NAMI Maryland recently partnered with the new Mental Health Channel.  The Mental Health Channel (mentalhealthchannel.tv) is an online network that's changing the conversation on mental health through inspiring true stories.  The channel is creating engaging, enlightening and informative programming to help all viewers improve their mental health.  With 12 series of original short documentaries already online, MHC provides insight on a wide array of mental health topics in often entertaining and unexpected ways.  With help from NAMI Maryland, the channel will continue to create and upload more content. This is just th beginning!

As part of our partnership, we are hosting a launch event on June 8 at the Conference Center at Maritime Institute om Linthicum Heights.  There will be a pre-event VIP reception for $25.00 (hot and cold hors d'oeurves and cash bar) with speakers and Mental Health Channel filmmakers.  

After the reception, there will be a free program where individuals with mental illness and families share their personal journeys with mental illness and recovery, interspersed with a sampling of the Mental Health Channel's short documentaries. 

Click the below button for more information about the event and to register.

Funds Restored for Community 

Mental Health Reimbursement!

NAMI Maryland spent a significant amount of time this session urging the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee to restore the community mental health reimbursement and provider rates that were cut from the Governor's FY16 Budget.

With the end of session looming, the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee set-aside (fenced off) $6.5 million to restore community mental health provider rates to FY15 levels, over $1 million to restore psychiatrist evaluation and management rate cuts and $2 million to expand substance use disorder treatment targeted at individuals with heroin addiction. The budget passed both the House of Delegates and the Senate with a substantial amount of bi-partisan support. 

Since the legislature adjourned, we are thankful that Governor Hogan committed to releasing the behavioral health funding the General Assembly set-aside (fenced off) in the FY16 Budget. The fenced off money includes $2 million for the treatment of heroin addiction, $6.5 million to restore community mental health provider rates to FY15 levels and partial restoration of psychiatrist evaluation management rate cuts.

This was a huge win for NAMI Maryland and the Behavioral Health Coalition! Without the voice of the thousands of advocates that lent their voice to the "Keep the Door Open" campaign, this win would not have been possible!

Click HERE to read the full 2015 Legislative Wrap-Up.