NAMI Minnesota 2010 Annual Report making strides TOGETHER NAMI MINNESOTA’s mission is to champion justice, dignity, and respect for all people affected by mental illness (biological brain disorders). Through education, advocacy, and support, we strive to eliminate the pervasive stigma of mental illness, effect positive changes in the mental health system, and increase the public and professional understanding of mental illness. They say that all things change with time, but we at NAMI Minnesota know that Strides in Education LEARNING in order for things to improve, you have to change them yourself. As part of our Of our three core components, knowledge forms the foundation because, 5-year strategic plan, Leadership for Change, we have developed three proven when applied to mental illness, it has the ability to produce the most immediate strategies designed to change the way Minnesotans think about and respond to results. Whether seeking proper medication, facing stigma or navigating mental illnesses. With the tools of education, support, and advocacy, NAMI through the mental health care system, NAMI reaches out to everyone — offers a clear vision of the road to recovery and a standard of excellence that families, professionals, and the public at large. The need for knowledge is has galvanized more members and supporters, making us thousands strong. growing, as evidenced by the more than 4,000 phone calls and emails fielded this year by our staff and volunteers. NAMI Minnesota has expanded in all directions, reaching more people and touching the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families. Educating families Every day we work for change by providing support groups, teaching classes, holding workshops and reaching deeper into the community. Every week during Knowledge is what we need. Knowledge of how to deal with the legislative session we come together at the state capitol for the sake of justice, these behaviors. You become a help to others by passing on dignity and a better mental health care system. Through united advocacy efforts, we rally with perseverance and perspiration against cuts to mental health programs, what you’ve learned along the way, and it’s not only that telling our stories and speaking up for those whose voices cannot be heard. I’m giving, I’m always learning too. – Robby Anderson, NAMI teacher & parent It’s a whole lot of regular and ongoing steps rather than More than doubling our targeted goal, this year we reached over 2,480 families who were in need of help. Our classes are peer-to-peer and taught by NAMI one big thing that really makes a difference. members who have been there. By offering their testimony and learned – Steve Lepinski, Executive Director, Washburn Child Guidance Center experience, these members, through free classes, help families cope with mental illnesses by providing concrete, practical steps to help their family member. Class feedback from Family-to-Family, Hope for Recovery, and Children’s Challenging Behaviors reported improved outcomes for everyone involved because, as one family member put it, when one person in the family goes through it, everybody goes through it. 1 2 A new project began this year to educate families who have children with intense Discharge Planning: Ending the Cycle of Recidivism, which explores how two GROWING mental health care needs and to work with residential providers to help them Minnesota counties (Stearns and Steele) have dramatically reduced recidivism become family-driven and family-centered. Also new is a Family Connections class by connecting inmates to resources before their release from jail. The video for those living with a loved one with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The will go to cable TV stations, counties and criminal justice staff. class provides the most current information on BPD, teaches coping skills based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and helps families develop a support network. The most difficult engagement I had was speaking at a This class filled up within one week and the next class already has a waiting list. hospital where a year prior I had been a patient. I went back There are not a lot of resources for families to turn to for to speak to the psychiatrists and nurses and staff. They don’t education and support. NAMI is an enormous asset to get to hear the stories of recovery and hope. I wanted them to the community. know that they helped me move on. – Steve Lepinski, Executive Director, Washburn Child Guidance Center – Brian Jost, author and public speaker Educating professionals To reach more hospital staff, NAMI completed a new online training program NAMI Minnesota reached over 1,400 professionals and community members launched in the fall of 2010. The purpose of the class is to reduce stigma, teach through 35 different classes offered throughout the state. We provided training for de-escalation techniques and promote empathy. Mental Health First Aid training education staff, clergy and church members, senior care providers and emergency was also offered to help therapists, nurses, family members, mental health staff room staff. This year marked the first time law enforcement officers were able to and others support an individual during a mental health crisis until professional receive Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) credits from a NAMI class help can arrive. Five hundred participants attended the 23 classes. while learning about the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses, de-escalation strategies, and community-based resources to help those experiencing a mental We continue to expand our reach into the community by adding new programs health crisis. statewide. This year we trained 17 new speakers for a program called In Our Own Voice. Visiting schools, hospitals and other organizations, teams of Through our Criminal Justice Project, over 715 corrections, probation and law speakers shared their stories of recovery, giving 28 presentations throughout enforcement officers were trained. NAMI created a new DVD called, Jail the year to reach a total audience of more than 300. 3 4 IMPROVING Educating the public to older adults and veterans, to members of Latino, LGBT and The benefits of knowledge cannot be underestimated when it comes to the African American communities. pervasive stigma surrounding mental illnesses. Early diagnosis and treatment works, but people live with symptoms an average of ten years before seeking NAMI has seen a marked increase in calls from diverse communities this year, help, preferring to keep their illness secret for fear of losing jobs, health insurance and the Myths & Stigma workshop grew in attendance from 41 persons in 2008 or friends. These are the children, parents and siblings we live with, our neighbors, to 287 people this year. As relationships and collaborations with multicultural co-workers and friends. communities and faith organizations expand, public awareness also increases. This helps to reduce stigma and leads to the reduction of the disparity in access People don’t want to be labeled. Mental health immediately to quality mental health care. conjures up the idea of being crazy and that unfortunately What NAMI is doing and continues to do is the intentional is the underlying tone surrounding some of these issues, outreach to the African American community. They find particularly in the African American community. I have found stakeholders and influential people to help be their drum that when people get help, their lives change significantly. If we major on this issue. I find the way in which we support eliminate the stigma, people are able to live much better lives. mental health practitioners to be really lacking, nationally – Representative Jeff Hayden and especially in this state. People don’t seek care because Minnesota’s largest anti-stigma event, NAMIWalks for the Mind of America, saw a there aren’t enough practitioners who are culturally aware record 2,300 attendees this year. The event raised nearly $300,000 and continues to grow by the hundreds each year. It is recognized as one of the largest and most and sensitive and know how to treat them. In the same way successful walks in the country. We become the change we want to see by taking that we combat stigma, we need to have a strategy here. We action, by getting out and getting the help we need, and by speaking up about have to understand the practical application of what we are mental illnesses to help educate others. As NAMI member Brian Jost put it, “The more I talk about it, the more I feel it’s okay to talk about it.” We are talking in trying to do, which is to get high-quality practitioners that high schools through The Silver Ribbon Campaign and we are reaching out reflect the community they serve. 5 – Representative Jeff Hayden 6 SUPPORTING To serve our community, NAMI Minnesota continues to be seen as the go-to I enjoy leading the group because I can actually see par- organization for mental health, appearing in 1,500 articles in over 250 publications, producing DVD’s, booklets, and several documentaries for public television. Our ticipants relax after being given the opportunity to vent in educational booth at the State Fair attracted an estimated 7,000 visitors. Our eighth a safe place. Resources in our area are scarce and I think annual Research Dinner, Spring Gala with live Jazz musicians, and our annual conference, Making Strides Together, all attracted full houses and influential keynote this group fills a need. speakers such as Terrie M. Williams, author of Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re – Louise Newsom, NAMI Connection facilitator Not Hurting. Studies have shown that participation in peer-led support programs help Providing Support improve the overall mental health and quality of life of participants, as well as reducing the distress individuals experience from their symptoms.