Advocate Support Blog

NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore

The NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) network includes over 1200 local affiliates, 50 state affiliates, plus affiliates in Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, with a growing national membership of over 220,000.

 

NAMI-Metropolitan Baltimore, Inc. is a grassroots, family-oriented support, education and advocacy organization founded in 1981. Their programs are executed mostly by volunteers, but they are one of the larger and more organizationally sophisticated affiliates in the national NAMI movement. 

For more information visit NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore | Home.

Still need a flu shot?

Free Books in Baltimore

Please see the following link for information on how to get free books in Baltimore.  Pass info on to clients...

http://www.bookthing.org/

Maryland Economic Woes Means No Medicaid Inflation Increase for Community Mental Health & Substance Abuse Providers

Following is a video of Maryland's Governor Martin O'Malley, from July 21, 2009, in which he announces that he is seeking $4 billion in cuts to Maryland's budget by this Labor Day. 

br>

However, a July 22, 2009 article in the Baltimore Business Journal, Maryland Board of Public Works approves O'Malley budget cuts, by Ryan Sharrow, reported, "Maryland’s Board of Public Works unanimously approved Wednesday Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposal to slash $280 million from the state’s current budget. The cuts are the first step in trimming more than $700 million of the state’s $14 billion budget, a move precipitated by plunging tax revenue. O’Malley plans to introduce the remaining cuts by Labor Day."

The Baltimore Sun reported, "Among the hardest hit in this round of budget cuts would be Medicaid providers. The governor plans to save $24 million by paying only for hospital stays of a certain length under Medicaid, $23 million by reducing Medicaid rates for nursing homes and $13 million by taking away an inflation increase for providers of community mental health, substance abuse and other services." $280M in state budget cuts approved At least $420 million in further reductions planned before Labor Day, By Julie Bykowicz, July 22, 2009

Maryland's Board of Public Works is a three-member board which is comprised of Governor Martin O'Malley, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot.

Marijuana Debate

I have noticed that there has been a lot of talk about marijuana in the last week. I watched the following news story the other morning on NBC's Today Show.

I thought that using California's current financial problems as an excuse to expand legalization as pretty week, but it appears that it may work.

Out of curiosity I signed up for Google Alerts for "Marijuana" last Friday. This service sends me emails of all news stories on a particular topic and I chose the "as it occurs" option. My email exploded over the past three days and I will need to delete the alerts as soon as I am done with this post to regain control of my email account.

As someone who was not very informed about the subject, and the current debate, I have learned a lot and I am surprised about how divisive this issue is. I found the current marijuana debate in the United States to be similarly charged as debates on abortion and homosexuality. 

Even if California doesn't succeed in legalizing marijuana in the next year, medical marijuana seems to be gaining greater acceptance. 

New Hampshire's Governor vetoed a medical marijuana bill on Friday and then CBS reported on Sunday that 41% of American's now support legalization.

The conversation is heating up. Please share your views. I would like to hear your views.

The Animal Odd Couple

Watch this clip from the CBS Evening News about best friends, Bella and Tara.

Isn't it cool how watching a video on your computer can evoke feelings?

How did you feel and how do you feel now?

Annual Maryland Schizophrenia Conference - 2008

Maryland will be holding its' annual Schizophrenia Conference on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at the BWI Airport Marriott.

This event is sponsored by:
• The Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Mental Hygiene Administration
• Mental Health Services Training Center, University of Maryland
• Spring Grove Hospital Center
• Maryland Psychiatric Research Center
• Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland
• NAMI Maryland
• Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland
• VA Capitol Health Care, Network
• Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center
• Sheppard Pratt Health System

The contact for this event is Wendy Baysmore, 410-646-7758

On-Line Registration will begin mid September

Check their web site for updates: http://trainingcenter.umaryland.edu/

Download Schizophrenia.2.pdf

Check out Mental Health Notes

Advocate Support Blog just received a nice mention today on Mental Health Notes, by Alicia Sparks. So, I thought it only decent, to mention her site and provide a link to the post, CHECK OUT THESE NEW MENTAL HEALTH BLOGS, which also lists other mental health blogs worth checking out.

I am not just returning a nice gesture. Mental Health Notes is a site worth visiting. Alicia is a writer who does her homework, frequently cites many sources to support her positions, and clearly puts a lot of thought into what she posts. Although, she does sporadically comment on an actor, whom she adores, and stars on a Fox television show which I'm not hip to.

Anyway, Mental Health Notes is a good resource for anyone interested in mental health and I urge you to visit and subscribe if you like.

Depression

To learn more about depression and bipolar, check out the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.

If you need immediate help or if you are having thoughts of death or suicide, call
1-800-273-TALK or if you need immediate assistance call 911
or go to a hospital emergency room.

African American Mental Health Facts

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, has published facts about mental health for the African American community. I don't really care for the title, but the document contains interesting and important information such as:

Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character, or poor upbringing.

African Americans are less likely to receive diagnosis and treatment for mental illnesses.

Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability (lost years of productive life) in the North America,
Europe and, increasingly, in the world. By 2020, Major Depressive illness will be the leading cause of
disability in the world for women and children.

You can read the entire document HERE.