The Iris. From the President s Desk. NAMI Wake County 1 The Iris

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1 The Iris Vol 36 No 1. January, February, March 2017 Editor, Ann Akland, (919) From the President s Desk During our Annual Meeting in November, NAMI Wake County members welcomed Harry Payne as our Executive Director. This is a major milestone for our organization. Through many years of dedicated outreach, the NAMI Wake Board of Directors, committed to making this transition to become the only staffed NAMI affiliate in North Carolina. We believe the best approach for us to better serve our members and the growing Wake County community is to build a nonprofit organization with dedicated resources made up of paid staff, valuable volunteers and community supporters. Andrea Chase President NAMI Wake County 1 The Iris Since joining NAMI Wake, Harry has been a strong advocate for our affiliate. His previous experience in advocacy is a true asset. We have a strong leader moving us forward as we all work together to ensure access to quality mental health treatment here in Wake County. In addition to meeting Harry, our members elected NAMI Wake Treasurer, Paul Robitaille, to another two year term. We are grateful for Paul s commitment to serve our affiliate in this role. As we enter 2017, NAMI Wake s 30th anniversary, we will continue to depend on our members to support our efforts by volunteering to end stigma, renewing your membership, inviting NAMI Wake to speak at community events, leading and promoting NAMI education classes and support groups and joining us as mental health advocates. Above L to R: Christine Taylor, Virginia Rodillas, Anju Verma Left L to R: Harry Payne, Sheron Sumner, Louise Jordan, Michael Rulison Below L to R: Kathy Dunfy, Alden Hanson, Mary O Neal

2 NAMI Wake County 2 The Iris The Doctor is in... Greetings to all! It is a pleasure to provide you our readers with insightful information to guide you in understanding mental illness and the treatment options available. I will cover two cutting edge therapies available in our community, and in my next column I will go over the ongoing growth of pharmacogenetic testing. The available new therapies are transcranial magnetic stimulation and ketamine infusion. I will cover both therapies, but please understand these treatments are not well covered by insurance and in many cases insurance will not cover either of these therapies. Also, before considering such treatment, please have a clear and meaningful discussion with your treating psychiatrist as new therapies are not for everyone. Allow me to begin with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. This therapy is a non-invasive method of brain stimulation using electromagnetic induction for the treatment of severe and persistent depression. Insurance companies require many failed treatment attempts before they will approve paying for TMS. TMS treats depression by using an insulated coil that is placed over the scalp. The electromagnetic induction is focused on an area of the brain thought to play a role in mood regulation. This coil generates brief magnetic pulses, which pass though the skull and into the brain. The type and strength of these pulses are the same as those generated by magnetic resonance imaging machines. TMS has shown to be safe and well tolerated by patients. It has been an effective treatment for patients with depression who have not benefitted from antidepressant medications or cannot tolerate antidepressant medications due to side-effects. TMS therapy is currently available in the Triangle area and several practices have the machines on site. Again, please consult with your psychiatrist to see if a TMS consultation would benefit you before proceeding. I am also willing to address topics that our readers are interested in. Therefore, please send your ideas and I will provide a response. Dr. James Smith Send to aakland@nami-wake.org Ketamine infusion therapy is another new cutting edge therapy for the treatment of treatment resistant depression. Ketamine has a reputation as an illicit party drug due to its hallucinogenic effects. Around the country individuals that were not helped by standard treatments have responded to ketamine infusion therapy. Ketamine acts quickly and sometimes the response can be within hours. Treatment can consist of six infusions over a two week period. Each infusion takes about 45 minutes. There can be side effects, which often include confusion, lucid daydreaming and fuzzy vision, which clear quickly. As a patient you will be watched closely and you must have pre-arranged transport home. As with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Ketamine infusion is not well covered and out of James Smith, MD, Psychiatrist pocket costs vary from provider to provider. The beneficial effects last anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks in some and up to 12 weeks in others. There is also available a nasal spray version that some providers prefer. Again, both of these new modalities are available in the Triangle area, so please consult with your treating psychiatrist to decide if a consultation for either of these treatments is appropriate for you. Also, remember that insurance coverage is spotty at best and out of pocket costs can run as high as $10,000 for TMS and the cost for Ketamine therapy can run from $400 to $800 per treatment session. In my next, column I will cover pharmacokinetic testing and its impact on medication selection. For more information, visit our NAMI Wake website: nami-wake.org/education-meeting. html to view a video of the May 23, 2016 Education Meeting: Exploring Treatments for Treatment Resistant Depression including Ketamine & TMS with Drs. Jay Levine and Anand Dugar, Ketamine Treatment Centers and Dr. Robert McClure, University of NC Department of Psychiatry, Chapel Hill, NC.

3 What is the UNC Wake STEP Clinic? We are a collection of four outpatient clinics in Wake County operating under UNC s Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health since June The clinics opened after the closure of Wake County Behavioral Health and serves almost 500 individuals with complex mental health, social, and medical needs. It is our goal to bring excellent mental health care that UNC is known for to the citizens of Wake County. STEP stands for Schizophrenia Treatment and Evaluation Program. What patients do you treat? We specialize in treating individuals with psychotic disorders and other serious mental illness including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder and major depression Where are you located? Our main office is located at 3010 Falstaff Road in Raleigh across from the WakeBrook campus and is open 9-5pm, Monday-Fridays. Our other offices are located at the Eastern Regional Center in Zebulon, Northern Regional Center in Wake Forest, and at the Southern Regional Center in Fuquay-Varina on a limited-hours basis. our patients. UNC ACTT (Assertive Community Treatment Team) Wake - provides a higher level of outpatient care. Our clients may be referred to UNC ACTT-Wake program. UNC OASIS (Wake/CarrMill)- transitions patients to the STEP Clinic after completing treatment at this first psychotic episode program. NC Psychiatric Research Center (NCPRC)- gives patients the option to potentially participate in cutting-edge mental health research in studies offered by NCPRC; our patients also benefit from what is learned from the various studies as this research is translated into everyday clinical practice. Other UNC STEP Clinics (CarrMill/ Neurosciences Hospital)-in the event that our patients move out of the area, they can be referred to UNC STEP clinics in Carrboro or UNC Neurosciences Hospital. How do I refer myself or get more information about your program? To make a referral for services, please contact our office at NAMI Wake County The Iris 3 What services do you offer? The clinics provide interdisciplinary care with a staff of psychiatrists, therapists, medical assistants, and a case manager. This allows the clinic to provide individualized care spanning complex needs for the individuals served, including offering injectable medications, Clozapine prescribing, substance abuse counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy. Our staff is experienced and committed to a patientcentered, evidence-based approach to mental health treatment. What makes UNC Wake STEP clinic unique? Our biggest advantage for a Wake County consumer is that we have a commitment to excellence and several important partnerships that help us deliver a high quality of care. We partner with: WakeBrook Primary Care - offers patientfocused primary care to patients with serious mental illness. WakeBrook Crisis and Assessment - provides after-hours, holiday, weekend and emergency care for Shannon Wallace, LCSW, LCAS, Interim Clinical Director at Wake STEP John Gilmore, MD, Director of the UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health

4 NAMI Wake County 4 The Iris Rachael Lam Yuen, LCSW, has completed her intensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and will receive her official letter from the Linehan Institute come December upon completion of her current mentorship. Yuen joins a team of Monarch therapists who specialize in DBT. I wanted to be intensively trained in DBT because I truly believe in its power, explained Yuen. It s a therapy that just makes sense. It teaches people we support logical skills for managing intense emotions in a healthy way and being more effective in relationships. DBT gives me the tools I need to be a more effective therapist and know that I have a greater chance at making a difference in the lives of the people I support. At Monarch, DBT is one of the many evidence-based therapies used to help the people supported live fuller and healthier lives. DBT was designed to help individuals who feel that emotions are always in charge of their lives. The therapy has worked well for people who struggle with suicidal ideations, self-injury, eating disorders, substance use, trauma, anxiety and depression, and requires a supportive and collaborative relationship between DBT was designed to help individuals who feel that emotions are always in charge of their lives. The therapy has worked well for people who struggle with suicidal ideations, selfinjury, eating disorders, substance use, trauma, anxiety and depression, and requires a supportive and collaborative relationship between the person served and their therapist. the person served and their therapist. Treatment combines individual psychotherapy, structured skills training groups and coaching calls available to the individual during and outside of work hours. In addition, the team meets weekly to provide support Monarch expands DBT team to provide even greater support to those who need it. and consultation to one another to maintain the fidelity of their practice and keep their energy for the work high. In 2015, Alliance funded a sixmonth intensive DBT training to several teams throughout the area they serve. Alliance identified the need to provide increased access to DBT therapy to provide the highest level of treatment for highrisk individuals. One of the people supported by Monarch s DBT program noted that the approach has helped her leave the past, become the present and feel, see and watch the doors open to the future. To find out if DBT can help you or someone you care about, please call Monarch at (866) to get an assessment appointment on the same or next day. MonarchNC.org. Monarch Wake DBT Team

5 Aimee Caverly lives a busy life working toward mental health advocacy. As a volunteer for NAMI Wake, Aimee is a Peer-to-Peer Mentor class instructor, a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training speaker, a volunteer for the NAMI Wake luncheon and for the Beyond the Bars event, and is also now eligible to be a Peer-to-Peer Specialist. Outside of NAMI Wake, Aimee pursues her advocacy with a similar vigor: since June of 2015, Aimee has written a blog named Jesus Defined, with the goal of helping people to see themselves differently than the stigma portrays, she explains. Aimee is also a speaker on the topic of mental health awareness and education for private groups, CIT events, and faith-based organizations on top of already being a stay-at-home mom of three girls. In fact, it was after Aimee s second pregnancy that her own experiences with mental illness began. Volunteer Spotlight - Aimee Caverly and other therapy to maintain wellness. It is not the death sentence that society thinks it is. Also, you are not your disease. Just like cancer or diabetes, there is more to you than your diagnosis. Aimee also has her Super-Seven for Self-Care that she follows: taking her medication, seeing her therapist and psychiatrist often, eating well, sleeping well, exercising (even if it s just walking her dog, Elsa!), building relationships, and having a daily dependence on God, daily prayer, and bible study. Aimee remains excited about her advocacy work, saying, Volunteering with NAMI Wake has been such a blessing. The environment is very accepting and stigma-free We want to change the perception of those living with mental illness so those struggling can move forward and begin to live unstuck and to their God-given potential. NAMI Wake County The Iris 5 Aimee experienced postpartum depression with psychosis, and needed to be hospitalized for almost a month. The experience was scary, Aimee recalls, and despite the fact that my symptoms were brought under control with medication, I felt like a lost cause. I thought it was the meds that were making me feel that way, but much of it turned out to be the way I felt about myself. After this harrowing experience, going on and off medication and in and out of the hospital became my story, Aimee acknowledges. In 2013, after being hospitalized for the fifth time, she realized she needed to make a change. Aimee started investigating bible studies for Christian Library International (CLI), a ministry for prison inmates. What I realized during that time, Aimee shares, was that God still had a plan for me there was still hope in my life. She discovered that her amended diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder did not define her. According to Aimee, For me personally, I had given my life to Jesus Christ and He defined me not anything I had done while delusional or because of my illness, which had defined me for so many years. This experience prompted Aimee to begin her career as a blogger and speaker. For those who are currently struggling with mental illness, Aimee advises, [don t] be afraid to accept your diagnosis. Mental illness is a real physical disease that often needs medication Aimee Caverly Article by Jacki Agusta, NAMI Wake Volunteer Editor s Note: NAMI Wake County welcomes people of all faiths and beliefs. The religious views expressed in this article should not be considered endorsement of any religion.

6 NAMI Wake County 6 The Iris More room for mentally ill at Wake psychiatric hospital John Murawski: From: article html#storylink=cpy UNC WakeBrook, a psychiatric facility in Raleigh operated by UNC Health Care, has added a dozen new beds to handle the area s most serious psychiatric cases, completing an agreement with crosstown rival WakeMed Health and Hospitals to treat more of the region s mentally ill patients, many of whom are uninsured and homeless. The expansion gives WakeBrook, which is owned by Wake County, 28 beds for patients who pose a risk to themselves or to others. WakeBrook also has 16 beds for alcohol and substance abusers, and 16 beds for people in crisis who are experiencing mental illness but not high risk. The new beds have been added since UNC Health Care began operating the facility in 2013, and stem from its pledge to commit $40 million for mental health services to stop WakeMed s attempted hostile takeover in 2011 of UNC Rex Health Care. North Carolina has had a chronic shortage of psychiatric treatment facilities for years. The long wait times to get admitted into the state s three psychiatric hospitals often forces patients to wait for days and weeks in hospital emergency rooms that are illequipped to handle people who can be unstable and violent. Some psychiatric patients don t receive care at all, or become caught up in the criminal justice system. The largest mental health hospital in our state is called Central Prison, William Roper, CEO of the UNC Health Care System, said in a recent interview. We need more beds. We are dramatically under-served. It will not reduce our length of stay at all, Naftel said. We are almost always full. Ann Akland, a Wake County advocate on mental illness, said that the capacity to treat more mentally ill people will make a big difference in the lives of the people who fill the dozen new slots. From an overall system perspective, 12 beds may be a drop in the bucket, but from a family perspective those beds increase the chance that my loved one will get the help she needs close to home, Akland, a board member of the Wake County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said by . Patients can stay near their families and friends and have that support rather than being restrained and transported to a hospital in another part of the state, sometimes hundreds of miles. WakeBrook employs several hundred people, recently hiring 50 to staff its expansion when it began adding its dozen new beds in August, Naftel said. WakeBrook s goal is not to serve as a temporary way station for patients en route to one of the state s three psychiatric hospitals. Rather, WakeBrook staff seek to help patients return home, go to a group home or some other option where they will receive the care they need, Naftel said. WakeBrook, which comprises two buildings, has space for additional expansion. Naftel said Wake County is developing a long-term plan that could include further additions. The solution is not just more hospital beds, but more housing and community services, he said. The state s central region, which includes the Triangle, needs at least an additional 356 in-patient beds, according to a December 2015 study by UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University. WakeBrook s new beds will relieve Triangle hospital ERs of a dozen patients at any given time, said Jack Naftel, vice chairman of the UNC Department of Psychiatry. But the new beds are not enough to reduce crowding at WakeBrook, where patients typically spend one to two weeks recovering from psychotic episodes, debilitating depression and other conditions.

7 Participate or Just Attend Annual NAMI Wake s Got Talent & Pizza Party! January 23, 2017, 7:00 9:00 pm Highland United Methodist Church, 2nd floor Conference Rm. Beside Church Offices 1901 Ridge Rd., Raleigh, NC Are you creative? We would love to have you share your special talents and skills. These are some examples: singing; playing an instrument; dancing; writing poetry, stories, or books; taking photographs; painting; drawing; making pottery; working with wood or other material; sewing, knitting; crocheting or quilting. You may bring handmade items to sell if you participate in the show. Each participant will have 5 minutes to perform or to describe and show their craft or art. Due to time constraints, we can accommodate up to 20 applicants. Groups of performers may be allowed additional time on a case by case basis. Entries will be considered on a first-come basis so sign up now! NAMI Wake County The Iris 7 Eligibility Requirements - You must be 16 years of age or older and a member of a household that is a member or volunteer with NAMI, a person living with mental illness, or a family member of someone with a mental illness. In order to participate, please click on this link complete the form, and someone will contact you. Alternatively, you may Ann Akland at aakland@nami-wake.org and let her know what talent you would like to share. Registration deadline for participating is 1/16/2017. Don t miss out on the fun! Even if you aren t interested in performing, come on out and enjoy the evening with us.

8 NAMI Wake County 8 The Iris Congress Passes the 21th Century Cures Act with Major Provisions for Mental Health On December 21, President Obama signed HR 34, the 21th Century Cures Act. More than 100 pages of the bill relates to mental health. It won bipartisan support with all NC members of Congress voting for it. According to NAMI, the Cures bill mirrors several of NAMI s top priorities, including: 1. Raising the stature of mental health and substance use disorder services at the federal level by creating an Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use. 2. Authorizing grants for CIT programs and deescalation training for law enforcement and other first responders. 3. Clarifying that the federal Medicaid statute permits same-day billing for the provision of mental health and primary care services. 4. Requiring new federal guidance on compliance with mental health and substance use disorder parity requirements. The Treatment Advocacy Center, another organization that fought to obtain passage of the Bill, highlights additional provisions they have worked for: 1. Funds and expands evidenced based treatment programs for serious mental illness, 2. More programs for decriminalizing mental illness, 3. More data collection on the role of serious mental illness in public policy issues, 4. Clarifying HIPPA through developing guidance, model programs and training, and 5. Establishes an adult suicide prevention program. See more at: org/fixing-the-system/21st-century-cures-act As you might imagine, there are many, many provisions that must be implemented at the federal and state level, so it is likely that we will not see concrete changes for a while. But it is a bright spot for people with mental illness and their families. See more at: News/We-Did-It-Mental-Health-Reform-Is-Headed-tothe-P#sthash.NOGnS2jf.dpuf Volunteer Opportunities Silent Auction Volunteers Be a part of a fun team of volunteers helping to make this year s Gala for Courage and Hope a big success! Contact Melonia Carroll - melonia@meloniacarroll.com. Program Leaders Have you already taken training from NAMI NC to lead a class or to give an IOOV presentation? If so, we would love to have you put that training to use! We especially need teachers for BASICS. Contact Andrea Chase - andrea@nami-wake.org. Advocacy Be more active and involved in mental health public policy affecting our community in In order to achieve that goal, we need families, people living with mental illness, friends, and professionals to join that effort. To join our advocacy team, contact Gerry Akland - gerryakland@gmail.com. Mail Crew Join our group of volunteers who stuff envelopes, affix stickers and get our mailing ready to go out. It is a good time of work, fellowship, and support. Contact Alden Hanson - aldenhanson@embarqmail.com Fundraising Do you have experience with event planning or fundraising? If so, our Fundraising Committee needs you! Contact Ann Akland - aakland@nami-wake.org.

9 Opportunities for Training We encourage you to take advantage of the free opportunity to obtain the skills needed to lead a NAMI program. NAMI NC offers training to In Our Own Voice (IOOV) presenters and Program Instructors. These classes are required for volunteers who would like to lead classes or make IOOV presentations. They are offered on a limited schedule, so don t miss out! Trainings range from 1 3 days and are usually held over the weekend. Ideally participants will have taken a NAMI program, but this is not required. Teachers are asked to lead one course session a year for two years. Contact Andrea Chase, Andrea@nami-wake.org, to learn more. In Our Own Voice - January NAMI In Our Own Voice presentations change attitudes, assumptions and stereotypes by describing the reality of living with mental illness. People with mental health conditions share their powerful personal stories in this free, 60- or 90-minute presentation. Prospective presenters are adults living in recovery with mental illness. Basics Instructors - March NAMI Basics is a class for parents and other family caregivers of children and adolescents who have either been diagnosed with a mental health condition or who are experiencing symptoms but have not yet been diagnosed. Prospective teachers must be parents or other primary caregivers of an individual who exhibited mental illness symptoms prior to age 13 (the formal diagnosis may have been made years later, but symptoms appeared prior to age 13.) Parents and Teachers as Allies Presenters - May NAMI Parents & Teachers as Allies is a presentation for teachers and other school personnel to raise their awareness about mental illness and help them recognize the early warning signs and the importance of early intervention. Prospective presenters must meet one of the following descriptions: (1) young adult age with a mental illness living in recovery who experienced symptoms during their school years; (2) parent or primary caregiver of an individual who exhibited symptoms of mental illness while in school (preferably the parent will be a teacher/mentor for or have taken either NAMI Basics, NAMI Family-to-Family, NAMI Homefront or NAMI Peer-to-Peer); (3) a school professional who also is either a family member of someone living with a mental illness or lives with mental illness themselves. Family to Family Instructors - July NAMI Family-to-Family is a class for families, partners and friends of individuals with mental illness. The course is designed to facilitate a better understanding of mental illness, increase coping skills and empower participants to become advocates for their family members. This program was designated as an evidence-based program by SAMHSA. Prospective teachers must be family members (parents, siblings, adult children, spouses or partners) of individuals living with mental illness. Upcoming Family Classes Family Connections for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): This free evidence-based course is for family members with a relative with borderline personality disorder (BPD), or symptoms of the disorder. This course consists of four 3 hour sessions. The program seeks to provide the most current information and research on BPD, to teach coping skills based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and to develop a support network. Classes are led by family members. Data documents that family members experience a decrease in depression, burden, grief and an increase in empowerment after taking the class. Next class will be scheduled soon. For more information or to sign up for the waiting list, contact Ann Akland, aakland@nami-wake.org. NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, evidence-based education course for families, partners and friends of adults living with a mental health condition. The course is designed to facilitate a better understanding of mental illness, increase coping skills and empower participants to become advocates for their family members. Now accepting registrations. 12 week course: Saturdays, 9:30 am noon, Garner begins January 7. To register for this class or to be added to our waiting list, contact Andrea Chase., NAMIWakeF2F@gmail. com, Call: Upcoming Classes for People Living with Mental Health Challenges NAMI Peer-to-Peer is a free, 10-session course for adults living with mental health challenges. The course is designed to provide an educational setting focused on recovery that offers respect, understanding, encouragement and hope. New class will begin soon. To register, contact Andrea Chase, andrea@namiwake.org, Call: NAMI Wake County The Iris 9

10 NAMI Wake County 10 The Iris Family Support Free Support Groups designed for parents, siblings, spouses, adult children, and friends of persons with a serious mental illness. No need to register. Raleigh: Highland United Methodist Church, 1901 Ridge Rd., Room 202, 7-8:30 p.m. on the first three Mondays of each month. Wake Forest: Wake Forest United Methodist Church, 905 S. Main St., Wake Forest, NC, 7-8:30 pm, 2nd 3rd and 4th Tuesdays of each month. Garner Garner United Methodist Church, Room 212, 201 Methodist Drive, Garner, NC, 7-8:30 pm, 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. For more information about Raleigh, Garner and Wake Forest groups, contact Gordon Gogola (gogolags@hotmail.com), phone (919) Cary: Christ the King Lutheran Church, Room 101, 600 Walnut St., Cary, NC., 2nd & 4th Thursdays at 7pm. Contact Judy Dehavilland - judydehavi@ gmail.com Apex: Group for Families of Children under 18: 307 S. Salem St. Suite 303, Apex NC :30 am -- 12:00 pm, 2nd Saturday of each month.contact Reagan Courliss, reagan.evolvecounselingnc@gmail. com Support Groups for People Living with Mental Illness Free peer support groups for adults 18 and older where people facing difficulties have a safe place to voice their concerns and explore options for making positive changes in their lives with others who have similar experiences. No matter what your diagnosis or issues, join one of our groups. No need to call. Just come by and participate when you can. Try different groups to find one you like best. Connection Support Groups: 1) Raleigh: Highland United Methodist Church, 1901 Ridge Rd, Group meets 1st, 2nd and 3rd Monday, 7-8:30 pm. Contact Andrea Chase, andrea@nami-wake.org 2) Raleigh: Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, in the Chapel, 1801 Hillsborough St. Group meets 1st and 3rd Tuesday, 7-8:30 pm. Group is LGBT friendly. Contact Paige Sullivan, wiley14@gmail.com. 3) Wake Forest: Wake Forest United Methodist Church, 905 S. Main St. Group meets 2nd, 3rd and 4th Tuesday, 7-8:30 pm. Contact Gordon Gogola, gogolags@hotmail.com, ) Knightdale: Northside Community Church, 621 N. First Avenue, Group meets every Thursday, 7-8:30, contact Lisa Piratzky, lhpiratzky@ gmail.com. Stress & Depression Support Group: 1) Fuquay Varina: St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 1005 Wilbon Road. Group meets every Monday, 6-7 pm Contact Arline O Hara arlineohara@gmail.com for more information. NAMI Wake Staff Harry Payne Executive Director hpayne@nami-wake.org Virginia Rodillas Contractor Administrative Specialist vrodillas@nami-wake.org NAMI Wake Board of Directors 2017 Andrea Chase andrea@nami-wake.org Gerry Akland Past gerryakland@gmail.com Paul Robitaille paul.b.robitaille@nami-wake.org Ann Akland At Large aakland@nami-wake.org Sarah At Large saraphen@gmail.com Weathersby Tom Hadley At Large thadley@nami-wake.org Louise Jordan At Large louisewjordan@mac.com Mary O Neal At Large Anju Verma At Large anjmic@yahoo.com William Stanley At Large wwardstanley@nc.rr.com Christine Taylor At Large chrisfaye552@yahoo.com Cecil Smith At Large cecil.o.smith@gmail.com Caroline Sullivan At Large carolinesullivan@bellsouth.net Sheron Sumner At Large sksumner@twc.com Save the Date Gala for Courage & Hope April 28, ) Raleigh: Wake County Human Services, 220 Swinburne St., Raleigh, NC, Every Friday: 2-3 :30pm, Rm 1151, Call Gerry Akland, (919) for more information. (Family members and friends may attend with the permission of the individual living with mental illness.) Social Support: Les Girls - For the Entire Family: 12:00 Noon, 4th Saturday at Golden Corral, 6129 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC. This is a social opportunity for people living with mental illness and family members. Everyone is invited--not just girls--guys are welcome! Lunch is Dutch-treat. Please join us! Contact Sue Hadley, Carolinia Country Club featuring singer, Jeanne Jolly & WRAL news anchor, David Crabtree. For more information

11 Name: Address: City: Zip: 1: 2: Preference for receipt of Iris Newsletter: notification: USPS Mail: (Check all that apply) I am a mental health professional Family member Individual Living with Mental Illness Friend NAMI ID ID No. Regular Membership (all household members): $35.00 Open Door (What you can afford -$3.00 or more): $ Donation: $ Tote Bag: $5.00 each = Total $ Shipping: Flat fee for USPS Priority Mail $5.00 $ (Shipping fee is for 1 to 4 bags) Total: $ How many members are in the household? You may pay by mail using check or money order, or by credit card by completing the information below or pay online by going to html Credit Card Type: Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card Number: NAME on Card: NAMI Wake County The Iris 11 NAMI Wake County is a 501(c)(3) organization and donations and dues are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Make checks out to NAMI Wake County and mail with the form to NAMI Wake County, PO Box 12562, Raleigh, NC Security NO. on Reverse: expiration: Signature: May we share your with NAMl NC? Are you interested in volunteering? NAMI is a three level organization. When you join NAMI Wake County WE PAY your dues to NAMI North Carolina and NAMI (national). Members Matter - Please Consider Joining NAMI So...you are reading this and may be wondering why you should pay NAMI dues. You may wonder how being a member helps you, your family, friends or clients. Well, there are some tangible perks that come with membership, for example reduced registration fees for NAMI conferences. But the real value of being a member is that it helps keep our organization strong because we can demonstrate that we have large numbers of people who believe in our mission of providing support, advocacy and education for people with mental illness, their families and friends. That message gives us clout when we speak to our elected officials and others in the community. When you join NAMI you become a member of a group of people who truly care and provide support and advocacy for those in our community. So if you have never joined or if you have been a member and haven t renewed, please consider being a part of NAMI. We need you. Joining is simple. You can find us online at or you can complete the membership form on page 11 and return it to us at the address shown. Thank You!

12 PO Box Raleigh, NC Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Raleigh, NC NAMI Wake County CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED The mental health organization you can count on if you live in Apex, Cary, Fuquay Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Raleigh, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell, Zebulon. We also appreciate our members & donors outside Wake County. Monthly Meetings First Quarter 2017 Would you like to recommend a topic for a future meeting? If so, we would love to hear from you. Send an to aakland@nami-wake.org. January 23: February 27: Participate or Just Attend Annual NAMI Wake s Got Talent & Pizza Party! See page 9 for more information. Registration deadline for participants is 1/16. Learn about Alliance Behavioral Healthcare, the managed care organization managing funds and provider network for Medicaid and those who have no insurance for people living in Wake, Durham, Johnston, and Cumberland Counties. March 27: Monarch is a mental health service provider in Wake County. They will tell us about their Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), their plans for a new residential crisis and assessment center and other services. Above meeting times are 7:00-8:30 pm. Location is Highland United Methodist Church in the large 2nd Floor conference room adjacent to the church offices. From the parking lot, walk up the sidewalk between Bradley Hall and the church sanctuary. When you reach the outside staircases, take the one on the left and enter through the double doors. The conference room is straight ahead. If you need to take an elevator, turn to the right when you reach the end of the walkway and take another right at the small hallway. The elevator will be on the right. Exit the elevator and turn left. Continue walking until you come to the receptionist desk. The conference room is on the right. Public Is Invited - Everyone is Welcome