Save the Date: State Conference
NAMI Indiana's annual meeting will be hold on October 9th. Our keynote speaker is Marya Hornbacher. Marya published her first book, Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia (HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.), in 1998, when she was twenty-three. What started as a crazy idea suggested by a writer friend became the classic book that has been published in fourteen languages, is taught in universities and writing programs all over the world, and has, according to the thousands of letters Marya has received over the years, changed lives.
Her second book, the acclaimed novel The Center of Winter (HarperCollins, 2005) has been called "masterful," "gorgeous writing," "a stunning achievement of storytelling," "delicious," and "compulsive reading." Told in three voices, by six-year-old Kate, her brother with mental illness Esau, and their mother Claire, The Center of Winter is the story of a family recovering from a father's suicide in the spare, wintry Minnesota north, a story of struggle, transformation, and hope.
Marya's new memoir published in 2008, Madness: A Life (Houghton Mifflin) is an intense, beautifully written book about the difficulties, and promise, of living with mental illness. It is already being called "the most visceral, important book on mental illness to be published in years."
The recipient of a host of awards for journalism and a Pulitzer Prize nominee, Marya has lectured at universities around the country, taught writing and literature, and published in academic and literary journals since 1992. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband Jeff, their cats Shakespeare and T.S. Eliot, and their miniature dachshunds Milton and Dante.
We hope to see you all on October 9th, at the Holiday Inn at the Pyramids. Look for more details in your mailboxes
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Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming Events
Criminal Justice Trainings
Mental Illness #101- Thursday, August 26, 2010
Mental Illness #201 - Thursday. October 14, 2010
Mental Illness #101- Thursday, November 18, 2010
Annual State Conference
Saturday, October 9th, 2010
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Top ten creative ways to support
NAMI Indiana
10. Donate office supplies
9. Go online to set up a monthly dontation: www.namiindiana.org
8. Renew your membership
7. Recruit your business to make NAMI Indiana the "charity of choice"
6. Recruit your business to sponsor our state conference
5. Ask you friends and family if they would like to join our mailing list and send us their information
4. Attach a link on your e-mail saying you are a supporter of NAMI Indiana
3. Donate to NAMI Indiana in honor of a loved one affected by mental illness
2. Instead of mailing holiday cards, donate to NAMI Indiana and notify your friends by e-mail
AND THE NUMBER ONE CREATIVE WAY TO SUPPORT NAMI INDIANA THIS YEAR IS....
1. Ask friends and family to give to NAMI Indiana in lieu of gifts for your birthday, anniversary, etc.
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Upcoming State Essentials
To learn more now visit : LEARN MORE | |
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A Decade at NAMI: Reflections of our Executive Director:
Pamela McConey
How did you perceive mental illness upon your arrival in 2000?
When I first arrived at NAMI Indiana, I really did not know a whole lot about mental illness. I was told that I would learn along the way and that was so true. I had a great aunt that has schizophrenia and that had been my only experience.
What are or have been some of the concerning trends?
My first three years at NAMI Indiana was spent listening, organizing the board, and working very hard to get at the mental health table at the state level.
Mental health parity had just been passed in 1999 before I came to NAMI. Many hours of hard work were spent on getting parity. Many, many thanks go to Jane Novak and her crew of volunteers that made this happen.
The 1990's was the Decade of the Brain and really started the many changes in mental health care. When I first came to NAMI, the public was just becoming aware that mental illness is a brain disorder not caused by bad parenting. With better medications and treatment we know that recovery is possible.
Medicaid is changing at the state and federal level. Since many people with mental illness depend on Medicaid, we need to make sure mental illness is getting its fair share of dollars
What have you enjoyed about your position?
The people, and their passion to help. I really enjoy non-profit work. Board organization, staff development, finances, strategic planning, and program development are all very enjoyable. The staff and the board are great people to work with.
What is the least favorite part of your position?
Worrying about the income. Making sure we have enough money to serve our members needs. Especially in this economy, we really need to be very prudent.
What have you learned?
Wow! I have grown professionally in this position. I have such a great supportive board and a wonderful staff.
I have learned that one person's voice can make a difference. I have learned that it takes collaboration, teamwork, and building positive relationships to make positive changes in the mental healthcare system.
In my professional career, I have never attended so many meetings and been on so many boards and councils. But that is part of my job, representing NAMI Indiana in a positive professional manner.
What do you want others to know?
NAMI Indiana is growing and representing the needs of the membership. NAMI is a very strong grassroot organization. Let your voices be heard!
After 10 years on the job what have been major strides forward and, major failures.
NAMI Indiana is respected and valued in the state. We are at the mental health table. We offer NAMI signature programs throughout the state and they continue to grow. We developed and implemented one of the first criminal justice mental health programs in the nation. Our affiliates continue to grow. Our board is organized. I was the first executive director in the nation to receive the Vicki Cottrell Peer Excellence award from my fellow ed's. That was really neat.
Failures: I can't say we have failed at anything but that we continue to work on Campus Clubs and trying to find our niche in fund raising.
Technology - keeping up with new trends and making sure our leaders have access to the web.
I am hoping we can find and develop the same type of leaders we currently have for the future. A volunteer's passion is hard to replace.
Do you have any predictions as to how the next ten years will go?
Because of the groundwork laid, NAMI Indiana will continue to grow. With the economy, it is hard to predict but we must prepare ourselves to deal with less.
NAMI Indiana volunteers had laid the groundwork prior to me coming. Jane Novak, Joan Lafuze, Bob Postlethwait, Jean Ann Huntington, Dianne Arneson, Abby Flynn, Bob Denniston and many others had worked very hard to make sure NAMI Indiana was doing programs and advocacy. (support, education, advocacy)
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Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens:
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a serious brain illness. It is also called manic-depressive illness. Children with bipolar disorder go through unusual mood changes.. Sometimes they feel very happy or "up". and are much more active than usual.This is called mania. And sometimes children with bipolar disorder fell very sad and "down" and are much less active than usual . This is called depression.
What are sypmtons of bipolar disorder:
Children and teen having a manic episode may:
Feel very happy or act silly in a way thats unusual
Have a very short temper
Talk really fast about a lot of different things
Have trouble sleeping but not feel tired
Have trouble staying focused
Talk and think about sex more often
Do risky things
Children and teens having a depressive episode may:
Feel very sad
Complain about pain a lot, like stomaches and headaches
Sleep too little or too much
Feel gulity and worthless
Eat too little or too much
Have little energy and no interest in fun activities
Think about death and suicide
If you child has bipolar disorder, here are some basic things you can do:
Be patient
Encourage your child to talk, and listen to him or her carefully
Be understanding about mood episodes
Help your child have fun
Help your child understand that treatment can help him or her get better
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NAMI'S MISSION:
NAMI Indiana is dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life for persons who are affected by mental illness, by providing education, support, advocacy, and research. The state organization supports and develops local affiliates and represents the needs of the membership. | Did you know that your membership is important to us? We are stronger when we speak with a unified voice. Please keep your membership current. Call your affiliate today!
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