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NAMI Virginia/Virginia CIT Convention!
This year NAMI Virginia and the Virginia Crisis Team Coalition (VACIT) are teaming up to hold a two day joint conference, which is being held in conjunction with the 2nd Annual CIT International Conference!
Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to collaborate and learn from each other on how to build and develop CIT in your community! Anyone that cares about growing CIT in Virginia is welcome!
September 11-12th
Doubletree Hotel and Virginia Beach Conference Center
Register now!
Scholarship Information
(deadline to apply is Friday, July 1 at 5pm)
Scholarship Guidelines
Scholarship Application
For more information, visit
http://namivirginia.org/get-involved/state-convention
or contact Stephany Melton, Convention Coordinator at
smelton@namivirginia.org
or 804-285-8264.
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New Study: NAMI Family Education "Significantly" Improves Coping with Mental Illness
NAMI's Family-to-Family Education program "significantly" improves coping and problem-solving abilities of family members of individuals living with mental illness, according to a landmark study published in the current issue of Psychiatric Services, a journal of the American Psychiatric Association.
Click here to read more....
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Public Speaking Training for Virginia Survivors of Suicide
The Virginia Department of Health will be offering a series of two day trainings for survivors of suicide loss who are interested in learning how to tell their story safely to friends, various audiences, and the media. Suicide survivors (those who have lost a loved one to suicide) play an important role in increasing awareness about suicide. By speaking about their personal loss and telling the story about their loved one's life and death, survivors can promote healing and understanding, which in turn supports and encourages suicide prevention efforts.
Please click here for additional information |
LOCAL PHILANTHROPIST TO RECEIVE NATIONAL AWARD NAMI to Honor Doris Buffett at National Convention in Chicago this July Click here to read the press release! |
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Call for Nominations for the NAMI Virginia Board of Directors!
Please refer to the links below for information including qualifications of potential candidates, deadlines, and how to apply.
We would greatly appreciate if you would help with outreach to qualified candidates who may be interested.
Nominations are due Friday, July 20th.
Letter to NAMI leaders, members, and friends
Nomination Form
NAMI Virginia Fact Sheet
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Join NAMI Northern Virginia on June 30!
Join NAMI-Northern Virginia and the cast of "Next to Normal" at the Kennedy Center, June 30th! Special packages for friends and members can be purchased at:
www.NAMI-NorthernVirginia.org
Click here to download the flyer! |
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 Changing Minds...One Step At A Time
www.nami.org/namiwalks/VA
Be a part of the largest anti-stigma event in Virginia!
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National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Media Contest
In 2008, the US House of Representatives proclaimed July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. To raise awareness of mental illness, prevention, treatment, and research in diverse communities during this month, the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Colaborando Juntos, and NAMI-Virginia are sponsoring a Media Contest for Minority Mental Health Awareness. Plan area activities during the month of July for a chance to win prizes and be highlighted in various publications.
Click here for more information and to download the flyer
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Letter to the Editor in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by NAMI Virginia Executive Director, Mira Signer about the problem of "streeting".
We must stop streeting the mentally ill
Editor, Times-Dispatch:
On behalf of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Virginia, I want to thank you for the editorial "Mental health: Clarity, lost" about the practice of streeting. In just one year, 200 people with serious mental illness were released to the streets or back to their homes, even though they were found to legally and clinically meet Virginia's criteria for needing hospitalization or treatment to prevent harm to themselves or others.
It is unacceptable that treatment was not available. Based on national prevalence rates, it is estimated that about 308,000 Virginia adults have had a serious mental illness during the past year. These aren't just numbers - they are our siblings, spouses, children, parents, neighbors and co-workers.
How can Virginia turn its back on a highly vulnerable population with few resources at its disposal for medical care? And why are hospitals allowed to turn people with serious mental illness away? We don't allow that for people with heart disease or cancer, and people with mental illness should be no different.
Virginia needs to take a hard look at its history and realize that it has never funded the mental-health system properly. We know the effects of that too well. We have no more excuses to turn a blind eye. The inhumane practice of streeting needs to be addressed once and for all.
Mira Signer,
Executive Director, NAMI
Richmond
Click here to read the Times Dispatch article on "streeting" |
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Virginia Commonwealth University Research Study Needs Family Member Participants!
The study is focusing on the experiences of family members who have had a family member involuntarily commented within the last 3 years. Participation would involve a 45 minute interview with the researcher sharing your experiences during the commitment process and period of detainment of your loved one.
If interested in participating in this research opportunity, please contact Doctorial candidate Linda Love LCSW at 804-221-6682 or llove1583@aol.com.
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Join NAMI Portsmouth for a meet and greet!
July 20, 2011
6:30-8:00
Opportunity House in Portsmouth
Phone number: 757-541-8860
Email: NAMIPortsmouth@gmail.com
Facebook page: NAMI Portsmouth
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