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Sunday, November 8, 2009
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WELCOME TO NAMI-BILLINGS
Billings' Voice on Mental Illness
Photo courtesy of Phil Bell
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NAMI-Billings was and continues to be built on the efforts of trained volunteers. These dedicated people are the backbone of our services and without them, we could not provide our essential services to the Billings community. They assume responsibilities of teachers, mentors, group leaders and help with fundraising events. We are deeply appreciative of their time and making our progress possible.
The NAMI-Billings Board of Directors cordially invites you
to join us for our
Annual Meeting
and
Volunteer Appreciation Reception
Tuesday November 17, 2009
6:30 to 8 o’clock in the evening
at
MSU-B Downtown Conference Center
Broadway II, Seminar Room
214 North Broadway
Refreshments ~ Desserts ~ Door Prizes!
Kindly RSVP by November 12 to namievents@yahoo.com or 256-7805
There will be a short business meeting and
election of new Board members followed by
delicious desserts catered by
Poet Street Market.
We hope that you will be able to take this time to get together with other
NAMI-Billings supporters.
There will be no Education Presentation this month
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THANK YOU to everyone who sponsored the NAMI-Billings' Walk Team at the NAMI MT Walk in Helena on September 27. Everyone had a great time and it was wonderful to walk together to raise money and awareness about mental illness recovery. Click here for more photos.
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2 FALL CLASSES STARTING SOON!
A course for parents of children under 21 who have a mental illness . . .
Starts October 5, 2009, 6 PM
NAMI Basics is the new signature education program for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illness. Here, you will learn the fundamentals of caring for you, your family, and your child with mental illness. NAMI Basics will replace the Visions for Tomorrow course.
This course is offered at no charge and is taught by a team of trained volunteer parents who have personal experience raising children with mental illnesses
For more information & to enroll call the NAMI-Billings office at 256-2001
Starts September 30, 2009, 6:30-8:30 PM
This course is twelve-weeks long and serves adult family members of individuals with severe mental illness. People who take this course learn about the major mental illnesses, appropriate treatment, research and self support. They emerge equipped to cope successfully as their loved one works toward recovery. Click here to read more...
For more information & to enroll call the NAMI-Billings office at 256-2001
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COMMING SOON . . .
NAMI-Billings E-newsletter!
In 2010 we will implement e-news. This will help us save money and reduce our impact on the environment.
If you’d like to receive our monthly Education Meeting information, newsletter and regular updates directly to your inbox, please send your email address to:namibillings@earthlink.net
We’ll continue mailing our monthly postcard as we have in the past to those without computer access.
Thanks for helping us serve you better!
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Sunday's from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Thursday's from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
NAMI Connection is a support group for adults with mental illness. These confidential support groups meet weekly for 90 minutes and are offered at no charge.
The Billings NAMI affiliate has several support group leaders trained in the NAMI-Connection model.
Groups meet in the NAMI-Billings office. Read more about NAMI-Connection on our Education page or call the office at 256-2001.
To view a list of all our support groups, please click here.
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Happening now . . .
YOUTH SUPPORT GROUPS!
Ages 12-14
NAMI-Billings provides weekly support groups for youth with mental illnesses in partnership with Tumbleweed. Groups meet in the NAMI-Billings office. If you have a child who might benefit from this group experience, please call Libby at 256-2001 for more information and to start the intake process. The groups are offered at no charge.
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MAKE YOUR SPENDING COUNT!
Here's an easy way to donate to NAMI-Billings
Did you know that you can link your Albertson's Preferred Card to a charity, and Albertson's will donate up to 4% of your purchases to that charity - at no cost to you?!
We have been helped significantly by the Albertson’s Preferred Partners program and need these funds in the future so we can continue our great work! We provide all services at no charge and receive no government funds.
If you haven’t supported NAMI-Billings in this way in the past, please consider doing so.
The website to link your card is: www.albertsonscp.com NAMI-Billings organization ID is: 49000111229. You'll need your Preferred Customer number which is located at the top of your Albertson's receipt.
If your Albertson’s card is already linked . . . Albertson's required that everyone RE-LINK their card by 2/28/09. Any charitable link you had, expired on this date so please go to the website listed below and re-link your charity of choice. It will also show what charity you currently have it linked to and allow you to change it if you wish. Be sure to click the ADD button on the last screen. If any of you would like us to do it for you, just email Libby with your Preferred Card number and your phone number. Libby's email is namibillings@earthlink.net
Give us a call at 256-2001 if you have any questions . . . Thank you so much for doing this!
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President Obama honors NAMI Montana executive director, Matt Kuntz
MATT KUNTZ, NAMI Montana executive director, was picked to be one of 18 “everyday Americans” to celebrate inauguration with President Obama. Read more . . .
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Congratulations TAMI BRANDT!
Tami is the recipient of the 2008 NAMI-Billings Volunteer of the Year Award. She is seen here with TOM SINGER, Board President and LIBBY ARTLEY, Executive Director.
To view more photos from the 2008 Annual Meeting and Volunteer Reception, click here.
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Our executive director, Libby Artley, was featured as a guest writer in the Billings Gazette on April 27, 2008. Click here to read Guest Opinion: Sort truth from stereotypes of mental illness.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We THANK THEM for every service moment!
AND we still have unmet needs:
Answering the phones
Coordinating groups
Please call Libby at 256-2001 if you'd like to help.
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What is NAMI?
NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has become the nation's voice on mental illness, a nationwide organization with affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 communities. The Billings affiliate was started in 1995 and has served countless local families and individuals suffering with mental illness.
What does NAMI-Billings do?
NAMI-Billings provides programs at no charge for people with mental illnesses and for the people who love them. Programs provided include:
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Family to Family: a 12 week class for family members
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Peer to Peer: a 9 week course for individuals with serious mental illness
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Provider Education Program: a course for treatment professionals
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In Our Own Voice: Speakers who have mental illnesses that have been trained to share their stories effectively
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Visions For Tomorrow: an 8 week education course for family members of children with a mental illness. Children is defined as up to 21 and still living in the home.
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Weekly Support Groups
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Monthly Community Education presentations
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One-to-One support and friendship for families and individuals affected by mental illness
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Efforts to decrease the stigma of mental illness
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Advocacy to create effective treatment alternatives
What is Mental Illness?
Mental illnesses are biologically based brain disorders than can severely disturb a person's ability to think, feel, and interact with others. The latest scientific research shows that mental illnesses are physical disorders of the brain. Many treatments, especially medications, are available to relieve the signs and symptoms of these illnesses.
* Schizophrenia is a thought disorder with symptoms such as hearing and seeing things that aren't really there. It affects about 1 in 100 people.
* Major Depression will strike about 8% of people in their lifetime. It may show up as extreme sadness and a loss of interest in usual activities.
* Bipolar disorder (also called manic-depressive disorder) affects 1 to 2% of people, often causing severe mood swings from depression to abnormally elevated mood.
* Obsessive-compulsive disorder, an anxiety disorder, affects about 2.5% of people. People with OCD show symptoms such as disturbing repetitive thoughts or behaviors.
* Other anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These illnesses involve feelings of extreme nervousness or embarrassment and sometimes, panic attacks.
* Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) occurs in 3 to 5% of school-age children and causes significant problems with functioning in school or at work.
All of these illnesses are considered to be serious mental illnesses. If you suspect that you or a loved one may have one of these illnesses, please see a physician for an evaluation as soon as possible.adolscence
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Billings
