NAMI PITTSBURGH/NORTH SUPPORT GROUP
NAMI Keystone PA/NAMI Southwestern PA
105 Braunlich Drive
Suite 200 McKnight Plaza (White Building on Hill)
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
(Turn at light by Dollar Tree)
Support Group Leader Assistants Candy & Pete Venezia (412) 361-8916
Tom & Mary Lou Zemaitis (412) 492-9157
Treasurer Debbie Julian (412) 821-1691
Phone Consultations Lolly Kayser (412) 818-4886
Newsletter Sharon M. Vogel (412) 821-2805
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OCTOBER 4, 2017 – GENERAL MEETING & DISCUSSION
7:00pm – 9:00pm
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ACTION ALERT
This week, the U.S. Senate is set to vote on the Graham-Cassidy bill.
Not only does the bill make it harder for people to get psychiatric medications, case management, and mental health services, some people with mental illness will lose their coverage entirely.
Graham-Cassidy Bill by the Numbers
· More than 32 million people would lose coverage nationwide.
· 1 million people in Pennsylvania would lose coverage.
· Pennsylvania would lose $6 billion by 2026 and $131 billion by 2036.
The Graham-Cassidy Bill also places caps on Medicaid funding, which will force states to cut services and eligibility, harming children and adults with mental illness.
Contact Sen. Bob Casey and Sen. Pat ToomeyTODAY
and tell them to
VOTE NO
on the Graham-Cassidy Bill.
NAMI is nonpartisan. We support policies that help people with mental health conditions and their families.
Click on the Senators links above or call:
Bob Casey Pittsburgh (412) 803-7370 or Washington (866) 802-2833
Pat Toomey Erie (814) 453-3010 or Washington (202) 224-4254
How to Help Someone in Crisis
By Laura Greenstein | Sep. 20, 2017 (Taken from the NAMI Website)
You’re getting ready to meet up with your friend Jill when she sends you a text: “I can’t hangout today. Sorry to bail last minute.” “Is something wrong?” You respond. “Just not feeling life today. “I’m coming over.” You get to Jill’s house, where you find Jill crying and hyperventilating. She tells you, “Life is too hard.”
Jill is having a mental health crisis. So, what do you do?
A mental health crisis can take many forms—self-harm, panic attacks, suicidal ideation, getting in trouble with the law, planning or considering hurting one’s self or others—but no matter what kind of crisis someone might be going through, you can help. Make sure to stay with your loved one while they’re at risk and do not hesitate to get them professional help.
Practice Clear Communication
When de-escalating someone from crisis, communication is key. It is essential they feel heard and understood, so make sure to give them your undivided attention. This is more than just listening, but also using body language, like eye contact, to show you’re listening. You can also use active listening techniques—such as reflecting feelings and summarizing thoughts—to help them feel validated.
“In sessions with suicidal clients, I often try to ‘hold their story,’ because I know that there are very few people in someone’s life who a person can talk to about suicide,” explains therapist Larry Shushansky. “Sometimes, just listening can be immensely helpful.”
Let your loved one talk about how they feel and ask them questions. Don’t be afraid to ask directly if they are thinking about suicide. Talk openly and lovingly about their thoughts. If they need time to respond, allow them to process. You can always repeat the question after a moment of silence, if necessary.
It’s essential to use an empathetic, non-judgmental tone. Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong or whether their feelings are good or bad. Minimizing their problems or giving advice may create distance between you and upset them further. Let them know that whatever they’re experiencing is not their fault and offer your help.
“What's going on? What’s wrong?” Jill doesn’t answer. You wait a moment and then ask, “Why are you crying?” “I try so hard every single day. I try, despite my life being terrible. I’m tired of having to work so hard just to live. Things never get better for me; so, I just don’t see the point.” “Yeah, that really sucks. I’m sorry. I’ve noticed how hard you’ve been working and I really do believe that your effort will pay off with time. You can’t give up now. How can I help you?” “You can’t help me. No one can help me.”
“You’re not going to push me away, Jill. I may not fully understand what you’re going through, but the way you feel isn’t your fault. I’m here for you. I’m not going anywhere.”
There isn’t one specific response that will de-escalate all crises—based on what’s happening, you can assess the situation and provide a supportive reaction. “Try not to figure out what the ‘right’ thing to say is—just be caring and concerned and let that show through in your conversation,” says Shushansky. The most important thing you can communicate in a crisis is that you are concerned for your loved one’s well-being, and that they can lean on you for support.
Reach Out For Help
If you feel that you are not able to de-escalate the person in crisis without additional support, call someone. You don’t need to do this alone. If your loved one has a mental health provider, that would be a good place to start. If they don’t, there are organizations who can help you through any crisis safely. Here are a few resources you can contact 24/7:
· Call 911 if the crisis is a life-threatening emergency. Make sure to notify the operator that it is a psychiatric emergency and ask for an officer trained incrisis interventionor trained to assist people experiencing a psychiatric emergency.
· National Suicide Prevention Lifeline– Call 800-273-TALK (8255) to speak with a trained crisis counselor.
· Crisis Text Line– Text NAMI to 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive crisis support via text message.
· National Domestic Violence Hotline– Call 800-799-SAFE (7233) to speak with trained experts who provide confidential support to anyone experiencing domestic violence or seeking resources and information.
· National Sexual Assault Hotline– Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area that offers access to a range of free services. Crisis chat support is also available atOnline Hotline.
Jill’s phone buzzes. She looks down at her phone and her expression shifts. She starts crying again. “What is it?” “It doesn’t matter. There’s nothing you can do. Just leave me alone!” You’re not sure what else to say, so you decide to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Jill sees what you’re doing and gets upset. “I don’t need to talk to those people.” “Jill, please. It’s just a conversation. I want you to feel better.” She doesn’t respond. You hit dial and get a crisis counselor on the phone. You put the phone on speaker. The counselor asks a few questions and you respond as Jill remains silent. After a little while, Jill reluctantly starts responding. As she receives counseling, you sit next to her as a source of support and comfort. When she gets off the phone, you give her a hug and tell her: “You are not alone. I’m here.”
It can be intimidating talking to someone who is going through a mental health crisis or seriously considering suicide. However, sometimes all a person needs in that situation is one person being there, helping them access the help they need. You can be that person.
NAMIWalks: Keeping Hope Alive
By Cindy Kurey | Sep. 18, 2017 (Taken from the NAMI Website)
In 2005, my son was hospitalized and diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 24. When our doctor gave us the diagnosis, he told us that he wished our son had a terminal illness instead. He said that would be far easier to live with than what we would be “dealing with” for the rest of our lives.
In the weeks and months that followed, our son went through the predictable course of denial, lack of compliance with his treatment plan and eventual relapse that most people go through with schizophrenia. To say that the three of us weren’t “dealing with” our son’s diagnosis well is an understatement.
Then, a loving friend shared a newspaper article with us about an upcoming NAMI Family-to-Family class that was being offered at a local NAMI affiliate. My husband and I made plans to attend the 12-week course. At such a low point in our lives, the class was just what we needed. It was such a relief to hear that recovery is possible. That if you keep hope alive, things do get better. For the first time, I began to hope for a better life for my family. The class gave us the tools and understanding we needed to get ourselves moving forward, together, stronger.
During the last class of the program, one of the instructors briefly talked about NAMIWalks and how they were one of the reasons NAMI could afford to provide free programs to the community. I made a mental note to find out when and where the next walk would take place. But as the weeks passed, life got busy (as it does) with conflicting work schedules and the daily challenges of our son’s illness, and I forgot.
Several months later, serendipitously, I saw a TV ad for NAMIWalks—a walk would be taking place the following week. I told family and friends about my plans to attend. With their help, I raised $500 in five days. It was a thrill to show up the morning of the walk, turning in the money I raised. I remember thinking that before my family needed NAMI, someone else took the time to walk and donate. Now it was my turn to raise money and walk for other families that unknowingly needed NAMI’s support.
My first NAMIWalks was a pivotal event in my life. It gave me renewed hope I hadn’t felt since taking the NAMI Family-to-Family course. And it fueled my desire to give back and begin advocating for mental health and NAMI.
Since that walk, I have become a NAMI Family-to-Family teacher. I serve on the state board for NAMI New Mexico. I have been a volunteer with NAMIWalks for the last 11 years, two of those as a walk manager. My NAMIWalks team, Footsteps4RFamilies, consists of family, friends, coworkers and many of the NAMI Family-to-Family participants I have taught over the years. To date, my team has raised over $110,000 for NAMIWalks.
It has been almost 13 years since my son’s first hospitalization and diagnosis. Since then, he has experienced many ups-and-downs. We make the most of the times when he feels well, and keep our hope alive to get through the rough patches. We continue to move forward as a family because of the valuable education we received from NAMI.
I am full of pride that our son will attend community college this fall. It is an exciting time for our family now that he feels well enough to take this step forward. I will always be thankful for finding NAMI Family-to-Family and NAMIWalks. I cannot imagine what our lives would have been like without them.
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11th Annual NAMIWalks
Sunday, October 1, 2017
The Waterfront • Homestead, PA.
Check in: 9:00am Walk: 10:00am - 5k Walk
Members of the support group team, Pittsburgh North Support Group, are working very hard to help NAMI raise the funds needed to help those in need. Each raffle is $5 which provides you a chance to win any of the following gift cards: $500 Visa, $250 Best Buy, $200 Macys, $200 Target, $100 Dick's Sporting Goods, $100 Gas Card, $50 Red Lobster, $50 Marshalls, $25 Bath & Body Works and $25 Subway. You do not have to be present to win.
Let us show NAMI our support of their efforts on behalf of our loved ones and friends. Any donation is appreciated
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NAMI MEETINGS – 2017
November 1, 2017
December 6, 2017