EVENTS…

F2F Members helped Maryland Public Television  on December 13, 2011. You’ll have a chance to see and hear us promote NAMI again on January 7, 2011 and at Easter and other timeswhen MPT repeats THE STORY OF JESUS & THE MORGAN STATEUNIVERSITY CHOIR.   Check your listings.      Waiting to answer phones at       MPT in Owings Mills in our          new blue T-shirts.  Debra, Greg, Nancy, and Amy had fun. Lots of calls for NAMI AAC  Board Members. Still smiling after four hours. Good work NAMI AAC! ==================================================================== PAST EVENTS:

November 2, 2011      6:30 pm SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY QUESTIONS? PROBLEMS WITH FILING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY?  NAMI OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY IS PRESENTING AN EVENING WITH THE NON PROFIT GROUP – SOAR (SSI/SSDI OUTREACH, ACCESS AND RECOVERY)   An informative meeting to help simplify the process of getting into the social security system for individuals diagnosed with MENTAL ILLNESS. FREE TO THE PUBLIC!  ARUNDEL LODGE   2600 Solomons Island Road Edgewater, MD 21037-1102 WEDNESDAY NOV. 2ND AT 6:30 LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED. *********************************************************** Past Event: Getting Treatment for   Those Who Don’t Realize They are Mentally Ill!

A NAMI Howard County Education Forum   was held Tuesday, July 19th @ 7:00pm at:

Wilde Lake Interfaith Center
10431 Twin Rivers Road
Columbia, MD 21044

Aileen Kroll, Treatment Advocacy Center___________________________________________

Important information came from the Treatment Advocacy Center, a national U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating legal and other barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illness.

On Tuesday, July 19, 2011… Attorney Aileen Kroll, who’s also trained as a Social Worker, told the NAMI Howard County audience about current laws that allow or prevent mental health caregivers getting treatment for their seriously ill loved ones.  Her presentation went built on the excellent work of Dr. Xavier Amador  in his book – I Am Not Sick: I Don’t Need Help!  

The lack of insight often displayed by those with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders is neurologically based AND is  called anosognosia. 

As Attorney Kroll observed… (anoh·sog·noh´·sia)

is a major problem because:

“it is the single largest reason why individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder do not take their medications. It is caused by damage to specific parts of the brain, especially the right hemisphere. It affects approximately 50 percent of individuals with schizophrenia and 40 percent of individuals with bipolar disorder. When taking medications,  awareness of illness improves in some patients.”

In her presentation to a room full of people, Aileen Kroll  provided up-to-date info on various options for helping the seriously mentally ill in 44 States, including Maryland.  As we hear below, she explains the urgency for NAMI members to join the Treatment Advocacy Center in eliminating barriers for the mentally ill in the state of Maryland: Maryland has one of the most restrictive environments in the country for securing non-criminal based mental health treatment.

The  Treatment Advocacy Center’s website notes the following:

         Maryland is one of only six states that do not allow court-ordered treatment in the community, often called “assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) ” or “outpatient commitment.” 

 

        In Maryland:

• State law establishes civil commitment procedures and standards for court-ordered treatment in a hospital (inpatient).  

• For inpatient care, a person must be a danger to self/others, in need of treatment, and unable or unwilling to be voluntarily admitted.

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If you have a loved one in crisis visit http://www.nami.org or the Get Help section on the TAC’s website: http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org

TAC’s Executive Director Jim Pavle and NAMI AA Co. F2F graduate Bill D. found much to talk about after the well-received presentation by Aileen Kroll.