A hospital in Avery County is converting regular hospital beds to psychiatric beds as the number of behavioral health referrals increases in the region. On Nov. 15, the doors of the new Appalachian Regional Behavioral Health Hospital officially opened to the public. The new 27-bed adult behavioral health hospital is under the same roof as Cannon Memorial but has a separate entrance. For full news item click here.
Bereaved Husband Urges Men to Spot Mental Health Signs
A bereaved husband has urged men to recognize signs of mental health symptoms linked to the menopause. Linda Salmon, 56, took her own life last April after her anxiety worsened during the Covid pandemic. For full news item click here.
Upcoming Events and Classes
NAMI and its affiliates have adapted many NAMI programs to meet the needs of maintaining a social distance between participants during the pandemic. Highlights of our virtual and online programs are listed below. VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP AND CLASS OPTIONS: Several NC affiliates are offering virtual support groups and classes. Please click here to access descriptions and a listing of available programs. COMMUNITY INCLUSION CONVERSATIONS, Click here for more information. FREE Psychiatric Advance [...]
Making an Impact!
This past Saturday, NAMI NC held its Annual Business Meeting. Our financial results were reviewed, but more importantly, an overview of our operations for the fiscal year and the positive impact that NAMI NC, its affiliates and volunteers have made on our community's mental health was also presented. The NAMI NC 2020-2021 Impact Report is available here. Also the results of the recent Board and Bylaws elections were announced. The NAMI [...]
