NAMI-Colorado Springs » Featured http://www.namicoloradosprings.org NAMI is dedicated to the eradication of mental illnesses and to the improvement of quality of life. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:16:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 New Social Networking Site for College-Age Adults http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/new-social-networking-site-for-college-age-adults http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/new-social-networking-site-for-college-age-adults#comments Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:13:04 +0000 admin http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/new-social-networking-site-for-college-age-adults Stressed Out? New Social Networking Site for College-Age Adults: Mental Health, Music and More –

ARLINGTON, Va., April 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Freshman year. Final exams. Life after graduation. The pressures of college transitions involve many competing demands, including in some cases, mental health concerns.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has launched StrengthofUs.org, a new online community where young adults, ages 18-25, can provide mutual support in navigating challenges and opportunities before, during and after the college years.

“Young adulthood is an exciting challenge, but also a confusing and stressful time for anyone,” said Michael Fitzpatrick, NAMI executive director. “Life can throw things at you fast.”

Developed by college students and other young adults, StrengthofUs.org is a user-driven social networking community where a person can connect with peers, share personal stories, creativity and helpful resources by writing and responding to blog entries, engaging in discussion groups and sharing videos, photos and other news. It offers resources on:

· Mental health issues
· Healthy relationships
· Family and friends
· Campus life
· Independent living
· Finances
· Employment
· Housing

“StrengthofUs.org is about helping and inspiring each other,” said Alex White, age 23, a member of the advisory group who helped develop the site. “I would not be alive today if it had not been for the love, care and support I received from family, friends and loved ones.”

A Montana State University graduate, White was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 13. He attempted suicide before gaining control of the illness, but now leads a happy, productive life in New York City. He has made an award-winning short film, Une Vignette de Melancolie, about depression that has played internationally.

On April 21, the site will host a “launch party” featuring a remix of the song “Goodmorning” from the upcoming Derivatives album by William Fitzsimmons, who worked helping people with mental illness before turning a passion for music into his profession. He was named an iTunes Best Singer-Songwriter for his album The Sparrow and the Crow and his music has been featured on the television show Grey’s Anatomy.

The launch coincides with the recent deaths of three students from suicides at Cornell University and reports of increasing cases of depression and anxiety on college campuses nationwide.
“I think that depression and suicide are the largest health issues facing college students at this time,” said Alan Glass, director of St. Louis’s Washington University student health services and American College Health Association board member, in an interview with the school’s independent student newspaper.

NAMI created the StrengthofUs community through the support of the Rodwell Dart Memorial Foundation, established by Hailey Dart, in loving memory of her son, Roddy, who lost his life at age 22.

]]> http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/new-social-networking-site-for-college-age-adults/feed 0 Professional Provider Training http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/professional-provider-training-2 http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/professional-provider-training-2#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:38:14 +0000 admin http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/professional-provider-training-2 The NAMI Provider Education Program was designed to help line staff at public agencies learn this new approach by attending a 30-hour course. In 10 weeks, staff are given basic classes in diagnosis, brain research and medications, plus specific sessions on how to work with clients and families in a collaborative manner. The primary knowledge base of the course is experience of consumers and family members relating to all aspects of a serious brain disorder; the purpose of the course is to help providers “see our lives” from the inside so that effective, equitable partnerships can guide the treatment process.

Space Limited. Register Now By Calling:
(719) 633-4601 Ext. 123

Where: Springs Rescue Mission
5 West Las Vegas
Colorado Springs CO 80905

Organized by : NAMI and the
El Paso County Co-Occurring Collaborative

]]> http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/professional-provider-training-2/feed 0 The Americanization of Mental Illness http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/the-americanization-of-mental-illness http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/the-americanization-of-mental-illness#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:01:10 +0000 admin http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/the-americanization-of-mental-illness New York Times article on The Americanization of Mental Illness

By ETHAN WATTERS
Published: January 8, 2010

AMERICANS, particularly if they are of a certain leftward-leaning, college-educated type, worry about our country’s blunders into other cultures. In some circles, it is easy to make friends with a rousing rant about the McDonald’s near Tiananmen Square, the Nike factory in Malaysia or the latest blowback from our political or military interventions abroad. For all our self-recrimination, however, we may have yet to face one of the most remarkable effects of American-led globalization. We have for many years been busily engaged in a grand project of Americanizing the world’s understanding of mental health and illness. We may indeed be far along in homogenizing the way the world goes mad.

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/magazine/10psyche-t.html

]]> http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/the-americanization-of-mental-illness/feed 0 CS Indy GIVE! Campaign A Success http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/cs-indy-give-campaign-a-success http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/cs-indy-give-campaign-a-success#comments Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:13:21 +0000 admin http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/cs-indy-give-campaign-a-success The CS Independent GIVE! Campaign closed on 31 December, 2009. The campaign surpassed its goal of $150,000 and of that over $4700 was donated to NAMI Colorado Springs! Thanks to everyone who donated to this year’s GIVE! Campaign!

]]> http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/cs-indy-give-campaign-a-success/feed 0 Professional Provider Training http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/professional-provider-training http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/professional-provider-training#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:25:33 +0000 admin http://www.namicoloradosprings.org/?p=1445 The NAMI Provider Education Program was designed to help mental health providers learn this new approach by attending a 30-hour course. In 10 weeks, staff are given basic classes in diagnosis, brain research and medications, plus specific sessions on how to work with clients and families in a collaborative manner. The purpose of the course is to help providers “see our lives” from the inside so that effective, equitable partnerships can guide the treatment process. The primary knowledge base of these training sessions is both scientific and experiential , relying on the experience of consumers and family members and principles of empowerment and collaboration relating to all aspects of serious brain disorder. The training will include 4 classes on the bio-psycho-social perspective of treatment.

FREE
Space Limited. Register Now By Calling:
(719) 633-4601 Ext. 123

Where: Pikes Peak Mental Health – Moreno Office
875 West Moreno Ave.
Colorado Springs CO 80905

When: Every Tuesday for Ten Weeks
Beginning Tuesday, February 16, 2010
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Note: If you are interested in taking this class but can’t attend this session, please call and leave a message about your interest, for example if you would like an evening or Saturday morning class. You can also leave a message at NAMI office for Cheryl Baeza. I check questions on the website from time to time. This is the second of six 10 week classes to be offered over the next 2 years.

Organized by : NAMI and the
El Paso County Co-Occurring Collaborative

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