An oversimplification of my journey through mental health would be to say that every defining moment has been shaped by some form of avoidance or denial. When I was very young my parents got divorced, my mother sent me to a children’s counselor and I, as an eloquent 7 year old, insisted that I [...]
By Charma D. Dudley, PhD, FPPR; Associate Director of Behavioral Health, Beacon Health Options; President, NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania Board of Directors; Member, NAMI Board of Directors February is Black History Month and many of us take time during this period to reflect on the achievements, as well as the struggles and pain, that black [...]
By Nicholas Emeigh, NAMI Bucks County Ending The Silence Presenter My name is Nick and I was born and raised in Bucks County, PA and attended college in Boston. I was and am always afraid that my technically invisible mental health diagnoses will be visible to those I meet, and worry that I will be judged [...]
All throughout #MentalHealthMonth, NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania is sharing helpful Q&A’s on various subjects. This week, we’re talking about the importance of sharing your story. Joel Richard, Data & Communications Specialist at NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania, answered questions about his experience as an Ending the Silence and Say It Out Loud presenter. Q: Tell us [...]
All throughout #MentalHealthMonth, NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania is sharing helpful Q&A’s on various subjects. This week’s topic is First Episode Psychosis. Vicki Fetterman and Marci Sturgeon-Rusiewicz, who lead ENGAGE in Allegheny County, provided this overview. Q: What is First Episode Psychosis? First episode psychosis is the first time that someone experiences psychotic symptoms or a [...]
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a new report, Helping Children and Youth Who Have Traumatic Experiences. The report shows that nearly half of the nation’s children have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Children and youth who have experienced traumatic events are at risk of [...]
All throughout #MentalHealthMonth, NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania is sharing helpful Q&A’s on various subjects. This week’s topic is children’s mental health. We asked Dr. Charma D. Dudley, PhD, a few questions about the importance of children’s mental health. Dr. Dudley is a licensed psychologist, the Associate Director of Behavioral Health Services at Beacon Health Options, [...]
University of Pittsburgh researchers, led by Dr. Edward Mulvey, PhD, Director of the Law and Psychiatry Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, are in the process of developing educational materials to help families manage serious conflict situations. They are looking for families with a loved one between the ages of 18-60 [...]
All throughout #MentalHealthMonth, NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania is sharing helpful Q&A’s on various subjects. This week’s topic is Mental Health Advance Directives. We asked our Adult Advocate, Mike McCarthy, a few questions to give you the basics on what an MHAD is and how it can help. Q: What is a Mental Health Advance Directive (MHAD)? [...]
Check out NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania’s Weekly Roundup, a list of interesting blog posts, online content, and podcasts relating to mental illness and mental health, picked by our staff. To raise awareness for National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, this week’s weekly roundup will focus on eating disorders and the individuals and organizations that are working [...]
