President’s Message for March 2023
As we look toward the natural world waking to spring, our affiliate has a project we would like to reawaken to a new season. As we enter a new phase when the crisis care options in the Commonwealth are expanding, we want to restart our Crisis Card program. We’ve updated our NAMI Central Middlesex Crisis Cards to reflect the new opportunities in urgent and crisis care. The new contact numbers, 988 and the Behavioral Health Help Line, are on the front of the cards. Information about the Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) is on the back.
We first offered a version of these cards in the summer of 2019 and have distributed 6,000 units. Our initial outreach at that time was to area police departments to encourage them to share with some of those who contacted 911 for a behavioral health crisis. We passed them out at our Community Outreach Tables and put them in libraries. We gave them to clinicians, town social workers, and individuals listening to NAMI’s “In Our Own Voice” presentations at the inpatient unit at Emerson Hospital.
I recall a young man at Emerson Hospital, who I’d seen there in previous months, proudly show me the back of his phone case bearing our Crisis Card. He told me, “Thanks to you, I’m ready.” Getting that personal feedback for our efforts makes it all worthwhile.
I have 1000 new cards sitting next to my desk and will share a portion with our Community Outreach team. The next step would be for an interested volunteer to send a hard copy letter and a sample of the card to the police, using our recently updated list of department chiefs. Then, next steps are to follow up via email and mail the requested cards. In the past we touched base with the police departments at six-month intervals to replace supplies. To increase the impact, we can make additional outreach to other target groups/locations.
All this will reinvigorate our Crisis Card program and educate the public about the new options for crisis care. We need a volunteer or two to own this effort. Might that be you?
We have more news to share about the CBHCs. Our sister affiliate in the Greater North Shore sponsored a webinar with Eliot Community Services who operates the CBHCs in Lynn and Danvers. NAMI members who reside in the east end of our affiliate may want to learn some details about those locations. NAMI Greater North Shore graciously allowed us to share a recording of their program.
Next month, when the tulips bloom, we will be revisiting the Hope Garden we planted last fall at Emerson Hospital with the help of Emerson staff and clients from the inpatient unit. If you have a hopeful story to tell about how an experience with Emerson Hospital behavioral health supported you on your mental health journey, please share it. We’ll read it, anonymously if you prefer, at the Yellow Tulips Hope Garden ceremony in April.
Many thanks to Jenn Morazes who is stepping down from her duties on our board. We thank her for sharing her spirit, dedication, and expertise with us.
Happy spring to one and all. Please contact us at nami.cmsx@gmail.com.
