News Briefs

Ohio's Voice on Mental Illness
State affiliate of the
National Alliance for the Mentally  Ill

Excerpts from the latest issue of the NAMI Ohio News Briefs:

NAMI Ohio
           Freedom  Project

Goal 1:Americans Understand that  Mental Health is Essential to Overall Health

Recommendations:
- Advance and implement a national campaign to reduce stigma of seeking  care and a national strategy for suicide prevention
-  Address mental health with the same urgency as physical health

Understanding the Goal
- Many people with mental illnesses go untreated
- Stigma impedes people from getting the care they need
- Suicide presents serious challenges
- Better coordination is needed between mental health care and primary health care
- Mental health financing poses challenges
- Services and funding are fragmented across several programs
- Financing sources can be restrictive

Achieving the Goal
- Public education activities can help encourage people to seek treatment
- Swift action is needed to  prevent suicide
- Recognize  the connection between mental health and physical health
- Address unique needs of mental health financing


    NAMI Ohio Action Steps
    1. Advocacy and education efforts will promote understanding of mental health as vital to overall health.

    2. Anti-stigma campaign:
           ·  Utilize public service announcements (TV and radio).
           · Coordinate annual Mental Illness Awareness Week activities throughout Ohio in cooperation with local NAMI affiliates.
           · Support stigma-busting activities including candlelight vigils and mental health walk events across Ohio.

    3. Speaking Engagements:

      · High school  and college presentations.

      · New-hire orientations for mental health and human services agencies.

      · College  faculty orientation.

      · Professional associations (nursing, legal, medical, etc.).

      · Service  organizations (Rotary, Veterans, Leadership Councils,  etc.).
            


                  

    4. Educational Presentations:
                 · Criminal justice personnel.

      · Health and human services providers.

      · Mental health  professionals.

      · Business leaders.

      · Teacher  in-services.

        · College and  high school class presentations.
                              


                                    

    3. Display exhibits and distribute NAMI  materials at conferences, workshops, health fairs, county fairs, local affiliate  events and county based events around Ohio.

    4. Distribute NAMI brochures, posters and  information to provider agencies, state psychiatric facilities (BHOs), physicians’ offices, community organizations and businesses around Ohio.

    5. Provide Consumer Quality Review Team (CQRT) survey data to local stakeholders for use in systems improvement  efforts.

    6. Legislative testimony on issues having  direct impact on consumers and families.

    7. Disseminate topic-specific brochures/Fact Sheets.

    8. Distribute National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) outreach materials.

    9. Increase visibility of NAMI information brochures throughout for-profit businesses and health care providers.
                                  

    New Freedom Commission Goals and Recommendations
          Goal 1       Goal 2   Goal 3   Goal 4   Goal 5   Goal 6


                                      

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