The National Alliance on Mental Illness Mid-Hudson Affiliate provides services and resources
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) one in five adults experience a mental illness. In the Mid-Hudson Valley there are organizations that work to promote mental wellness and provide resources, however there is still a stigma surrounding mental health.
Tina Lee, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Mid-Hudson Affiliate (NAMI-MH) works on promoting resources and eradicating stigma through education. “Would anybody be afraid to talk about cancer or a cold?” Lee asked. “So, why mental health? There’s still that stigma, people are afraid to talk about it. I think the more we talk about it, the more it will become normal.”
According to a study by researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center released April 2017, more Americans than ever before suffer from serious psychological distress, but the country is not meeting the demands for mental health services. “With mental health, you have to wait,” Lee said. “Your psychiatric appointments are out months, you can’t see a psychiatrist right away, and then on top of it, some people don’t think they’re ill, so they’re walking around ill.”
Lee feels some of this disconnect can be solved by improving one’s mental health literacy and ability to recognize the signs. NAMI-MH recently received a United Way grant that has been used to present “Ending the Silence” to over 870 students at Beacon High School. “Ending the Silence” is a NAMI initiative that promotes mental health literacy.
“It’s very different,” Lee said. “We’re not talking at the students; we’re talking with the students about mental health, the warning signs, and suicide prevention, and the biggest thing is the resources.” Lee said this program really changes attitudes and saves lives. She explained that as part of the presentation a young adult speaks about the realities of recovery and how it is still a maintenance every day.
In 2016, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a health bill that would mandate mental health education in elementary, junior high, and high schools. By July 2018 every school will need to incorporate mental health education.
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, and NAMI-MH is an affiliate serving Dutchess and Ulster counties by offering many mental health resources and services. Lee said that one of the organization’s challenges is finding funding. “It’s already established: early intervention prevention works,” Lee said. “For everything, for physical illness, nobody questions that. But it’s interesting when it comes to mental health, that’s the least funded program. People question it, because they want to see numbers. I always say I don’t care what the numbers are; one suicide is one suicide too many.”
NAMI-MH has been in collaboration with the Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital for over twenty years, and, according to Lee, has recently made great progress in getting families connected with resources.
One of NAMI’s programs that is currently in place in Dutchess County is the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program. The program takes place each month in Dutchess County, and each session includes a 40 hour training. Every law enforcement officer in Dutchess County either has to attend the CIT training or complete mental health first-aid. “What I’ve seen is these officers want to help but they don’t have the tools,” Lee said. “The goal is not to have them be a clinician or a social worker; it’s a mental health first aid person.”
Steve Miccio, CEO of People’s Inc, a peer-run advocacy and support organization for mental health challenges, directs the delivery of the CIT program in Dutchess County. Miccio also worked to implement the first Crisis Stabilization Center in New York that opened earlier this year. “I think this county is starting to recognize the importance of peer support,” Lee said. “Because once that loved one is out of the hospital, what happens next? For that individual to stay in recovery and move forward, there has to be partnership, there has to be collaboration among agencies and also, families have to educated on how to best support their loved one.”
One location where those suffering from mental illness often don’t get the treatment they need is in jail. NAMI created an inmate medication form that has been implemented by NAMI Los Angeles and NAMI-MH. “If a loved one gets incarcerated and then there’s a mental health issue, not always, but typically it’s because they came off of their medication,” Lee said. “So the family’s able to relay that information without any HIPAA involved and get that information relayed to the jail clinical staff.” This form is the first on the East Coast, and Lee hopes to expand this initiative even further.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, call 1–800–273-TALK (8255). For the 24/7 Dutchess County Helpline call or text (845) 485–9700. For the Ulster County Helpline call (845) 338–2370 or call or text (845) 679–2485.
