NAMI Southern Maryland

1. Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day (8 oz per glass is the recommended amount)
2. Keep medications in a cool area
3. Be sure to read the storage labels on your medications.
4. Wear a hat when outdoors
5. Avoid direct sunshine
6. Avoid salty foods Get food in a cooler when outdoors.
7. When at work be sure area is properly ventilated
8. Schedule outdoor exercising during early morning or evening hours
9. Wear light colored clothing which allows for ventilation such as cotton
10. maintain a balance diet
11. Try to keep to your daily medication’ exercise and eating routines when on vacation
12. Certain areas of the country can have temperatures in the triple digits causing one to stay indoors more than other times of the year which could result in a mild depression due to “cabin fever” … Make it a practice to get outdoors at least twice a day when temperatures are not at peak points.
13. Keep windows open when possible to allow for fresh air to circulate in your home.
14. Be alert to blooms and grasses to which you might be allergic
15. Check out the local foliage when traveling to avoid allergic reactions
16. Always have a first aid kit with you when traveling such as antihistamines, soothing creams, and bug spray
17. Check out the heights of vacation areas which might be radically different from what you are accustomed to and read the recommended remedy for adjusting to new altitudes. Be alert to critters that are common to the vacation areas you visit. They could be very different from what you see in your part of the country.
18. Be aware excess sunlight and activity can be a trigger for some people. Practice calm and serenity techniques

HAVE A HEALTHY SAFE AND HAPPY SUMMER

1. Learn More. Many organizations sponsor nationwide programs about mental health and mental illness.

2. Insist on accountable media. Sometimes the media portray people who have mental illnesses inaccurately, and this makes stereotypes harder to change.

3. Obey the laws in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in areas of public life, including housing, employment, and public transportation. Mental illnesses are considered a disability covered under the ADA.

4. Recognize and appreciate the contributions to society made by people who have mental illnesses. People who have mental illnesses are major contributors to American life - from the arts to the sciences, from medicine to entertainment to professional sports.

5. Treat people with the dignity and respect we all deserve. People who have mental illnesses may include your friends, your neighbors, and your family.

6. Think about the person – the contents behind the label. Avoid labeling people by their diagnosis. Instead of saying, “She’s a schizophrenic,” say, “She has a mental illness.” Never use the term “mentally ill.”

Don’ts:

Do’s:

* Don’t portray successful persons

with disabilities as super human.

* Don’t use generic labels such as

retarded, or the mentally ill.

* Don’t use terms like crazy, lunatic,

manic depressive, slow functioning,

or normal.

* Do use respectful language such as:

- Person who has schizophrenia

- Person with a psychiatric disability

- Person with bipolar disorder

* Do emphasize abilities, not

limitations.

* Do tell someone if they express a

stigmatizing attitude.

Medicare Drug Benefit Update: 2009 Plan Year Enrollment Begins

November 15 marks the start of the open enrollment period for the Medicare Part D drug benefit for 2009. During this "open season" period for 2009 drug plan enrollment, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to select prescription drug coverage that goes into effect on January 1, 2009. The open season process ends on December 31.

As the 2009 plan year approaches, NAMI is watching closely to ensure that beneficiaries with serious mental illness, especially low-income dual eligibles, are able to maintain continued access to drug coverage that meets their complex treatment needs. Of particular concern are the estimated 1.3 million dual eligibles and low-income subsidy (LIS) Medicare beneficiaries that are being required to switch to different prescription drug plans (PDPs) on January 1. In addition, NAMI is also concerned about the more than 447,000 dual eligibles that are losing “deemed” status in 2009 and must now apply for the Part D LIS program to avoid increased costs next year.

To learn more about the important issue of Medicare drug plan reassignment of dual eligibles and LIS beneficiaries for 2008, click here.

Learn More about the 2008 Drug Plan Options

There are a number of important web-based tools to search available plan options, research whether or not a specific medication is on a plan’s formulary for 2008 – or is subject to an access restriction (placed on a tier requiring higher cost sharing, prior authorization, step therapy, quantity limit, etc.). Most can be searched by zip code to check on availability by geographic region. Here are a few links to these websites:

St. Mary's County Special Needs Registry

The St. Marys County Special Needs Registry is now open for public registration. This registry can provide assistance during emergencies to individuals who may need help during an evacuation. All information collected is confidential and will only be shared with emergency responding departments during an emergency event.

Welcome to NAMI Southern Maryland's website. If you need to talk to someone at NAMI SoMD - or just want some information, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you. If you need help with a mental health emergency, please go to crisis services, and click on your county.

We are a grassroots self-help, support, education, and advocacy organization for consumers of mental health services, their family members and their friends. We are dedicated to improving the lives of people with severe mental illnesses and the lives of their families and other caregivers. We serve Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties.

NAMI SoMD works to provide SUPPORT to those with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI), their family members, and their friends. We are dedicated to FIGHTING STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION against those with SMI. We ADVOCATE at the local, state and federal levels of government for SMI issues. And we promote RESEARCH to improve the lives of those with mental illness. Click on about us for more details.

Fair Use Policy
Please feel free to forward our alerts as long as you credit the Bazelon Center with a link to our website:
http://www.bazelon.org

The following suggestions might be helpful to assure a positive summer experience

HAVE A HEALTHY SAFE AND HAPPY SUMMER

Medicare Drug Benefit Update: 2009 Plan Year Enrollment Begins

Learn More about the 2008 Drug Plan Options

St. Mary's County Special Needs Registry