NAMI Michigan NAMIWALK

from WHERE'S MARTY RECOVERY TOUR: 


Today I took the Silverwing to the NAMI Michigan NAMIWALK on Belle Isle. It was a great walk. There were lots of people there. I couldn't walk today as I have broken a bone in my foot so my ability to stand, much less walk is limited.

What I saw was many people walking, talking and having a great time. People with a mental illness, people who had family members who have a mental illness, friends of people who have a mental illness. There are more families involved now, I mean the ones with young kids. For a long, long time it always seemed to me that the people with an illness were around; sometimes they had parents and sometimes they didn't.



But now, there are families with younger kids involved. I am so glad that I have grandkids. (See grandkids to the left; Can't you just feel the love?) They would have been there today, but the truck was broken. 

I would love to tell you that my meds changed everything, but what made the biggest change for me was the support that I got from people and for me, many of the people who did the supporting were NAMI members (both family and consumer members; I always get asked.) And yes, I am often a fan of NAMI Michigan. We don't always agree, but they are a major reason I am well. Of course they are also a major reason that I have learned to become a great advocate.


Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

NAMI Fund For Hurricanes Gustav & Ike Disaster Relief To Help People With Mental Illnesses

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has established a special fund to provide relief to individuals and families affected by serious mental illnesses in Lousiana and Texas communities devastated by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Donations to the NAMI Hurricane Relief Fund can be made on-line athttp://www.nami.org/HurricaneRelief. One hundred percent of funds raised will go directly to individuals and families through local NAMI affiliates.


Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

June 13-16: NAMI National Convention In Orlando

Who: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

When: June 13-16, 2008

Where: Rosen Centre Hotel
Orlando, FL
9840 International Drive
Orlando, Florida 32819
Phone: (407) 996-9840

Why: Get the latest news on scientific research, innovative mental health programs, problems in the healthcare system, and human interest stories. Cover veterans, children and multicultural issues and hopes for recovery for all people living with PTSD, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other illnesses.

Full Schedule: http://www.nami.org/convention/program

Vip Speakers And Honorees

- Jane Pauley, TV journalist
- Thomas Insel, M.D., director, National Institute of Mental Health
- Nora Volkow, M.D., Ph.D., director, National Institute on Drug Abuse

Florida Speakers And Programs

Topics for state and local stories:

- Judge Steven Leifman, 11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County
- Judge Mark Speiser, 17th Judicial Circuit Court, Broward County
- Louis de la Parte, Department of Aging & Mental Health, Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of Southern Florida
- VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8), Bay Pines
- Polytrauma Center, VA Medical Center, Tampa
- Florida Partners in Crisis, Orlando
- Florida Borderline Personality Disorder Organization, St. Petersburg
- GEO Care, Miami
- Treasure Coast Forensic Treatment Center, Indiantown
- South Florida Treatment and Evaluation Center, Miami
- Vincent House, Pinellas Park
- Aspire Behavioral Health, Inc., Osceola

Ask-The-Doctor Sessions On:

- Anxiety Disorders
- Bipolar Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Depression
- Medications
- Mood Disorders Across the Lifespan
- PTSD
- Schizoaffective Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Kids Get to Ask the Doctor

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

Presidential Candidates Answer Mental Healthcare Questionnaire

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has released the responses of five presidential candidates to a detailed questionnaire about mental healthcare issues.

"Mental health is part of the national dialogue on healthcare," said NAMI executive director Michael J. Fitzpatrick. "We offer the candidate responses as part of the process of public education."

"One out of four Americans are affected by mental illness at some point during their lifetimes. It does not discriminate between Democrats and Republicans."

- Specific answers to 24 questions have been provided to date by Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, and Barack Obama.

Steve Morgan: Recovery & NAMI

I am writing this letter as a plea for reconciliation amongst those of us who have psychiatric diagnoses, those of us who issue them, those of us who have family members with them, and those of us who work toward related policies. As we are all aware, there are multiple tensions that exist amongst differing organizations within the mental health world, but I truly believe that if we can all begin to have a compassionate conversation, we will find a healthy common ground between our sometimes conflicting ideologies.

I specifically wish to address NAMI.