Updated NAMI IN Logo
STATE ESSENTIALS
NAMI News for Hoosiers Volume 1, Issue 4
2008 State Conference
Registrations Break Records:
8 Days left


2008 State Conference Logo
The 2008 NAMI Indiana State Conference will take place one week from tomorrow (Saturday, October 18) at the Marten House Hotel and Lilly Conference Center in Indianapolis.
 
Registrations for this year's event have broken previous NAMI Indiana state conference records. This year's conference will cover a variety of topics of interest to persons affected by mental illness in their personal or professional lives.

Topics include:
  • Electronic health records
  • Peer support
  • Social Security benefits
  • ECT
  • Legal issues
  • Spirituality
  • Ask the doctor
  • Schizophrenia
  • Borderline personality disorder
Dr. Fred Frese, renowned psychologist and consumer, will present the keynote address, entitled "Recovery: Myths, Mountains and Miracles."

Special pricing is still available for NAMI members, families and consumers of mental health services. To register now, CLICK HERE.

To review the detailed conference agenda, CLICK HERE.
Greetings! 
NAMI Indiana thanks all the readers of State Essentials for your support of this email newsletter. Hundreds of readers have forwarded State Essentials to friends, family and co-workers. Many of them have subscribed. By spreading the word, you have helped more Hoosiers to become better educated about NAMI and the fact that recovery from mental illness is possible. Is there someone you know who might like to read State Essentials? If so, please use the "forward email" link below to send them a copy. Again, thanks for spreading the word. You can always reach the NAMI Indiana team by phone at (317) 925-9399 or (800) 677-6442.
Parity Passes graphic from NAMI NationalMental Illness Awareness Week: Celebrating Health Care Parity
 
Mental Illness Awareness Week, which began on October 5 and ends this Saturday, October 11, is an awareness and education event held every year. But 2008 is a milestone year because Mental Illness awareness week celebrates a major legislative accomplishment which has been a NAMI objective at the national, state and local level for years.

The Paul Wellstone / Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equality Act of 2008 (HR 6983) was passed on Friday, October 3. It is a victory for millions of Americans living with mental illness who have faced unfair discrimination in co-payments, doctor's visits and hospital stays. The bill will require group insurance plans to cover mental illness and substance abuse disorders on the same terms and conditions as other illnesses. Now that this bill has been signed into law, Hoosiers who are covered by group insurance plans will be able to get insurance when they need it.

As Mental Health Awareness Week continues, there is still time for concerned Hoosiers to take action to improve the lives of persons affected my mental illness. Here are some options:
  • Learn how your Congressman and Senator voted on this measure. Contact them to let them know how you feel about their vote.
  • Use the passage of this landmark legislation as a topic to initiate conversations with others about mental illness. Explain to your friends, family and co-workers that mental illness is real, but treatable. Help them understand that recovery from mental illness is possible.
  • If you're not already a member of NAMI, join now. A single NAMI membership entitles you to benefits from NAMI national, NAMI Indiana and your local NAMI affiliate. CLICK HERE TO JOIN NAMI
  • If you have been a member of NAMI in the past but are not sure whether you membership is current, call your local NAMI affiliate to confirm your membership status and renew if necessary.
  • If you're already a member of NAMI, make an additional donation to support similar change efforts in Indiana. Over 870,000 Hoosiers do not currently have health insurance. Many insured Hoosiers still struggle to get appropriate mental health treatment. NAMI Indiana is working with government, business, health care and other entities to improve the lives of Hoosiers affected by mental illness. CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT NAMI INDIANA
VA Logo
Mental Health Research Update
 
The department of Veterans Affairs is currently recruiting participants for a study of mental illness management and recovery.

This study requires participation in designated support and educational programs, but does not involve medication changes.

Participants must be currently receiving mental health services from any mental health treatment program at Roudebush Medical Center in Indianapolis. Other study requirements include age of 18 or older, confirmed diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder and interest in learning more about mental illness.

For more information about this study, call 317-988-2802.