Thursdays with NAMI - October 21, 2021 - 7pm Suicide rates are down across the U.S. as a whole, but rates for Black Americans have trended strongly in the opposite direction, according to studies from Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute of Mental Health. Although suicide is still more common among white youth (also American Indian or Alaskan Native), Black males ages 15 to 24 had a 47% increase in [...]

Per IPS Works, two-thirds of people with serious mental illness (SMI) want to work but only 15% are employed. Work is often seen as an essential part of recovery. Competitive employment has a positive impact on self-esteem, life satisfaction, and reducing symptoms (Luciano, Bond, & Drake, 2014). Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is a model of supported employment for people with serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar, depression). IPS [...]

If you are the loved one of someone with a mental illness, you owe it to yourself and your loved one to attend. NAMI Family-to-Family is a FREE 8 week course that provides critical information and strategies for taking care of the person you love. The group setting of NAMI Family-to-Family provides mutual support and shared positive impact—you can experience compassion and reinforcement from people who understand your situation. Thankfully, NAMI NC [...]

Every year, NAMI North Carolina recognizes individuals or organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary work and advocacy on behalf of all those affected by mental illness. It could be in suicide prevention, reducing stigma, or other efforts in support of those affected by mental illness. We are looking for nominations now! There are many award categories--Check them out on the NAMI NC nomination form. Nominations will be reviewed and awards selected by the awards [...]

NAMI has sent out the Fall Edition of the Advocate magazine. Focused around “The Evolution of Mental Health Care,” this issue features NAMI leaders, advocates and staff exploring the progress we have made and the areas where the mental health community must continue to advocate for accessible, affordable and quality mental health care: National Survey on Mood Disorders Highlights Progress and Remaining Challenges How Advocates Can Push for a Crisis Standard [...]

As a part of our efforts to expand Medicaid, see Public Policy Director Ashish George’s blog , Support For Much Needed Medicaid Expansion Gains Momentum on the NAMI North Carolina website. Please reach out to Ashish for any mental health advocacy questions or issues at ageorge@naminc.org

NAMI members should have received separate communications about voting in this year's NAMI NC Elections for the Board Members entitled "Voting Materials" as well as voting for the Proposed Bylaws revisions. Votes must be received by November 1st to be counted. If you are a member and have not received an email with your ballot, please contact Lori at lmatteson@naminc.org

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 [...]

They said it could be as simple as a student logging into a computer a school. “I’m really worried that we have a generation of kids who have been through a very traumatic experience, going through the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. Nate Sowa, an Assistant Professor at UNC’s Department of Psychiatry, said. “We don’t really know how that is going to impact their development long term, what that’s going to look like [...]