February at NAMI Finger Lakes

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E-News- February 11, 2022

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At National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Finger Lakes affiliate, we provide advocacy, education and support for families, friends and caregivers of people living with mental health conditions. In our monthly e-news, we share events and resources of interest to our mental health community. You'll find more resources and information at our website namifingerlakes.org

NAMI Finger Lakes

Information: 607-288-2460

HELP Line: 607-273-2462

[email protected]

namifingerlakes.org

Find Crisis Resources

The NAMI Finger Lakes Crisis File contains valuable resources for families in search of help during a mental health crisis.

NAMI Finger Lakes Upcoming Support Groups

NAMI FL Family Support Groups are led by trained facilitators who have lived experience with loved ones who live with mental health conditions. At NAMI support groups, we share concerns, coping skills, and compassion in a supportive environment.

NAMI FL virtual support groups currently meet on Zoom.

To register, please contact us via email at [email protected] or call 607-288-2460 with your name, preferred phone number and email and the date of the meeting you wish to attend.

**PLEASE NOTE- You must register for each group you wish to attend. Please contact us as requested above 2 hours prior to the meeting you wish to attend so we don’t miss your request.**

NAMI Support Groups are for people 18 and over who have a loved one living with a mental health condition. Groups meet for 1 & 1/2 hours.

Family Support Group:

Monday, February 21st at 1:30 PM- Virtual Family Support Group
Tuesday, March 1st at 7:00 PM- Virtual Family Support Group

Partner/Spouse Support Group:

Thursday, February 24th at 7:00 PM– Virtual Partner/Spouse Group–
for adults 18 and over who have a partner/spouse who lives with a mental health condition.

NEW!

In Person Group- NAMI Finger Lakes Family Support Winter Wellness Walk:

Friday, February 25th at 1:00 PM- Location sent upon registration

This group is for adults 18 and over who’s loved one has experienced a mental health condition. We’ll gather at an outdoor Ithaca location weather permitting.
For the safety of our participants and volunteers, vaccination is required for attendance.

Click to view our Support Group Materials

Need support now?

Call the NAMI Finger Lakes Help Line at 607-273-2462

Our Help Line is answered by local NAMI family members who have experience with loved ones living with mental illness.

NAMI Finger Lakes Board of Directors Opportunites

NAMI Finger Lakes Board of Directors has opportunities for new volunteer members and advisors.

NAMI Finger Lakes is your local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of the millions of Americans impacted by mental health conditions. As a leader in Mental Health support, education and advocacy in the region, NAMI Finger Lakes provides free programs and support to families, friends and caregivers of people experiencing mental illness.

NAMI Finger Lakes Board members have a unique opportunity to be connected to one of the nation’s most trusted mental health organizations, and to shape the future of our own local affiliate during such an exciting time in our history. We would value your passion and experience on this board as we shape the future of NAMI Finger Lakes.

With humble beginnings in the home of our founder, Jean Walters, NAMI Finger Lakes has grown into a thriving 501(c)(3) organization with the support of volunteer program leaders and board members. Their commitment to fulfilling the NAMI mission in our community has sustained this organization for 35 years. We ask that you consider being a part of this mission by joining the NAMI Finger Lakes Board of Directors in 2022.

With so many changes to the landscape of mental health services and supports, funding and treatment modalities, and community response, this is an exciting time to be a part of the possibilities to come for our loved ones and families impacted by mental health conditions. We hope you’ll consider joining us this year.

For more about serving on the board and to familiarize yourself with NAMI Finger Lakes, please visit Board Member Opportunities

Thank you for taking the time to consider being a part of the NAMI Finger Lakes Board of Directors.

Please contact Board Member, Cheryl Jewell ([email protected] 607-342-1457) or Executive Director, Beth McGee ([email protected] 607-288-2460) for more information or to apply.

Upcoming NAMI Finger Lakes Family to Family Course Still Time To Register!

To register, email to [email protected]

or call 607-288-2460 and leave a message with your name, phone number and email.

NAMI Finger Lakes Free 8-Session Family to Family Education course- Tuesdays, March 1st through April 19th , 6:30-9:00 PM.

NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 8-session educational program for family, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. It is a designated evidenced-based program. This means that research shows that the program significantly improves the coping and problem-solving abilities of the people closest to a person with a mental health condition.

This Family to Family Class will be held on Zoom.

NAMI Family-to-Family is taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there, and includes presentations, discussions and interactive exercises.

Participant Perspectives:

"The course gave me hope that it will be okay, that I am not alone and reduced a lot of shame, guilt and hopelessness."

"I wish I'd known about this seven years ago when the problem began. I felt safe in this class. I was able to talk about things I haven't been comfortable expressing elsewhere."

NAMI Family-to-Family not only provides information and strategies for taking care of the person you love, but you'll also find out that you're not alone. Recovery is a journey, and there is hope.

The group setting of NAMI Family-to-Family provides mutual support and shared positive impact—experience compassion and reinforcement from people who understand your situation. Sharing your own experience may help others in your class. In the program, you'll learn about:

How to solve problems and communicate effectively
Taking care of yourself and managing your stress
Supporting your loved one with compassion
Finding and using local supports and services
Up-to-date information on mental health conditions and how they affect the brain
How to handle a crisis
Current treatments and therapies
The impact of mental health conditions on the entire family

Space is limited, so please be in touch soon if you have interest in attending this virtual session of Family to Family.

Find NAMI Finger Lakes Online!

Click to Donate

paypal button- NAMI Finger Lakes Doantion

Thank you for your support!

By Mail:
NAMI Finger lakes

PO Box 6544

Ithaca, NY 14851

Did you know gambling addiction has the highest rate of suicide of any addiction?
How do you know if you or your loved one have a gambling addiction?

What can you do and where can you find help?

NAMI Finger Lakes welcomed Jenna Hotaling to Family Forum to discuss gambling addiction, treatment, resources, recovery and more. Don't miss this informative event.

Click to View

Mental Health News

Tompkins County Mental Health reports that intakes have resumed at the Mental Health Clinic.

Tompkins County has heard our pleas for transparency and easy access to public meetings related to mental health. To learn about the Community Services Board and its Sub-Committees- meetings, minutes and applications for appointment (YES! You can serve too!)- visit: Tompkins County Community Services Board online.

Advocacy for mental health services is so important. Tompkins County has advisory boards that provide guidance to the County Legislature.

One way to make an impact is to participate in a local board or committee on Mental Health. Individual and family mental health experience is critical to helping our community meet the growing need for services and support.

At this month's Community Services Board Meeting: it was mentioned that there are openings on the CSB and its committees. There's never been a better time to apply. Visit the website to learn more about what the board and its committee members do and how to apply. Your voice of experience can make a difference.

Don't Forget!

Tompkins County is continuing to engage the public in a collaborative process to re-imagine public safety. To participate in this process, visit the website below and sign up for updates, attend online public comment events and share your ideas to make an impact on the process.

We ask that friends of NAMI Finger Lakes engage in the Reimagining Public Safety process. There are many ways to contribute- share your experience-positive and challenging- with the current crisis response system, listen and support others, engage your legislators, and encourage others to participate.

If you're advocating for mental health services and support in our community, please reach out and email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear about it and appreciate all you do!

Go To Reimagining Public Safety Website

"Tell your story and you will

rewrite the stories of others."

~Dan Gillison, NAMI CEO

Dear NAMI Finger Lakes Members,

Your voice is needed to help advance NAMI-NYS’s Action Agenda to increase access to mental health services and decriminalize mental illness. NAMI-NYS will be holding their Legislative Action Weeks through the middle of March and I encourage you to register to participate.

NAMI-NYS has also created resources to help you effectively tell your story to legislators. I also want to remind you that you do not need to tell your story to participate in a meeting. Here are NAMI-NYS’s advocacy resources:

2022 Mock Advocacy Meeting Video-Watch NAMI-NYS staff and board enact a legislative meeting and use actual stories from NAMI-NYS members to explain the importance of our 2022 Action Agenda.
NAMI Smarts Advocacy Guide to Effectively Telling Your Story
Talking Points on NAMI-NYS’s 2022 Action Agenda Priorities.

If you have any questions about NAMI-NYS’s Action Agenda or participating in meetings you can contact NAMI-NYS’s Director of Public Affairs Matthew Shapiro at [email protected].

Take Action: Support Funding 9-8-8 Now!

Click here to sign-up for NAMI-NYS 9-8-8 Action Network to receive updates on NYS 9-8-8 advocacy initiatives.

Register today

for NAMI-NYS’s Legislative Action Weeks. The registration site also includes plenty of resources to help our members project their advocacy

voices and demystify meeting with our legislators.

Family & Children's Service of Ithaca Workshop

Navigating Mental Health and Special Education Workshop for Caregivers- Online Event

Thu, February 24, 2022

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM EST

$15

Have you noticed that your child is in need of more support than they are currently receiving in the school system? The process of navigating services and advocating for your child can feel overwhelming, no matter where you currently are in the process. This workshop can help you

understand what resources and services are available to you, where to start, and what your next steps will be.