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NAMI Educates
When the name ―NAMI‖ is spoken, many associate it with the class, Family-To-Family. F2F was first offered in 1991, and in 2013—after 300,000 people completed it—it was added to the registry of evidenced-based mental health programs. Thus data confirms F2F works! But, to those of you who have taken it, you already knew it works. For those of you who are not aware of this great course, visit www.nami.org/f2f for a synopsis and video testimonial.
Family-to-Family is a 12-week course 2 ½ hours a week
F R E E Open to adults with a family member or friend with a mental illness
Preregister now (need 15 people to start class)
Congratulations to those who took the first Family-To-Family class in Dalton!
NAMI Rome, 3 Central Plaza, Box 317 Rome, GA 30161 www.namiromega.org [email protected] 706.506.5010
Matters of the Mind Nov./Dec 2014 Issue 6 Volume 3
Page 2 Matters of the Mind
Another class completed in Rome
While Family-to-Family presents a wide-range of information about mental illnesses, Basics drills down to address specifically childhood behavioral and emotional issues. Parents may or may not know the diagnosis, but they do know that something is going on and they need help. Basics does describe some of the mental illness that children have, and it also details ways to plan for a crisis and relapse. Learning how to communicate (and document conversations) with schools and mental health providers is especially important. In summary, the person taking Basics comes home with a big book of ―helps.‖
Basics is a 6-week course 2 ½ hours a week
F R E E Open to adult family members and caregivers
(Need 15 people to start class)
STARTS THIS WINTER
Matters of the Mind Page 3
Two More CIT Classes Conducted
Law enforcement officers completed the first CIT class held in Dalton on the first week in December.
This class consisted of GBI, State Patrol, and local law enforcement officers. Deputies from Floyd County Sheriff’s Office participated in this training.
Kudos to Sheriff Burkhalter and Maj. Sapp for their untiring support.
Rome Police Department hosted another CIT class in December. Floyd Medical Center had three security guards
complete the course. They often find themselves face-to-face with someone going through crisis. These newly-learned de-escalation skills will definitely come in handy
as they go about their business at FMC.
U P C O M I N G
When January 26-30
Where Cartersville Police Department 195 Cassville Road
Cartersville, GA 30120
This will be the first class the Cartersville PD is hosting. They expect a full class of 27. How about helping make the class memorable by providing baked items (breads, cookies, cakes, and brownies), fruits (grapes, bananas, strawberries, small apples, and ―Cutie‖ organges), granola bars, and bottled water. Please let Bonnie Moore know by Jan. 23 the ways you can help out. She can be reached at 706-506-5010 or email at [email protected].
Page 4 Matters of the Mind
NAMI Rome Happenings
Two from NAMI Rome Complete NAMI Smarts Training
Nov. 7-9: Bonnie and Jim Moore are now state trainers in the NAMI Smarts program. They flew to San Diego and attended a 3-day workshop on how to be an effective advocate. They will train others in NAMI Smarts, a 3-module course that is available to anyone who wants to learn and improve their ―elevator speech,‖ and develop other tools for their tool kit. They are scheduled to present two modules at the January NAMI Georgia board meeting.
New Board Members
Nov. 24: Members of NAMI Rome elected Jamie Griffin, Evan King, and Marta Turner to a 3-year term beginning January 1. They join the following seated board members: Frances Helton, Jim Moore, Joel Pierce, and Todd Van Leuven. The new board elects officers (President, VP, Secretary, and Treasurer) and appoints committee chairs at their initial meeting in January. These committee chairs will need committee members to carry out the functions of the committee.
Help Make NAMI Rome Better
NAMI Rome is a operated by volunteers who pay it back by working on a committee. Each year we seek volunteers to put the mortar on the bricks in our effort to build a stronger foundation. Therefore, we are looking for people who are willing and able to be an active committee member. Here is a list of committees with short summaries of their duties. Advocacy—prepares local public policy platforms, attends local, state, and national advocacy events in person or remotely, Communications—produces bi-monthly newsletter, monthly telephone call outs, updates website and Facebook. Hospitality—sets up monthly educational meeting, obtains snacks, and greets newcomers. Membership—enters new/renewing members in local and NAMI data bases, recruits new members, contacts delinquent members Programs—coordinates Family-to-Family, Peer-to-Peer, Basics, and CIT classes, Oversees NAMI Connection and Family Support Groups and In Our Own Voice presentations. Arranges topics and speakers for monthly education meetings.Cultivatesa cadre of facilitators and teachers for these programs.Reports data and demographics to NAMI Georgia and NAMI. This committee needs 4-5 volunteers. Do you see an area that fits your expertise and desire? If so, let us know by calling us at 706-506-5010 or emailing us at [email protected].
Matters of the Mind Page 5 ―NAMI Rome, Incorporated‖
Nov. 24:NAMI Rome Bylaws approved by membership and is fully recognized as a non-profit corporation and meets tax exemption status with the IRS under 501(c)3. We now are able to perform direct fundraising activities. One such activity is described below:
NAMI Rome Christmas Party
Dec. 15: Our monthly education meeting in December was replaced with a fun night where we enjoyed a Christmas meal from Pick-O-Deli. Thanks to those who brought desserts and helped make the evening wonderful.
Highland Rivers Health Christmas Party Dec. 19:Angel Express and NAMI Rome joined hands once again hosted a Christmas Party at the Floyd Campus of Highland Rivers where 40 clients and staff attended. Over 10 from NAMI provided and served the meal from Pick-O-Deli. Thanks to the bakers—especially Nancy Gross—who make cookies, pies, and cakes. NAMI Rome provided funds to the Highland Rivers’ Whitfield and Polk and Lookout Mountains’ peer support groups. So, NAMI made a difference to many during the holidays.
NAMI Rome Annual Membership Meeting
Donate your car through the NAMI Vehicle
Donation program and NAMI Rome will
receive 65- 70% of the proceeds. It is a turnkey
process for both the donor and the charity
(NAMI Rome).
Click on
http://namivehicledonation.org/affiliate/?id=471607909
Jan. 26, 2015: Come to see what we have done in 2014 and our 2015’s vision at our January meeting (6-7:30 at Rome 1st UMC, 202 E. 3rd Ave., Rome). We will introduce our board members. We will show you the places where we need you to plug in to help NAMI Rome accomplish its mission.
Page 6 Matters of the Mind
NAMI Supports Research
NAMI affiliates have been contacted to spread the word about a genetic study conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs—read the details below—on schizophrenia and related illnesses. The study includes 3 or more members of a family that meet the criteria listed below. Participants do notneed to be veterans.
NAMI Advocates
Mental Health Day at the Capitol
Tuesday, January 20
8:00 – 12:30 8:00 Register at Freight Depot,65 Martin Luther King Jr.
Drive
8:30 Breakfast and education sessions
10:00 Rally at Liberty Plaza (Behind Capitol)
11:00 Meet with Legislators and tour Capitol
Due to traffic in the AM, you may consider attending the events
beginning at 10:00
Matters of the Mind Page 7
2015 Legislative Priorities Expand community resources and services to promote the successful community integration for people
with mental illness who are re-entering from incarceration. End inappropriate incarceration of individuals with mental illness by expanding accessible Accountability
Courts/Mental Health Courts for all Georgians. Provide appropriate, affordable housing for people living with mental illness. Ensure access to effective community mental health programs. Improve mental health services for children, youth and young adults.
Contributed by Jim Moore: I bet you think of Bonnie and me as ―old heads‖ in NAMI. Well, you’d be right. However, I have come across others who have been involved longer. Years ago—when Jamie was in the 7th grade—our lives took a tumble. One night Jamie, the youngest of three daughters, came into our bedroom and asked us to put back a fallen slat from her bed. I did and found my old .22 caliber revolver lying on the floor. She told us she had tried to shoot herself but the gun wouldn’t work. Thank God she didn’t know enough about guns to realize you have to match the right bullet to the gun. A .30 rifle shell simply won’t work in a .22 pistol. Thus, begun my search to ―fix‖ Jamie and Bonnie’s to help understand her behavior and what we can do as parents. It took me a long time to come to grips that mental illness isn’t just fixed—goes away, and all is well. Bonnie and I (mostly Bonnie) accompanied Jamie to hospitals and to psychiatrists in her middle-high school years. Seemingly, with each trip, we gained knowledge and perhaps became accustomed to some of the frightening behaviors that kept us (again, mostly Bonnie) up during the nights. I remember Dr. Sharpe telling us to get involved with NAMI to learn more about mental illness. In other words, start digging! We did. Met Mrs. Juanita Fuller, one of the founders of NAMI Rome and took Family-to-Family, the first offered in Rome. Dr. Sharpe was on target about getting involved with NAMI. That was about 14 years ago. Since then our expectations changed; yet, our hopes were never dashed. Jamie accepted the fact that we attended NAMI meetings and later support groups in order to bring sanity to our lives as well as to add tools to our kit bag. Somewhere along the way, we (mostly Bonnie) used ―I‖ Statements to the point that empathetic and supportive communication became natural. Learned that in Family-to-Family. Today, we still have our hopes and dreams. In looking back over the last 15 years, we are so pleased with our daughter’s progress. She has taught us that mental illness is not for sissies!
Will reveal its new website in February. Its format may be different—more appealing—but its ―guts‖ will be the same. You are encouraged to visit it, but stand back because you may be overwhelmed with the extensive information at your fingertips. Speaking of websites, have you visited www.namiromega.org lately? This July NAMI will no longer host this website platform. We are converting our site to another and seek help from a “geek” who is savvy on web design. Do you know of someone who would volunteer to help us? If so, call 706-506-5010or email [email protected].
Expressions
Page 8 Matters of the Mind
Georgia Crisis and Access Line saves lives 1-800-705-4225
Keep up to date with us on Facebook by
Liking uswww.facebook.com/namiromegeorgia
Family members and individuals with a mental illness who are in a good place and really don’t need to attend a support group can give back to those of us who need to see glasses that are half full. We urge you to attend and help others.
Family Support Group – Monday Nights First United Methodist Church
202 E 3rd Ave, Rome Mondays, 6 – 7:30pm
Entrance door faces East 2nd Street
The family support group that listens. This group is open to family and friends who have a real need to learn the ins and outs of mental illness because they deal
with a person with mental illness in their life.
NAMI Connection – Monday Nights
Join others who have similar concerns. You'll not only get help, you'll give help. NAMI Rome holds a weekly support group for individuals with mental illnesses. It’s held in a different
room than the Family Support Group
Dalton Support Groups Dalton Family Support Group and Connection meet the first Tuesday
of each month from 6 – 7:30 pm Crosspointe Christian Centre
2681 Underwood Street Dalton, GA 30721
You don’t have to be a NAMI member to attend. For a complete description of all the programs
NAMI Rome offers – visit our websiteNAMI Rome Programs
Matters of the Mind Page 9
CRISIS HOTLINE – 24 hour Georgia Crisis and Access Line, operated by Behavioral Health
Link andsponsored by the state: 1-800-715-4225
WARM LINE – 24 hour state-funded,
consumer-directed resource for anyone struggling with mental health issues:
1-888-945-1414 NAMI – the Nation’s Voice on Mental Illness – with more than 230,000 members, NAMI is
the leading grassroots advocacy organization solely dedicated to improving
the lives of persons with mental illness including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, obsessive compulsive
disorder and anxiety disorders.
NAMI Rome is your local affiliate of the national organization. Please contact, visit or join us in our effort to erase the stigma
surrounding mental illness.
Your membership helps NAMI with its work improving the lives of persons with mental
illness. Membership into NAMI Rome automatically
enrolls you in NAMI Georgia and NAMI
Regular Member $35.00 Open Door Member $3.00 To Join On line - click here
or Print out a Membership Form and mail or bring to a meeting with cash or check
Factoids
$444 Billion lost annually in the US due to direct and indirect costs of mental illness (medical expenses, insurance, missed work, etc.).
Cook County Illinois Jail replaced LA County Jail as largest mental health facility in the country. 90% of those who take their lives have a mental illness. Schizophrenia and other mental
health disorders do occur in
families. Yet identical twins do not
have a 100% concordance rate
(chance of both having a mental
illness).
African Americans and Hispanic
Americans use mental health services
at about ½ the rate of whites.
People with multiple personalities, have dissociative disorders, so you may hear the term DID.
1 in 4 Hope you know what this refers to
