This summer, we’re excited to launch our free, in-person NAMI Mental Health Education Courses at Southwest Partnership! Our trained NAMI volunteers bring peer-led programs communities all over Baltimore. With the unique understanding of people with lived experience with mental health conditions, these 8-week courses provide outstanding free education, skills training and support.

NAMI Family-to-Family

NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 8-session educational program for family, significant others and friends of people living with mental illness. It is a designated evidence-based program that includes presentations, discussion and interactive exercises. Research shows that the program significantly improves the coping and problem-solving abilities of the people closest to an individual living with a mental health condition.

What You’ll Gain

NAMI Family-to-Family provides critical information and strategies for taking care of the person you love.

In the program, you’ll learn about:

• How to manage crises, solve problems and communicate effectively
• Taking care of yourself and managing your stress
• Developing the confidence and stamina to provide support with compassion
• Finding and using local supports and services
• Up-to-date information on mental health conditions and how they affect the brain
• Current treatments, including evidence-based therapies, medications and side effects
• The impact of mental illness on the entire family

Register for a Class

Dates: June 18th – August 13th | 2:00pm – 4:00pm

To register, click here or contact our HelpLine at (410) 435-2600 or email info@namibaltimore.org.

NAMI Peer-to-Peer

NAMI Peer-to-Peer is a free, 8-session education program for adults who are looking to better understand their mental health condition and journey toward recovery. Taught by a trained team of people who’ve been there, the program includes presentations, discussion and interactive exercises.

What You’ll Gain

NAMI Peer-to-Peer will help you:

• Create a personalized relapse prevention plan
• Learn how to interact with health care providers
• Develop confidence for making decisions and reducing stress
• Understand the impact of symptoms on your life
• Access Baltimore-area resources to assist you in maintaining your journey toward recovery.

Register for a Class

NAMI Peer-to-Peer will be held in-person at Southwest Partnership. Space is limited and advanced registration is required.

NAMI Peer-to-Peer
Dates: June 19th – August 14th | 4:00pm – 6:00pm

To register, click here or contact our HelpLine at (410) 435-2600 or email info@namibaltimore.org.

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Each of the artists featured on this playlist is living with, or lived with a mental health condition. Thanks Sheppard Pratt for sponsoring our LOUDER event and the creation of this playlist! We hope you enjoy these tracks, and find inspiration in the musicians’ stories, which you can read below.

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NAMI Metro Baltimore is proud to be featured in the February 2022 Issue of Baltimore Magazine! You can read more about mental health in the workplace, criminal justice system, and more by checking out our feature below.

If you would like to read the rest of the Magazine, visit their website by clicking here.

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Gain insight into how you can support the mental health of your community at this educational web series hosted by NAMI Metro Baltimore.

The Mental Health Education Conference for Faith Leaders offers participants the opportunity to gain a better understanding of topical issues pertaining to mental health and the effects of stigma. Faith community leaders will learn new strategies for supporting their congregation’s mental health needs by effectively “Putting their Heads Together”.

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.

Check out our presentation line up below!

May 5th: Dr. Que English “The Kids are not OK: Mobilizing Faith and Community Leaders to address Youth Behavioral Health”

May 12th: Rev. Kevin Wayne Johnson “Suicide Prevention: Why It Matters and How You Can Help”

May 19th: Rabbi Ilan Glazer and Rev. Jermine Alberty “A Conversation About Recovery”

May 26th: Rev. Pamula Yerby-Hammack, Robin Schaffer, and Dr. Sharlene Allen-Milton “Putting Our Heads Together” Panel

Join our newsletter to stay in the know about other NAMI Metro Baltimore Events!

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Past Faith Conferences

NAMI Metro Baltimore’s annual conference for faith community leaders took place virtually in 2021 and was a 3-part webinar series to help educate and support faith leaders. Participants learned new strategies and gained tools to help support the mental well-being of their congregations.

This educational program has passed, however you can view recordings of the Webinars of your interest by clicking the links below. Be sure to click the play button on the bottom of the screen in the new window.

Mental Health Stigma | July 22nd

A discussion led by Rev. Bryce A. Jones will define social and perceived mental health stigma and the factors that cause stigma. Participants will learn how to help reduce mental health stigma in their congregations.

About the Presenter: Rev. Bryce A. Jones graduated from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University with a Masters of Divinity. Ordained in the Gospel ministry at New Friendship Baptist Church in Baltimore, Rev. Jones currently serves as the Minister of Urban Affairs and Political and Community Outreach.

Vicarious Trauma |July 29th

Rev. Bryce A. Jones joins us again to discuss the emotional, mental and physical toll that is often imposed on faith leaders. Participants will learn how to identify and define vicarious trauma, and more importantly how to strengthen themselves and their organization against compassion fatigue and burnout.

You can watch a recording of the Webinar by clicking here!

Congregational Depression Assistance Program |August 5th

Dr. W. Dan Hale of Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center will lead a discussion to inform participants of a congregational mental health training program and how faith organizations can get involved.

About the Presenter: Dr. W. Dan Hale is a clinical psychologist who serves as special advisor to the President of Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and director of the hospital’s Healthy Community Partnership. He is the coauthor of Healing Bodies and Souls: A Practical Guide for Congregations.

You can watch a recording of the Webinar by clicking here!

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Written by Kerry Graves, Executive Director of NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore serving Baltimore City and Baltimore County

It’s no secret that the events of the last year have set the stage for an unprecedented national mental health crisis. On top of life’s normal stressors, we’ve been dealing with a global pandemic, unrest over racial injustice, political divisiveness, and now the thread of seasonal depression and increased social isolation during the wintertime.

Needless to say, there is an urgency to not only talk about mental health in the workplace, but to create a culture centered around mental health awareness and prevention. Organizations and their leaders must understand that mental health education, advocacy, and support are “must-have” standards for employees, not “nice-to-have” benefits.

Mental health stats to note – and how they affect the workforce

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that nearly one-in-five American adults live with a mental illness. One study shoes that nearly 41% of American adults who didn’t struggle with mental health issues are now experiencing them as a result of COVID-19. The results are leading to dangerous and costly patterns from a workplace standpoint.

According to the World Health Organization, the loss of productivity due to poor mental health can be as high as $1 trillion per year, and again, that’s without taking the pandemic into account. A recent survey found that 70% of employees have admitted to experiencing burnout since the pandemic because the boundaries between work and home are more blurred than ever. In turn, productivity, motivation, and work quality are all suffering.

Furthermore, one-in-four senior-level women are highly considering leaving the workforce or downshifting their careers due to stress overload since the start of the pandemic, according to McKinsey’s most recent annual Women in the Workplace study. This means we are at risk of losing women in leadership, as well as future women leaders, which could undo decades of progress towards achieving workplace gender diversity.

Steps for employers to take

But just as poor mental health leads to negative workplace effects, positive mental health can translate into benefits and successes. Improving employees’ mental health can facilitate a more efficient workflow, relationships, productivity, company loyalty and employee recruitment. It’s also a smart financial move. What better time than now to create that kind of environment?

Here are some actions employers can take to improve mental health awareness.

• Lead by example. Having a leadership team that talks about mental health and promotes how they are caring for their own can not be overstated. Educate yourselves as leaders, and understand the impact COVID-19 can have on mental health.

• Empathize with and understand those living with a mental health condition. Hold training sessions so employees can both recognize the signs of mental illness and know how to respond to those who present these symptoms. Make anxiety and depression in the workplace easily identifiable. NAMI Metro Baltimore provides several training workshops as part of its workplace initiative “I Will Listen“, which is designed to raise awareness and reduce stigma.

• Facilitate open and honest discussions about racial trauma in particular, as sustained trauma has profound impact on both mental and physical health. Ensuring that your workplace addresses racial injustice as a priority is an important component of a healthy work environment.

• Provide and promote a flexible work environment so that employees can get help for themselves or their families when needed. Treat leave required for mental health care the same way you would treat leave for any other physical health condition.

• Create social opportunities for employees. Employees with the opportunity to interact casually in the workplace are more open to sharing concerns around mental health. Consider creating an employee resource group. These voluntary, employee-led groups can foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with organizational values, goals, and business practices.

• Consider offering an employee assistance program (EAP) to help employees access mental health care. EAPs are paid for by employers and offer free confidential assessments, short-term counseling and referrals to employees facing mental health struggles, whether personal or work-related.

*This column originally ran in the Help Desk section of the Baltimore Business Journal on February 11, 2021. Click here to view the original article.

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Our team of young adult volunteers is passionate about raising mental health awareness, and starting conversations about it in the community through our digital publication, the NAMI Metro Baltimore Zine!

Our mission with this Zine is to amplify the voices of people impacted by mental health conditions, break stigma, create a safe space emphasizing mental health & wellness, and of course, spread the word on all things mental health. Check out our latest editions below by clicking on the images!

May 2022

March Mini Zine 2022

December 2021

December 2021

June 2021

May 2021

March 2021

December 2020 Edition

November 2020 Edition

September 2020 Edition

There are several ways to get involved and interact with our Zine! If you have leads for news on anything mental health, contact Nova at ngetz@namibaltimore.org. If you want to share your personal journey with a mental health condition, click here. We also have an ‘asking for a friend‘ section, where we are taking questions about mental health! Please note that we are not doctors, psychiatrists, or therapists. We are answering from a peer perspective.

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NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore is offering weekly online support groups. Meetings will be held via Zoom video call.

Registration is required to participate in each meeting. Space is limited to ensure participants can be heard, and receive needed support. Registered attendees will receive a link to join the Zoom call 24 hours in advance.

NAMI Family Support Group

Schedule: Thursdays, 7:00-8:30pm
Participants: Open to any family member or caregiver whose loved one lives with a mental health condition

NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for family members, caregivers and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar circumstances. Learn more.

Schedule: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 6:00-7:30pm
Participants: Open to any young adult (under 40) living with a mental health condition

NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group is a free, peer-led support group. This group is specifically open to young adults living with mental illness. You will gain insight from hearing the challenges and successes of others. Learn more.

Please note: NAMI Support Group facilitators will make every effort to adhere to the NAMI Signature Support Group models and practices. Adaptations may be made in the online format. The group is confidential, and personal information requested in the registration form will only be shard with NAMI Metro Baltimore staff.

Questions? If you have any questions about the group, or experience any difficulty with registration, please contact our HelpLine at 410-435-2600.

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NAMI Metro Baltimore takes the coronavirus risk very seriously, and is staying informed of all advisories from the state of Maryland and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Program Schedule Update: April 22, 2020

In accordance with the state of Maryland’s declaration of a state of emergency, NAMI Metro Baltimore suspended in-person education and support programs beginning March 16th. NAMI Metro Baltimore adheres to the closure policy of Baltimore County Public Schools for all programs and activities. Please see below for additional program and event schedule changes.

Online Support Group Meetings

Beginning April 2nd, NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore will offer weekly peer and family support group meetings online. Registration is required to participate in each meeting. View the schedule and learn more here.

Event Postponement

• The Of Substance Stoop Storytelling event scheduled for March 31 at Goucher College will be  postponed. The partnering organizations are developing plans to hold the event in the fall.  
• The Mental Health Education Conference for Faith Leaders scheduled for April 2nd at the Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt has been postponed.
• The Writers LIVE event in partnership with the Enoch Pratt Library scheduled for May 28th has been postponed to October 14, 2020.

We will continue to keep you updated as events are rescheduled.

Virtual NAMI Classes

NAMI Family-to-Family will be offered online this spring. This class is open to any family member or caregiver of an adult living with a mental health condition. Learn more about the program here.

Class Schedule

Dates: Tuesdays, May 5th – June 23rd, 6:30-8:30pm
Location: Online via Zoom

Registration is required. Please contact the NAMI Metro Baltimore HelpLine (410) 435-2600 to join.

Office Closure and HelpLine

The NAMI Metro Baltimore office will be closed from March 16th through May 15th. Staff will be available remotely. Additionally, the HelpLine will continue to be available during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm.

NAMI Metro Baltimore will share updates on our program schedule and events via email, our website, and our social media accounts. Please be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to receive the latest updates and announcements. You can subscribe to receive our email newsletter and updates here.

Managing Your Mental and Physical Health

First, and foremost, we want you to care of your own health. Be sure to stay hydrated, eat good, healthy foods, get restful sleep, and maintain, to the best of your ability, your own personal self-care practices. This is key to wellness.

We know that the breaking news and headlines about this health emergency can feel overwhelming and stressful. It’s important to remain informed and aware, but also to manage your stress and anxiety. Here are a few tips and practices:

• Take breaks from your news consumption: With smartphone apps, push notifications, and 24/7 news coverage, there is a tremendous amount of information available at all times. It’s ok to take breaks. Be observant of your own tendencies in news consumption, and limit your time on news sites if you notice yourself spending a lot of time on them.
• Be cognizant of your social media use: Social media can intensify the effects that you feel from news and information overload. The seemingly endless stream of information can make it difficult to shift your focus. Make sure to exhibit self-control when it comes to social media use, and consider deleting apps, turning off push-notifications, or giving yourself a mental break.
• Practice good stress management: Consistent and sound stress management practices can be an easy and effective way to mitigate news anxiety. Be sure to stick with practices that work for you.

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After an extensive search, NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore has selected Kerry Graves as the organization’s new executive director, effective Nov. 15, 2018.

As executive director, Graves will apply her 10 years of experience working in the non-profit sector to providing direction and leadership for the mission and vision of NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations of NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore, Graves will serve as the chief liaison with government officials, media, community organizations, and key constituency groups.

Graves currently serves as the vice president for development for the DC/MD/VA chapter of the ALS Association. In this capacity, she has been responsible for a revenue budget in excess of $2 million and spearheaded fundraising efforts for the organization.

“Given Kerry’s experience working for organizations with a focus on health advocacy, she is uniquely qualified to continue to foster NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore’s reputation as a leading agency in the Baltimore area for outreach and community service,” said Lawrence S. Conn, president of the board of directors. “There’s never been a greater need for our services than now, and Kerry’s strategic fundraising experience will be critical in taking NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore to the next level.”

Graves is succeeding outgoing executive director Sherry Welch, who joined NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore in 2014. During her tenure, Welch doubled the number of people served by the organization and quadrupled the number of volunteers.  Welch also oversaw a geographic expansion of services and was instrumental in both stabilizing the organization’s finances and advancing the board of directors.

“Sherry put her heart and soul into NAMI, and the organization has seen significant growth as a result of that,” said Conn. “Her efforts have led us on a path that has set up NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore and Kerry for continued success.”

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Guest Blog Post by Mia Ellis

When I was 20, I came to an alarming realization that something was wrong. A week before Thanksgiving, I ended an abusive long-term relationship, and it seemed my entire world fell apart overnight. As a senior at Towson University living in an off-campus apartment, the winter that followed was debilitating.

Some mornings, I could not get out of bed. I barely made it to class or work. I cried as I got dressed, cried as I got in my car and drove. At my internship, I tried desperately not to cry at my desk, but I would start shaking until tears eventually fell as I stared into my computer screen. When I got home from class, I started taking painkillers to feel less miserable. That got me through the evenings, relieved once I could get in bed and sleep once again. I hated mornings because I didn’t want to participate in life, I just wanted to sleep. I was scared of being alone because of the dark thoughts that consumed me. I deleted my social media and ignored my friends; I couldn’t stand to see people happy and successful when I felt like a miserable failure. I became a shell of the happy and motivated extrovert I was, and I didn’t recognize myself. I felt empty, alone, depleted, isolated, useless, and irrationally overwhelmed with the feeling that my life didn’t really matter.

I attribute my recovery from major depressive disorder, which I was diagnosed with at 21, to three things: a good treatment plan, the support of my loved ones, and NAMI. I found NAMI Metro Baltimore through Towson University’s Counseling Center. In the spring I booked an emergency appointment with a mental health counselor, and not only did that begin my healing journey with therapy, but I met someone at the center who told me about NAMI Metro Baltimore. That day, for the first time in months, my spirits lifted. Maybe I wasn’t alone after all. I felt surrounded by people who truly understood, cared, and wanted to help.

I have been a NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group facilitator for almost two years, and it has changed my life and the way I view mental illness. After I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Psychology, it became clear to me that I wanted to help people like me, struggling with a mental health condition. I wanted to be sure that nobody had to suffer through it alone or without help. With certainty, I can say to anyone with mental illness – whether it be depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD or anything else – you are not alone in the way you feel. There are so many others out there who can relate to you and genuinely understand you.

For me, helping others work through mental illness helped me work through my own illness. I feel a strong connection with young adults in particular. Young adults, especially those of us with mental illness, experience the world differently. Growing up and finding your place in the adult world is not easy for anyone. School, finding jobs, figuring out what you want to do with your life, coming to terms with who you are, dealing with family issues, finding intimate relationships, living on your own – these are just a few of the struggles of young adulthood, and mental illness makes this journey feel overwhelming, if not impossible at times. But it is not impossible, and sometimes we need to be reminded of that. I think the more we can empathize and relate with one another, the more we can try to understand and support each other through the toughest of times.

This January, NAMI Metro Baltimore will launch a new NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group for young adults. This peer-led support group will provide a space for young adults to connect, share challenges, to see that there is hope for recovery. Starting January 10^th, the group will begin meeting bi-weekly at the Southeast Anchor Library in Highlandtown. This free program is open to any young adult age 18-39 who is living with a mental health condition.

I am a young adult with mental illness. At times I need support, and I know other young adults like me need it too. Through NAMI, we can offer each other mutual support, comfort, and understanding as we battle mental illness. You are not alone, and you do not have to go through this alone. Together, we can cope, heal, and find the road to recovery.

Mia Ellis is a Connection Support Group Facilitator and NAMI Metro Baltimore outreach volunteer. She has been volunteering with NAMI Metro Baltimore to help peers living with a mental health condition since 2016. 

 

 

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