Posted on September 21, 2022
The Washington Post
An op-ed by Hannah Wesolowski, NAMI CAO, looks at how 988 is improving access to help for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis. SAMHSA estimated that 988 contact volume would more than double the first year. The latest data for August 2022 shows the number of contacts to 988 increased 45% over August 2021. That’s 152,000 more people getting help when they need it most. 988 connects people with trained crisis counselors who can actively engage callers and resolve many crises over the phone. This reduces the need for an in-person response. The average answer rates are increasing, with 20 states answering more than 90% of in-state calls in August compared to just seven states in January 2022.
READ MOREPosted on September 20, 2022
CBS Mornings
On the book release day for "You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health," Dr. Ken Duckworth, NAMI CMO, joined CBS Mornings hosts in-studio live to discuss his inspiration for writing the book and sharing wisdom from people with mental health conditions on different approaches to help navigate mental health concerns for yourself or a loved one.
READ MOREPosted on September 19, 2022
US News & World Report
Nearly 10% of Americans suffer from depression, with the mood disorder increasing fastest among teens and young adults, a new study finds. Given the increase in depression, primary care doctors should be screening their patients for it regularly, said Dr. Christine Crawford, NAMI associate medical director. "Medical providers who are screening for depression signals to patients that talking about depression, talking about your mental health is important for overall health," said Crawford. "There is no need to suffer in silence with these symptoms," Crawford said. "There are treatment options available."
READ MOREPosted on September 16, 2022
Kaleidoscope with Allison Keyes: CBS News Radio/Podcast
In this podcast episode Allison Keyes, CBS News Radio correspondent/host interviews, Dr. Christine Crawford, associate medical director at NAMI, to discuss the rising rate of suicide and suicide attempts among Black young people. There is research showing that children as young as 5 years old are at risk. September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and Dr. Crawford at the National Alliance on Mental Illness provides insights on what's happening and what families and care givers can do to help.
READ MOREPosted on September 7, 2022
WebMD
Both Dr. Ken Duckworth, NAMI CMO, and Pooja Mehta were interviewed about You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health. Pooja Mehta is one of 130 people who shared first-person accounts of their experiences with mental illness in the book, as a way of challenging the stigma and educating the public about what it feels like to have mental health challenges. Mehta’s experience motivated her to begin speaking out about stigma in mental illness and openly telling her story. Duckworth says he was inspired to write the book after his own family’s experience with mental illness. His father had bipolar disorder, but there was no “social permission” or permission within the family to talk about his father’s condition, which was shrouded in secrecy and shame. Duckworth hopes the book will provide useful information and inspire people with mental illness to realize they’re not alone. “We want readers to know there is a vast community out there struggling with the same issues and to know there are resources and guidance available,” said Duckworth.
READ MOREPosted on August 23, 2022
WUSA9: DC
Dr. Christine Crawford, associate medical director at NAMI, said parents can explain in simple terms what they do to calm down. The key is to keep listening. "If your child is keeping to themselves, they're just staying in the room, they're not engaging with you, or with their friends, then that's certainly reason to be concerned about what's going on," Crawford said. If you notice new behavior that makes you concerned, it's time for another conversation.
READ MOREPosted on August 1, 2022
The NonProfit Times
Much of what engulfed the nonprofit sector during the past 12 months got its start between 2020 and 2021. Just as the sector has been influenced by events, so has this 25th anniversary edition of The NonProfit Times’ Power & Influence Top 50. Nearly one-third (32%) of those have not been previously inducted into the club. Women outnumber men on the list for the first time, 28 to 22. It is also arguably the most diverse group of honorees. NAMI CEO Daniel Gillison, Jr., is among the 2022 honorees who has distinguished himself as an initiator, innovator and leaders by redirecting and pivoting operations to meet the moment.
READ MOREPosted on July 30, 2022
Today.com
“What is helpful about the way in which mental health days are being rolled out in some states is that there’s a certain number of days that is allocated to take off,” Dr. Christine M. Crawford, NAMI associate medical director, told TODAY Parents. “If schools see a pattern in which the student exceeds the allotted number of mental health days that really signals to the school that perhaps a student requires more mental health support.”
READ MOREPosted on July 16, 2022
USA Today
"In a suicide or mental health crisis, seconds count," said Jennifer Snow, national director of government affairs, policy and advocacy for NAMI. Snow pointed out that the 988 hotline will be answered by those with mental health expertise, a lifesaving upgrade. This is a huge step forward for those with loved ones at risk, as well as those of us who are ourselves prone to suicidal ideation.
READ MOREPosted on July 15, 2022
NBC News NOW
Hannah Wesolowski, NAMI CAO, joined NBC News Now morning edition for a live on-camera interview to discuss the new 988 number connecting callers to the Lifeline starting tomorrow (7/16) and how the process will work and what callers can expect.
READ MORE
NAMI HelpLine is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Call 800-950-6264,
text “helpline” to 62640, or chat online. In a crisis, call or text 988 (24/7).
