Saturday,
September 26th at
the State Capitol, Harrisburg
The
NAMIWWALKS for the Mind of America is a nationwide fundraising
and mental health awareness program that will be held in 70
communities around the country in 2009, including Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania.
These
Walks will raise awareness about Mental Illness as biological
brain disorders, combat stigma associated with severe mental
illnesses and promote mental health services. NAMIWALKS provides
support to thousands of families here in Pennsylvania and across
the country.
Due
to the State Budget Impasse, the Annual Conference has been
postponed until Spring 2010. Thank you for your consideration,
and we look forward to seeing you in the Spring.
"The
Human Existence: Mind, Body and Soul;
Explore the Importance of the Integration of
Mind, Body and Soul in Recovery"
Do
you support good government and encourage responsibility
by our legislators? Please weigh in with your opinion
on PCNTV
Your
advocacy efforts have made a positive impact on the state
budget process. The state budget is in conference committee
with a $2 billion difference between two versions. Consequently,
there is no state budget. The proposed budgets include
possible cuts to essential human services.
The
proposed cuts will be devastating to the mental health
community. Please continue your calls and emails to your
legislators. We need to flood our legislators with calls
and letters to restore the proposed cuts.
We
need you to continue your efforts by email,
(a sample letter is attached), We are also asking that
you place calls
to your legislators. Please get family members, friends,
neighbors and acquaintances to make calls and to send
email messages. We must continue our calls for leadership
and compassion. It is critical that our elected officials
support our request for restoration of these critical
funds.
Remember
these points in your contacts:
• Mental Health and Disability Services are essential
services.
• Cutting services will not save money.
• Cuts will shift the cost to families.
• Cuts will shift the cost to counties.
• Cuts will shift responsibility to jails and corrections.
LEGISLATION:
as of June 30th, 2009 there were 43 Bills of interest
to NAMI PA in the 2009-2010 Session. The 2009-2010 Legislative
Session continues until November 30th, 2010.
All bills not passed are closed for consideration for that
session. When the Legislature re-convenes bills can be re-introduced
for the next Legislative Session.
NIMH:
Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Share Genetic Roots: Chromosomal
Hotspot of Immunity/Gene Expression Regulation Implicated
A trio of genome-wide studies - collectively the largest to
date - has pinpointed a vast array of genetic variation that
cumulatively may account for at least one third of the genetic
risk for schizophrenia. One of the studies traced schizophrenia
and bipolar disorder, in part, to the same chromosomal neighborhoods.
"These new results recommend a fresh look at our diagnostic
categories," said Thomas R. Insel, M.D., director of
the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the
National Institutes of Health. "If some of the same genetic
risks underlie schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, perhaps
these disorders originate from some common vulnerability in
brain development." Three schizophrenia genetics research
consortia, each funded in part by NIMH, report separately
on their genome-wide association studies online July 1, 2009,
in the journal Nature. However, the SGENE, International Schizophrenia,
and Molecular Genetics of Schizophrenia consortia shared their
results - making possible meta-analyses of a combined sample
totaling 8,014 cases and 19,090 controls.
NAMI believes that education about brain disorders at all
levels of judicial and legal systems is crucial to the appropriate
disposition of cases involving offenders with brain disorders.
Judges, lawyers, police officers, correctional officers, parole
and probation officers, law enforcement personnel, court officers,
and emergency medical transport and service personnel should
be required to complete at least 20 hours of training about
these disorders. Consumers and family members should be a
part of this educational process.
NAMI believes that state and local mental health authorities
must work closely in conjunction with state and local correctional
and law enforcement agencies to develop strategies and programs
for compassionate intervention by law enforcement, jail diversion,
treatment of individuals with brain disorders who are incarcerated,
and discharge planning and community reintegration services
for individuals with brain disorders released from correctional
facilities.
Emergencies/disasters
are part of every day life. Floods, droughts, earthquakes,
snowstorms, the accidental release of radiation and terrorist
attacks are just a few examples of problems we may face. Advance
planning and coordination of family activities will improve
the opportunities for managing and overcoming the challenges
of such emergencies. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “it
is better to dig your well before you are thirsty.”
