We have all faced new and unprecedented challenges in 2020, as our community and world adapts to COVID-19.

In March, NAMI Metro Baltimore began to respond and do our part to mitigate the spread of the virus. At that time, we knew that our programs could not cease. NAMI’s education programs and support groups provide life-changing help.

We also recognized that our community would need us more than ever as they coped with social distancing and managed their mental health, anxiety and fear.

We didn’t stall. We adapted. We innovated. We worked tirelessly to ensure that our community has access to the care they need.

Our volunteers answered the call. They helped us to launch online support groups within 2 weeks. By mid-June, we began hosting 4 ongoing groups for peers and families. We’ve also hosted virtual NAMI education programs, and have plans to continue offering Family-to-Family and Peer-to-Peer classes throughout the summer.

Below are a few words our support group participants have shared with us about the value of our continued programming.

“I just finished participating in the Virtual Connection Support Group and I wanted to let you to know how helpful it was to me…With the current deadly virus threat and the requirement that everyone stay inside their homes, it is doubly (and sometimes triply) depressing and lonely. For me, this support group was a positive and uplifting experience and I plan to attend every meeting. I’m not always this upbeat but I know that the people I met will help me through, what I call, my dark days. And I will help them.“
–NAMI Support Group Participant

“Everyone was so open and respectful. …The group reminded me of the value of talking about mental illness and hardships in a group setting. I wasn’t expecting this, but sharing my personal experiences and listening to others’ lifted a little weight off my chest. I am so grateful that NAMI offers these resources and connections.”
–NAMI Support Group Participant

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We need your support.

We are making a difference. As we continue to do whatever it takes to provide mental health programs to our community here in Baltimore, we ask you to join us. Your donation allows NAMI Metro Baltimore to continue providing our services at absolutely no cost to participants. Your support will help us to continue to adapt, innovate, and meet the challenges of this moment.

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The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) today released the following statement from CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr., regarding recent racist incidents across the country and their impact on mental health:

“The effect of racism and racial trauma on mental health is real and cannot be ignored. The disparity in access to mental health care in communities of color cannot be ignored. The inequality and lack of cultural competency in mental health treatment cannot be ignored.

“Our nation’s African American community is going through an extremely painful experience, pain that has been inflicted upon this community repeatedly throughout history and is magnified by mass media and repeated deaths. We stand with all the families, friends and communities who have lost loved ones senselessly due to racism. And, with more than 100,000 lives lost to the coronavirus pandemic – disproportionately from minority communities – these recent deaths add gasoline to the fire of injustice.

“While there is much we need to do to address racism in our country, we must not forget the importance of mental health as we do so. Racism is a public health crisis.

“As the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, it is our responsibility to serve all. While as an organization we are still early in our intentional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion journey and have much to do, we have renewed our commitment to our values. We continue to strive to deliver help and hope to all who need it.

“NAMI stands in solidarity with everyone impacted across the country. You are not alone.”

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Local Black Mental Health Resources

There are a variety of mental health resources available for people of color, but we have provided a few local resources below.

Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective
The Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective is a training, movement building, and grant making organization dedicated to the healing, wellness, and liberation of Black and marginalized communities. Learn more.

Black Mental Health Alliance
The Black Mental Health Alliance develops, promotes, and sponsors trusted culturally-relevant educational forums, trainings and referral services that support the health and well-being of Black people and other vulnerable communities. Learn more.

Open Path Collective
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective provides middle and lower-income individuals, couples, families, and children with access to affordable psychotherapy and mental health education services. Learn more.

National Black Mental Health Resources

PsychHub with collaboration from Mental Health Professionals of the African-American community put together a comprehensive list of resources to help Black people and other people of color care for their mental health through the trauma of racism. Learn more.

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NAMI released the NAMI COVID-19 Resource and Information Guide to answer frequently asked questions regarding the intersection between Coronavirus, or COVID-19, and people affected by mental illness, their caregivers and loved ones. The guide features FAQs on a variety of topics from managing anxiety and social isolation to accessing health care and medications.

La Guía COVID-19 de información y recursos está disponible en español. Tiene información sobre preguntas frecuentes y recursos para que encuentres apoyo para ti y tus seres queridos. Incluye temas relacionados a la salud mental, como encontrar comunidades de apoyo en línea, ayuda financiera, y más. Para acceder, presiona el botón descarga (en español).

For additional information on NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore’s programs and operations during the COVID-19 health emergency, click here.

For additional information about local resources, please contact the NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore HelpLine at (410) 435-2600. Staff are available to answer your call Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm.

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Out of an abundance of caution and in an effort to minimize the spread of coronavirus, NAMI Metro Baltimore has postponed the Mental Health Education Conference for Faith Leaders scheduled for Thursday, April 2nd. Staff is working to identify a new date for the conference. Please check back for updates and announcements regarding this event.

The Mental Health Education Conference for Faith Leaders will help you to effectively address the mental health needs of your congregation.

About the Event

The Mental Health Education Conference for Faith Leaders offers participants the opportunity to gain a better understanding of mental health and the effects of stigma. Faith community leaders will learn new strategies for supporting their congregation’s mental health needs by effectively “Managing the Cards in Your Deck.”

Participants will hear from fellow faith leaders, experts in the mental health field, and peers and family members whose lives have been impacted by mental illness. Stay tuned for announcement of the speaker lineup!

About the Keynote Speaker

Mr. Johnny Shelton attended Southeast Missouri State University, where he was an all-conference football player. After college, Johnny signed NFL contracts for the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers. Free agency making it hard to make a final roster, he left football to pursue a career in corporate America.

Johnny’s passion for inspiring and motivating men led him back to the game he loves in 2005. Through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Johnny joined Elon University for two seasons, and then moved to Virginia Tech, as their football team’s chaplain. This work led Johnny to play a vital role in establishing the Chaplain ministry within the entire Fellowship of Christian Athletes Organization. In 2013, Johnny joined the Baltimore Ravens to encourage and uplift the players and staff, on the field and off.

Registration Details

This one-day conference is open to anyone who holds a leadership role in their faith community. Conference registration is $25, and includes breakfast, lunch, and all conference materials. All participants will receive a faith leaders toolkit with information on available community mental health resources.

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1 in 5 college students are impacted by mental health conditions. Listening can be one of the most powerful ways to support someone who is facing mental health challenges.

This is the message of the I Will Listen Campaign, a mental health awareness initiative that kicks-off its 4th annual event on college campuses across Baltimore on October 6th. NAMI Metro Baltimore will partner with 12 local colleges and universities for this year’s campaign, and more than 50 programs and events are planned.

I Will Listen events include open mic nights, wellness activities and fitness classes, and film screenings and discussion. Each campus will also host a NAMI In Our Own Voice presentation, giving students the opportunity to listen to first-hand stories of recovery. All of the events and programs will encourage students to start open and honest conversations about mental health with their friends, classmates, and others on campus.

At each event, students will receive information about mental health resources on campus and in the community. The overall goal of the I Will Listen Campaign is to help students reach out for mental health support when they need it.

I Will Listen was created by NAMI New York City in 2013 as a campaign encouraging listening with an open mind, and without judgement, at school, in the workplace, and in the community. NAMI Metro Baltimore activated the campaign locally in 2016. In 2018, the campaign reached more than 2,300 students, faculty, and staff on 9 college campuses. This year, MICA, Towson University, and Baltimore City Community College join the campaign bringing this important anti-stigma initiative to 12 area campuses.

NAMI Metro Baltimore invites you to follow along with all of the I Will Listen Campaign activities. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates throughout the campaign.

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Although nutrition is still considered a “young” science, it is one that resonates with many. Interest in nutrition and how eating impacts our health is of great interest to people of varying ages and health histories. While much attention within nutrition remains on physical health, the influence on mental health is equally valuable.

Nutrition is the sum of its parts. What we eat over time, and other lifestyle factors such as stress management, exercise, and sleep all play a role in our physical and mental health. One of the best ways to improve our health through nutrition is adopting a big picture perspective, and keeping our focus broad. Taking into consideration how our overall lifestyle contributes to health, and then taking steps to make the best changes for our personal goals.

As you’re making changes to your nutrition, consider the idea of being inclusive rather than exclusive with regards to nutrition, by adding in rather than taking away. Try new foods, look for new sources of inspiration such as cookbooks or magazines, find a helpful meal planning system, and strive to make eating enjoyable. Eating at regular intervals keeps our energy levels in balance, and in turn helps our focus and attention. Mood can change when we are overly hungry, too full, or ignoring our physical cues altogether. Cultivate mindfulness when eating, and tune in to how you feel physically and emotionally. Make note of what foods and combinations of foods feel energizing, and what leaves you sluggish.

While there are many nutrients associated with improving mental health and mood, such as omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium and the B vitamins folate and B12, it is the overall intake and lifestyle that has the greatest impact. If we’re eating a variety of foods, and enjoying what we eat, we are more likely to meet our various nutrient needs. In addition, if we are caring for ourselves through adequate sleep, moving our bodies, and managing our stress, we are in a better position to make healthful decisions about food.

Research does not always indicate a cause and effect, but can often make associations with nutrient intake and changes in specific symptoms. For example, omega-3 fatty acids have been widely studied for their anti-inflammatory properties, and their link to decreasing depression symptoms. Vitamin B12 supports neurologic function, and may benefit mood. Folate, also a B vitamin, is associated with depression if levels are too low. If you have concerns about a specific nutrient playing a role in improving your mental health, such as taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements for symptoms of depression, talk with your health care providers. Including a Registered Dietitian (RD) as part of your health care team could help clarify these concerns, and provide individualized information about your health and overall nutrition needs.

Making changes to our eating habits is a process that takes time and perseverance. Paying attention to your body, and your needs is one aspect of care that can translate to good health, both physically and mentally.

About the Contributor

Samantha Lewandowski is the Nutritional Care Coordinator of Outpatient Services at Sheppard Pratt’s Center for Eating Disorders. A registered dietician, she received her BS in Nutrition from the University of Delaware and her Masters in Health Promotion Management from The American University. Her previous experience includes providing clinical nutrition services at a long term care and rehab facility and providing health promotion services for an employee wellness program. Samantha joined the Center for Eating Disorders staff in 2006, and her main role is working one-on-one with patients in the outpatient setting.

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Last week, NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore welcomed a delegation of social service providers from the Eastern European country of Belarus. The meeting was arranged through a month-long professional exchange program of The World Trade Center Institute. Members of the delegation provide a range of community health and peer support services in Belarus. They are meeting with non-profits throughout the Maryland and DC region to learn best practices.

NAMI Metro Baltimore staff offered an overview of NAMI’s grassroots model of peer-led education, support, and advocacy programs. Volunteer Coordinator, Julianne Mills, shared the ways in which our more than 220 active volunteers work throughout the community to offer resources, life-saving information, and hope for recovery. Staff exchanged practices and ideas with our guests to help them implement or strengthen volunteer recruitment and training programs in their own non-profit organizations.

Throughout the conversation, both groups recognized a common, yet profound challenge: the impact of stigma. With the aid of interpreters, the group realized that “stigma” is the same word in both the English and Russian language. They spoke at length about the stigma that exists in both cultures and the impact it has on accessing needed support and treatment. The Belarusian delegation shared similar barriers stemming from stigma, including funding and resources, government regulations, and the need for increased public awareness.

NAMI Metro Baltimore Executive Director, Sherry Welch reflects that “we share the same frustration and pain in trying to provide support for those who feel the sting of stigma, while trying to change the larger conversation around the need for understanding and healing, instead of judgment and discrimination.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, gifts, contact information, and hugs were shared. But most importantly, there was the mutual recognition that we are indeed a global community, and it is only through supporting one another that we can change our communities for the better.

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It was a typical bedtime: no one wanted to sleep, though we were all overtired. Suddenly my kids “remembered” that they still had some homework. Both of them. Homework that would require mental clarity and focus.

“Oh no,” my voice went up. “Are you serious?”

Don’t get me wrong—as a young student, I procrastinated, but not as graduate student studying Traditional Chinese Medicine. The homework was challenging, but for me, the philosophical shift was even harder. As the daughter of a Western physician, I had difficulty perceiving myself as an energetic being that could help shift Qì, or energy, in others. I hadn’t previously considered the intangible side of the medicine.

My voice kept building. “Why didn’t you do it earlier?”

“We were busy,” said my son. “I forgot,” said my daughter flatly.

I checked the clock. For kids their age, it was already too late. Ideas bounced like popcorn until my mind felt charred.

“Ugh, it’s fine, Mom,” my daughter said. “Breathe.”

Advice can be a command, told for the sake of exercising power or for the sake of cruelty, like a chainsaw out to fell your Qì. But advice can also be a hug. Within someone’s word choice, facial expression or body language, you can tell he or she truly cares. My daughter did, and I shut my worry playlist down and listened.

I took a few deep breaths, making sure I felt them down in my abdomen. It felt good. I took a huge breath and released an even bigger sigh. When I spoke again, my voice was lower, slower, more even.

“You’ll have to do it in the morning,” I concluded.

Both kids groaned.

“Can’t we do it now?” my son begged.

“Nope, move it along,” I said, like a traffic cop. To my surprise, we actually resumed bedtime, and both kids managed to fall asleep. I even had some energy left. All thanks to the power of deep breaths!

It was a small deal, but the lesson still holds: when stressed, breathe deeply.

In Western medicine, the “stress response” helps the body deal with emergencies by increasing the breathing and heart rate and releasing stress hormones. The downside is that if we perceive everything from a traffic jam to forgotten homework as a disaster, then we send our bodies into a constant emergency state that is not warranted. Excess stress can impair both our physical and mental health. Breathing deeply can help calm the nervous system. By releasing the “panic button,” we gain both peace of mind and better health.

Our breath also matters in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where our mental and physical health depends on the Lungs (capitalized to indicate a different definition than in Western Medicine). In TCM, the Lungs take in Qì (energy), and transfer it to all other organs. Whether we are trying to improve our digestion or our sleep, we can benefit from breathing deeply and evenly. The rhythm of our breath reveals our transition from Yīn (taking in, observing) to Yáng (pushing away, reacting), a cycle that underscores our entire lives.

We all have a different proportion and evolution of Yīn and Yáng, which changes throughout our lives. As a result, no two people experience stress the same way. Over time, our reactions and habits can change. This means that regardless of our medical history or current circumstances, change is always possible. Particularly by building healthy habits, we can have greater balance, stability, and strength.

We can begin by learning to breathe more slowly. First, exhale as much as possible. Then, try to inhale and exhale for a count of six. It’s a goal, not an ultimatum! The significance of counts in multiples of three is derived from a traditional Chinese myth. Out of chaos, a trinity emerged: Yīn (the earth), Yáng (the atmosphere), and humans. To experience health, humans must live in harmony with Yīn and Yáng, rather than try to control them. Every facet of our lives, from food to exercise to mental activities, can be qualified as more Yīn or Yáng. Yīn is quiet and cooling, and Yáng is active, warming, and energizing. Relative balance of these properties can lead to fewer and weaker symptoms. To reduce any symptom, including stress, we can pursue Yīn and Yáng balance in our lifestyle by breathing deeply.

Now, we don’t need kids or a challenging bedtime to remember to take care of ourselves. We can build balance into our lifestyle and make a habit of breathing deeply.

Licensed Acupuncturist Trina Lion just returned from a decade in Shanghai, China, as a Traditional Chinese Medicine specialist. She worked as an acupuncturist at Shanghai Humanity Hospital and as a TCM faculty member at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. She was featured in the cover story for Shanghai Family magazine and appeared as a featured expert on the ICS-Shanghai TV show “Culture Matters.” Trina has also lectured on TCM globally at institutions including Johns Hopkins University, Yale University, New York University in Shanghai, University of Maryland Medical Center, L’Oréal China, and NFL China. Learn more about her work at trinaliontcm.com.

To learn more, join NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore for an information session on January 12th, Lose Stress with Traditional Chinese Medicine, presented by Trina Lion.

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