President’s Message for September 2023
It is back to school time, and we’ve gathered mental health support materials for college students and educators. NAMI’s Mental Health College Guide (Mental-Health-College-Guide) includes topics like Relationships and Self Care, Taking Care of Your Mental Health, and Self Advocacy. The Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (TransitionsACR SchoolResources) is offering articles, short videos, webinars, podcasts, and memes for young adults, students, and educators.
Those interested in learning about best mental health support practices in K-12 schools can turn to a new podcast called Mental Health Goes to School: mentalhealthgoestoschool.com. A special educator, who works at a therapeutic day school in our affiliate area, teams up with a psychiatrist to discuss mental health interventions in schools, building resilience with advisories, and increasing inclusion for mental health supports. And there will be more topics to come.
Back to class also means back to NAMI’s Family-to-Family course. Our affiliate is offering an in-person course in Winchester that begins on 9/9 and two virtual options with start dates of 9/26 and 10/10. Thanks to our volunteer teachers of this NAMI signature course that consistently helps families in our affiliate and across the country. For details, go to: family-to-family-fall-2023.
As is usual for the fall season, our Community Outreach tables are showing up at multiple town events. We’ve been to Wakefield and Boxborough and have commitments in Bedford on 9/23 and both Maynard and Acton on 9/30. It is great fun and very rewarding to greet the public and talk about NAMI programs for a few hours during an event when neighbors gather outdoors to share the strengths of their community. Let us know if you would like to join the outreach team.
Another fall season tradition for our affiliate is our “Stand Up to Stigma” scarecrow contest. September is the month for individuals, organizations, and businesses to make plans to create a scarecrow for our 8th annual event in Acton. The scarecrows are on display during the month of October, and the public votes for their favorite. It’s great fun! To learn more, go to: scarecrow-contest2023.
Our Crisis Card program numbers keep rising. Since spring we’ve distributed 10,000 cards within the geography of our affiliate. They went to hospitals, town social workers, clinicians who work with the police, and other stakeholders who connect with those seeking behavioral health crisis care. When we reached out to the Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH) hospitals in Winchester and Burlington, the Community Benefits team asked that we provide cards throughout their system of hospitals. We worked with NAMI Mass to create a Massachusetts-based card that features the NAMI Mass logo and a link to locate your local NAMI affiliate, along with the information about the new crisis care options. BILH ordered 6000 cards for their twelve hospitals. In conjunction with NAMI Mass, we are exploring the possibility of making the Massachusetts-based cards available in hospital emergency departments across the state.
Yes, September is a busy month. Remember to put your oxygen mask on first and take time for self-care!