National Alliance on Mental Illness BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2013-2014 Executive Committee: Sue Guffey - President Ricky Hatcher - 1st Vice President Jimmy Walsh - 2nd Vice President Micah Mobley - Secretary Dr. Joel Willis - Treasurer Shannon Byrd - At Large Dr. Linda Miller - At Large Will O’Rear - Ex-Officio Board Members: Dr. Pippa Abston Dr. Teruko Bredemann Christi Collins Joan Elder D.G. Ewing Dr. Nelson Handal Daisy Hollingsworth Zina May Jane Nichols Eleanor Rohling Ana Maria Sawyer Caroline Titcomb Ruthie Warren Michelle Alcathie-White Lifetime Members: Rogene Parris Annie Saylor Ann Denbo Sylvia Richey Staff: Wanda Laird – Executive Director Ethel Green – Assistant to Exec. Director Roxann Becker – Financial/Office Assistant William Luckie – Bookkeeper PARTNER Inside This Issue... FIND HELP. FIND HOPE. - Michelle is the Senior Human Resource Director for GKN Aerospace in Tallassee, where she is using her skills to be a change agent for the Advanced Composites Structure Division. Before moving to Alabama, Michelle became a certified mediator for the Supreme Court in the State of Florida. She has handled many mediation cases, which have resulted in the conciliation between employee and employer. Michelle will serve on the Standards and Program/ Education Committees. “Getting Serious About Mental Illnesses” NAMI Alabama Welcomes Three New Board Members! - Shannon is currently the Grants and Public Policy Coordinator for the Alabama Department of Mental Health. She is responsible for grant development, assisting with disaster preparedness crisis counseling programs, collaborating and assisting in the communication of departmental issues to various constituency groups, in- cluding consumers, family members, state agencies, the state legislature, and assisting with public policy development, legislation, and funding initiatives during the legislative session. Shannon will serve on our Finance and Advocacy Committees, as well as, an At Large member of the Executive Committee. - Joan is a retired special education teacher with 36 years of experience on the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She serves as President of NAMI Shelby. Joan has trained several teams for the Parents & Teachers as Allies program for which she is the State Coordinator. She will also serve as Chairperson of the Program/Education Committee.
Ethel Green – Assistant to Exec. DirectorRoxann Becker – Financial/Office Assistant
William Luckie – Bookkeeper
PARTNER
Inside This Issue...
FIND HELP. FIND HOPE.
- Michelle is the Senior Human Resource Director for GKN Aerospace in Tallassee, where she is using her skills to be a change agent for the Advanced Composites Structure Division. Before moving to Alabama, Michelle became a certified mediator for the Supreme Court in the State of Florida. She has handled many mediation cases, which have resulted in the conciliation between employee and employer. Michelle will serve on the Standards and Program/Education Committees.
“Getting Serious About Mental Illnesses”
NAMI Alabama Welcomes Three New Board Members!
- Shannon is currently the Grants and Public Policy Coordinator for the Alabama Department of Mental Health. She is responsible for grant development, assisting with disaster preparedness crisis counseling programs, collaborating and assisting in the communication of departmental issues to various constituency groups, in-cluding consumers, family members, state agencies, the state legislature, and assisting with public policy development, legislation, and funding initiatives during the legislative session. Shannon will serve on our Finance and Advocacy Committees, as well as, an At Large member of the Executive Committee.
- Joan is a retired special education teacher with 36 years of experience on the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She serves as President of NAMI Shelby. Joan has trained several teams for the Parents & Teachers as Allies program for which she is the State Coordinator. She will also serve as Chairperson of the Program/Education Committee.
A Message from the President...
We had a very successful 2012-2013 fiscal year which culminated in a successful 27th Annual Meeting. The speakers were great and we are grateful to the sponsors/exhibitors that made it possible. We provided an Annual Report to show the progress of our programs and hard work of our state office and affiliates. is to be commended for his efforts in serving as President this past year as he has been instrumental in helping NAMI Alabama in many ways by utilizing his skills as an attorney, former judge, as well as his background in counseling. He will serve on the Advocacy and Finance Committees as well as Ex-Officio during the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
We look forward to calling on Will O’Rear for advice. As mentioned at the Annual Meeting, I am honored to be serving as President of NAMI Alabama. My passion to serve and help those who suffer from a mental illness is the biggest asset that I bring to the organization. Like several of our Board members, I have an adult son with a mental illness, and therefore, understand the day-to-day struggles that face individuals and families.
As a retired school teacher, education is very important to me. During my tenure as President of NAMI Centre, we have participated in several NAMI Signature Programs. I have personally served as a state trainer for the Family to Family Program and I have taught the Basics Class.
Many of our Board members have been involved with the Signature Programs. We are thrilled with each member as each one brings wonderful expertise and experience to NAMI Alabama.
Below is information about our Board members, with the exception of the three newest members, who are featured on the cover of this issue of FIND HELP. FIND HOPE: Shannon Byrd, Joan Elder, and Michelle Alcathie-White. Please join us in welcoming them to NAMI Alabama.
– Dr. Abston is a member of NAMI Huntsville where she has served on the Board for several years. She is employed on the faculty of the UAB School of Medicine, Huntsville Campus, as a general pediatrician. Dr. Abston will serve as the Chairperson of the Advocacy Committee.
– Dr. Bredemann is a postdoctoral scholar with the Department of Cellular, Developmental, and Integrative Biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She teaches several courses at UAB and has presented her scientific research at conferences across the country. Having suffered from depression and PTSD, Dr. Bredemann has shared her personal experiences with the NAMI family. She will serve on our Membership Committee.
– Christi serves as a Peer Support Specialist. She has been very involved with our Connection and In Our Own Voice Signature Programs. Christi has served as a Coordinator and State Trainer and is currently she is serving as a State Trainer. Christi will serve on the AL Department of Mental Health’s Mental Illness Planning Council, the NAMI Consumer Council, as well as on our Membership Committee.
– D.G. Ewing is a retired executive of a Fortune 100 aerospace company with 35 years of extensive experience in Industrial Engineering, Planning and Program Management. D.G. has attended eight colleges and universities in six different states and completed Harvard’s EMBA Executive Development Program in 1988. He has also completed Boston University’s Financial Planning Program. From Mobile, AL, D.G. is a trained Family to Family teacher. He will serve as Chairperson of our Standards Committee.
– Dr. Handal is the Founder, Chairman, and Medical Director of Dothan Behavioral Medicine Clinic & Harmonex. As a practicing board certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist, Dr. Handal has dedicated much of his career to developing and implementing technologies that elevate the quality of patient care. He will serve on our Program/Education Committee.
– Ricky is a member of NAMI Montgomery where he has served as President and Secretary, as well as being actively involved with fundraising. He is retired from Medicaid where he served as a training supervisor in the Certification Support Division. Ricky will represent us on the Medicaid Advisory Council and the Alabama Department of Mental Health’s Performance Improvement Committee. He will serve as First Vice President of the Board as well as on the following NAMI committees: Standards, Advocacy, and Finance. 2
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- Daisy is a member of NAMI East Alabama. She serves on the Sharing Hope Advisory Board and has worked diligently with the Pastors’ Summit to ensure its success. Daisy will serve as Chairperson of the Membership Committee.
– Zina May is serving as President of NAMI Mobile. She is employed with the Alabama Department of Mental Health as an Advocate for Region 4. Zina is a family representative on the Alabama Department of Mental Health’s Mental Illness Planning Council and Performance Improvement Committees. Zina serves as coordinator of our Family to Family and Family Support Programs. She will also serve on the Program/Education Committee.
– Dr. Miller is a member of NAMI Centre and has served as the Chairperson of the NAMI Alabama Program/Education Committee. She is currently an online full-time professor and a faculty mentor at Liberty University. Dr. Miller serves as a state trainer for Family to Family. She will serve on the Program/Education Committee as well as on the Executive Committee as an At Large member.
– Micah is working on a master’s degree in the clinical mental health program at Troy University in Dothan. He has worked with a NAMI on Campus Club at Troy University, Dothan Campus. Micah will serve on the Standards Committee as well as Secretary for the Board.
- Jane Nichols is a clinical social worker at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System. She has 40+ years in social services. Jane has worked in various program settings and with various populations to include men, women, and children with a diagnosis of mental illness. She has worked both in program management and in direct delivery of services. Jane will serve on our Advocacy Committee as well as represent us on the Veterans Task Force and the Disabilities Leadership Coalition of Alabama.
– Eleanor is from Sheffield, AL. She provides bookkeeping services for area businesses. Eleanor is currently serving as the office manager for Rohling Dental Laboratory. She and her husband Don have taught Family to Family classes for NAMI Shoals where she also serves as Treasurer. Eleanor will serve on our Finance and Standards Committees.
– Ana Maria is from Mobile, AL. She is certified by the AL Department of MH to advocate for individuals served by the Department in facilities and in the community for Service Area 4. She plans to retire from her position as Advocate II in October to devote more time to her role as our Hispanic Coordinator. Ana Maria will also serve on our Advocacy and Program/Education Committees.
– Caroline is a doctoral student in the University of Alabama’s Clinical Psychology program. She founded the University of Alabama NAMI on Campus Club four years ago and has remained active in ensuring its success. Caroline will serve on our Program/Education Committee.
– Jimmy Walsh is a member of NAMI Birmingham. He is an attorney with Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, P.A. Jimmy serves on the Alabama Department of Mental Health’s Management Steering Committee and Forensic Task Force. He will serve on the Advocacy and Finance Committees as well as 2nd Vice President of the Board.
– Ruthie has been a NAMI member for over 27 years. She serves as President of NAMI Coffee County, a position she has had for 15 years. She is married to a minister and has been an advocate for our Sharing Hope program and Pastors’ Summit. Ruthie will serve on our Membership Committee.
– Dr. Willis received his Ph.D. from Auburn University in Rehabilitation and Special Education and is employed by Troy University. He is an active member of NAMI Wiregrass in Dothan and will be serving as Chairperson of our Finance Committee.
NAMI Alabama is fortunate to have these dedicated individuals to assist with our education, advocacy, and support programs. We look forward to developing more affiliates around the state and educating more individuals. If you are not a member, please join today (by visiting www.nami.org) to help support our efforts. Together, we can make a difference.
Regards,
Sue GuffeySue Guffey, President
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27th Annual Meeting Speakers
Associate Commissioner, AL DMHMental Health & Substance Abuse
Services Division
Positive Vectors, Inc., Founder/CEO Author of Escape from the Box: The Wonder of
Human Potential
Author of Minority of Mind and Experiments in Imagination
Author of The Mindful Son: A Beacon of Hope Through the Storm of Mental Illness
Grants and Public Policy Coordinator AL Department of Mental Health
Staff Attorney and Policy SpecialistSouthern Poverty Law Center
Children’s Community MI Services CoordinatorAL Department of Mental Health
Senior ManagerNAMI Center for Excellence
Jinneh spoke with Affiliate Presidents about Standards for the Affiliation Process with NAMI.
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Congratulations to NAMI Alabama
2013 Award Recipients
Friend of the Court Legislator of the YearPresented by Graham Champion (L)
Shining Star Affiliate L to R: Joe Cobb, President, Don Rohling,
Eleanor Rohling, and Jackie Milton
Shining Star Affiliate LeaderPresented by Wanda Laird (R)
Mental Health Professional of the YearPresented by Dr. Nelson Handal (L)
Consumer of the YearPresented by Daisy Hollingsworth
Outstanding Advocate of the YearPresented by Ruthie Warren
Multicultural Faith Based Advocate AwardPresented by Ruthie Warren (L)
Multicultural Faith Based Advocate AwardPresented by Ruthie Warren (L)
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Congratulations to NAMI Alabama
2013 Award Recipients
Special Recognition AwardPresented by Daisy Hollingsworth
Special Recognition Award
Rogene Parris Family Member of the YearPresented by Sue Guffey
Special Recognition AwardPresented by Sue Guffey
Newspaper of the YearPresented by Sue Guffey in Centre, AL
Lifetime Achievement Award
National Recovery Month
National Suicide Prevention Week
World Suicide Prevention Day 2013
Hispanic Heritage Month
National Wellness Week
Substance Abuse Prevention Month
Mental Illness Awareness Week
World Mental Health Day
Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day
National Family Caregiver Awareness Month
Pastors’ Summit
Leadership Training
National Mental Health Awareness Month
National Minority MH Awareness Month
NAMI Alabama Annual Meeting
NAMI Annual Meeting(Washington, D.C.)
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Parents & Teachers as Allies Training
Lilly Gamble, Emily Hughes, Joy Doering, and Susan Sallin Joan Elder, State Trainer, Kristina Kapp, Ethel Green,
Virginia Majors, David Young, Herb Maloney, Daniel Williams, Monica Allen, and Wanda Laird
Ralph Doering
Connection Training
Beverly Parker, Coordinator, Christi Collins, State Trainer, Sara Parfait, State Trainer, Ella Williams, Cynthia Davison, Tamara Loucks,
Shelia Townsend, and Jean Marie Lee Scott Elder, John McKee, Marcia Eatmon, Justin Griffin,
Karen Belles, and Eugene Mullin
In Our Own Voice Training
Laura Denise Phillips, Melissa Sherman, Helena Doering, Jill Patton, Cynthia Davison, and Tamara Loucks
Christi Collins, State Trainer, Beverly Parker, Coordinator, Sara Parfait, State Trainer, Scott Elder, Sister Lucindia Claghorn, Eric Pyron,
Charles Mason and, not shown, Patricia Douglas
Membership Campaign Goal of 1,000 Reached!
Christi Collins, Chairperson (center) and committee membersJacqueline Wilson (L) and Melissa Schilling (R)
Dr. David Satcher
and recently spoke with 16th U.S. Surgeon General, who is currently serving as Director of The
Satcher Health Leadership Institute and The Morehouse School of Medicine
NAMI Caucus Meeting
Joyce Cahela, Joan Elder, Joy Doering, Sue Guffey, Emilia Gonzalez, Linda Miller, Lois Herndon, Betty Workman,Maggie Collinsworth, Carol Dudley, and Patti Ford
Joyce Powell, Jim Hickman, Scott Elder, Daniel Williams, Dr. Steven Roberts, Darrell Ewing, Judy Laxton, D.G. Ewing, Connie Ewing, James Hamilton,
Zina May, Doug Collinsworth, Beverly Parker, William Dudley, and Wanda Laird
Family to Family Training
Rebecca Nunez, Heather Biciste, Deborah Hoyle, Deidre Paris, and Edie Heine Sue Guffey, State Trainer, Dr. Linda Miller, State Trainer, Vickie Patterson,
Director’s Blog: Getting Serious about Mental IllnessesBy Thomas Insel on July 31, 2013
For the past few years, we at NIMH have been increasingly focusing our research on serious mental illness (SMI). You can see the term SMI in recent blogs as well as in publications from NIMH. But what does “SMI” really mean? If we call some illnesses “serious,” does that mean that others are not? And if some mental illnesses are not classified as seri-ous, does that mean they aren’t significant? Does everyone with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder have SMI? What about anorexia nervosa or borderline personality or PTSD – do these qualify as SMI? Should we focus our efforts on the best science that will reduce the tremendous morbidity and mortality associated with all mental illnesses or should we limit ourselves to those causing the most disability? To answer these questions, a little history might help.Where did the term “SMI” come from? In the 1992 ADAMHA Reorganization Act (P.L. 102-321), Congress directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a federal definition of SMI to aid in the estimation of SMI incidence and prevalence rates in states that were applying for grant funds to support mental health services.
“Adults with a serious mental illness are persons: (1) age 18 and over, (2) who currently or at any time during the past year, (3) have a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder of sufficient duration to meet diagnostic criteria specified within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-III-R, (4) that has resulted in functional impairment which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities…All of these disorders have episodic, recurrent, or persistent features; however, they vary in terms of severity and disabling effects.” Federal Register Volume 58 No. 96 published Thursday May 20, 1993, pages 29422-29425.
While the federal definition of SMI is specific to adults, there is an analogous definition of “serious emotional disturbance” (SED) for children. Both SMI and SED definitions focus on the DSM diagnosis, plus degree of impairment.
As you can see, the “official” definition of SMI is very inclusive—though I imagine that when people talk about SMI these days—they don’t have the Federal Register definition in mind. Recently, SMI has been a subject of conversation in the wake of recent shooting tragedies. Discussions about SMI and violence—directed towards self or others— are usually focused on schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and sometimes major depressive disorder. Violence is an extreme (and rare) negative outcome of disorders like these, warranting particular emphasis, but it is not the only negative outcome to consider. For example, anorexia nervosa can be fatal—yet eating disorders have understandably been excluded from discussions about SMI following the events in Newtown, Connecticut.
In fact, all mental illnesses have the potential to be impairing and meet the meaning of “serious” in the sense of the federal definition. NIMH supports an extensive portfolio on all aspects of mental illness—from basic research to clinical investigations, from rare to common disorders, in men and women, affecting adults and children, in a diversity of populations. To better understand how NIMH research addresses SMI, let me provide a quick break-down of our overall portfolio using figures from 2012. Last year, nearly 13% of our total budget was mandated for research on HIV/AIDS. And about 5% went to administrative costs: support for the Institute, funding our hospital and clinics, and general overhead. Research on disorders that can be disabling (including autism) covered 51% of our non-AIDS portfolio. But if one looks at the broad range of research that could shed light on new diagnostics or new treatments, then one could consider that 81.3% of our non-AIDS portfolio was dedicated to SMI research.
Our investment in basic science—usually unrelated to a specific diagnostic category—accounts for the 30% interval between our SMI portfolio defined narrowly (51%) vs. broadly (81.3%). We continually talk about serious mental disorders as brain disorders. What we don’t say is that our knowledge of how the brain works remains far behind our understanding of other organ systems. Developing tools for understanding the brain, identifying the major circuits important for behavior, and deciphering the language of the brain are critical investments for NIMH in order for us to make progress on diagnostics and therapeutics for SMI. Similarly, basic behavioral science can give us the tools to detect the earliest signs of schizophrenia or autism. We do not count these among our SMI portfolio, yet investing in basic science may be our most important investments for people with serious mental illness.
So when we say that NIMH is increasing our focus on SMI, what we really mean is that we are investing in the best science that can reduce the most disability and mortality. Some of these investments are focused on biomarkers or new treatments for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. But we also are committed to supporting science that will give us a much deeper understanding of brain and behavior. That, in the long run, is the most direct path to “paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure.”
