The GiveBig Event has started!!!!

The 2012 GiveBig Event has begun!!  Click on the link below to donate to NAMI Greater Seattle!!

http://www.seattlefoundation.org/npos/Pages/NAMIGreaterSeattle.aspx?bv=nposearch

Huffington Post Article by Susan Inman

This article by Susan Inman, author of After her Brain Broke: Helping my Daughter find her Sanity, talks about an issue that all of us family members of loved ones with a mental illness go through at one point or another....blame.  What did we do to wrong to cause the illness of our family member?

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/susan-inman/schizophrenia_b_1411502.html

The Balanced Mind Support Groups

Talking care of or helping a young adult with mental illness can be stressful and overwhelming.  Its good to have people to talk to who share in your experiences.  If you cant go to a local support group in your community, how about joining an online support group?  The Balanced Mind offers several support group options for parents of children, teens and young adults with mood disorders.

http://www.thebalancedmind.org/connect/support-groups

Alexanders Voice on Facebook

Ive been slacking a little lately on this blog, Ive been dumping all of my mental illness info onto my Alexanders Voice Facebook page instead.  Here is the link if you want to take a look.

https://www.facebook.com/AlexandersVoice

I am back and focused on this blog, so new info to follow!

Indiegogo Crowd Funding Campaign

Ive set up an indiegogo crowd funding campaign to help raise money to keep the Young Adults with Schizophrenia Support Group going at NAMI Greater Seattle.  Please share this to your Facebook to help spread the word, and of course, any donation, big or small is appreciated!

http://www.indiegogo.com/NAMI-Greater-Seattle-Young-Adults-with-Schizophrenia-Weekly-Social-Group?a=392122

Family Guide to Mental Health

Support is so important for both people suffering from mental illness, and their family members!!  This is a great project, I hope it reaches its funding goals!

http://www.familyguidetomentalhealth.com/

Posit Science Mind Games

There is new evidence that shows that people with mental illness can improve their cognitive skills by exercising their minds....just like the old saying goes, "use it or lose it"!

http://www.positscience.com/games-teasers

Can computer games and exercises help the minds of people with Schizophrenia??

Brain training exercises may help reverse or lessen the cognitive symptoms of Schizophrenia!!


People with Schizophrenia often suffer from a long list of cognitive deficits that can affect attention, memory and the ability to set priorities and manage everyday affairs.  Brain training exercises "kick back into gear" the areas of the brain that have slowed down from the affects of Schizophrenia.  Just like physical exercise that keeps your body in shape, mental exercise helps keeps your mind sharp and "in shape" as well.  


http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=mind-games-can-computer-brain-train-2009-03-24

Bupropion

Good friends of mine, Frank & Mary Jane Thomas have been going through a very trying time as of late. Their older son Josh has been dealing with Schizoaffective disorder for about 2 years now, and took a turn for the worst about a week ago.  He suddenly, for the first time ever, became severely delusional and suicidal.  He was talking to his family about arrangements after his death, and even sharing his plans on how he was going to kill himself.  What a terrifying thing to hear come out of your child's mouth, or anyone for that matter.   Needless to say, they called 911, and got him to the hospital ASAP.

Josh was placed in a 72 hour hold, getting worse by the hour, refusing medication, and all of the sudden he agreed to medication, and signed himself in for a longer stay.  He has been responding to the medication and is slowly becoming more stable....he doesnt remember much about the last few days, how scary is that!   I pray that once he gets out, he will stay on his medication, and begin his recovery from this terrible illness.

One thing I would like to note, is that Josh was on a new anti psychotic medicine named Bupropion , which is noted to cause suicidal ideation, and suicidal tendencies in a small group of young adults between 18-24, and that is exactly what it did to Josh.  Keep a good eye on your loved ones as they change to new medications, most of the time they will help them, but once in a while they will have a negative reaction such as this, and need immediate medical attention.

Lots of prayers going out to Frank & MJ, I hope your journey gets easier from here, and know that your support system is always just a phone call, or an email away :)

Out of the Shadow

After years of consideration, filmmaker Susan Smiley decided she was finally ready to turn the camera on her own family because she felt there was a very important story to tell. The result became out of the shadow, the story of her family’s secret struggle to deal with her mother’s schizophrenia within the confines of the public health system.


Out of the Shadow is a provocative and courageous film, offering unprecedented insight into the day to day frustrations of the illness, not only for the person who suffers from it, but also the family and caregivers.


http://www.outoftheshadow.com/

People Say Im Crazy

John Cadigan filmed his life in order to show others what it is like to have a mental illness. His struggle proves that people with mental illness can not only survive, but thrive.

Not only does this film look fantastic, but the website itself has a ton of great information about Schizophrenia, coping with mental illness, and pages of inspiring stories from others who have suffered, and recovered, from mental illness.

http://www.peoplesayimcrazy.org/

Fundraising for NAMI Greater Seattle!!

I've joined the Fundraising Committee at NAMI Greater Seattle!











                                          We are working on new & creative ideas to raise money for the 2012 year.... and old reliable ones as well. :) Any suggestions or ideas are welcome!

Safe Call Now - 24 Hour Crisis Line for Public Safety Employees

First responders face a very high risk of suffering from PTSD after being involved in traumatic events day after day. They need to make sure to take care of themselves, and get the help that they need, just like the rest of us, to avoid mental health issues.

http://www.safecallnow.org/

Wife Blames Husbands Suicide on Upcoming 9th Deployment

Suicide is now killing more U.S. soldiers than active combat.  Things have got to change for the men and women fighting for our county, for their families, and for everyone suffering from PTSD.

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-widow-blames-husbands-suicide-on-9th-deployment-20110822,0,2525957.story

Allen Institute for Brain Science

The Allen Institute for Brain Science, located in Seattle, Washington, is comprised of a multidisciplinary staff committed to understanding how the brain works and helping to unlock the mysteries of neurological diseases and disorders affecting millions worldwide.

http://www.alleninstitute.org/

Paul Allen Gives Millions for Brain Research!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/22/health/research/paul-allen-adding-300-million-for-brain-research.html

Suicidal No More: Choosing to Live with Schizoaffective Disorder

The opening page to this blog gave me chills, and every page thereafter impressed me even more.  The owner of this blog is a gal named Jen, and she has Schizoaffective Disorder. She has been in recovery for quite a few years now, and has dedicated her time to this blog to help others in a similar situation.

http://www.suicidalnomore.com/p/about-this-blog.html

MentalHealthBlogs.org

This is a wonderful blog that provides links to numerous Mental Health related blogs, hence the title haha.  I could get lost on this blog for days.....


http://www.mentalhealthblogs.org/

Wallingford House - Seattle

Wallingford House is a place for people with mental illness to come and rebuild their lives. It is designed as a recovery community for individuals who have been socially and vocationally isolated by mental illness. The program hopes to offer members the chance to develop self-esteem, self-worth, confidence and a sense of purpose while building foundations to achieve other goals, such as employment and education.

http://www.wallingfordhouse.org/index.html

Hero House - Bellevue

Hero house provides educational, vocational and social opportunities to adults recovering from mental illness.

http://www.herohouse.org/

DESC

Here is a link to all of the Supportive Housing in King County, including the upcoming 105th & Aurora location!

http://www.desc.org/housing.html

The Washington Connection

This website, created with the help of the Gates Foundation, offers one-stop service for a variety of government programs offered by the state and city of Seattle -- everything from the Basic Food program (formerly called Food Stamps) and child care, to utility and medical assistance.


https://www.washingtonconnection.org/home/

One Mind for Research

The One Mind for Research program is dedicated to realizing preventions and cures for brain disorders that reach patients by the end of the decade.  Amazing!


http://www.1mind4research.org/

The Balanced Mind Foundation

The Balanced Mind Foundation provides resources and support for families raising children with mood disorders.  Take a look!

http://www.thebalancedmind.org/

Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA)

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America’s pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage get free or low-cost medicines through the public or private program that's right for them.

http://www.pparx.org/en/prescription_assistance_programs

Washington’s FREE Discount Prescription Drug Card Program

Printable prescription discount card that gives up to 75% off of medications for our loves ones!

http://www.washingtondrugcard.com/index.php

Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation

Johnson & Johnson has a patient assistance program that provides free prescription drugs to those who qualify!  Many antipsychotic medications & SSDI's are included!

http://www.jjpaf.org/how-we-help/index.html

Care 2 Make a Difference

This group provides helpful information on how to get the benefits you are entitled to,petitions to be signed and finding ways to have our voices heard by politicians. AND it's a place we can SHARE about our Disabilities and our struggles!

tp://www.care2.com/c2c/group/HelpForTheDisabled

Discovery of Antibiotics that alleviate the symptoms of Schizophrenia

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/scientists-shocked-to-find-antibiotics-alleviate-symptoms-of-schizophrenia-7469121.html

The NAMI National Convention is being held in Seattle, June 27-30.

The 2012 convention theme, Think, Learn and Live: Wellness, Resiliency and Recovery, highlights this year’s focus on developing effective programs and resources to increase resiliency and advance recovery.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact your local NAMI chapter for more information.

http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=convention

Put together a team and walk for Suicide Prevention!!

Below is a link to create a team for the UW Campus "Out of the Darkness" walk held on April 14th, 2012. The walk will raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

General Link: http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.eventDetails&eventID=1791

If you would like to donate through the team that I have already created, please go to my NAMI GS F2F page and donate there!

NAMI GS F2F Link: http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&eventID=1791&teamID=33000

Help eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness

Bring Change to Mind is an anti-stigma campaign founded by actress Glenn Close, who has first hand experience living with multiple family members who suffer from a mental illness.


http://bringchange2mind.org/

Mental Ilness: The Stigma of Silence

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glenn-close/mental-illness-the-stigma_b_328591.html

JUST ONE LESSON ON MENTAL ILLNESS could make all the difference in the lives of young people whose lives have been thrown tragically off course by no fault brain disorders

http://www.btslessonplans.org/