In Vermont approximately 23,000 adults and 6,000 youth and teenagers face serious mental illness – that’s one in 4 adults and one in 10 children. One in 17 adults lives with serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder. During the month of May, NAMI Vermont and the rest of the country are bringing awareness to mental illness. Each year we fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for equal care. Each year, the movement grows stronger. In 2013, President Obama proclaimed May as National Mental Health Awareness Month and brought the issue of mental health to the forefront of our nation’s thoughts.
“Mental Health Awareness Month provides a time for Vermonters to prioritize mental health and inform the public about the needs of the one in four Vermonters affected by mental illness. NAMI Vermont’s advocacy goal is to ensure youth and adults living with mental illness receive the right care at the right time and in the right place to experience lives of resiliency, recovery and inclusion. Most people living with mental illness can lead fulfilling, productive lives, but only if they have access to treatment. We want to share the message that there is hope and recovery is possible,” said Laurie Emerson, Executive Director of NAMI Vermont.
Get Involved:
- Attend NAMI Vermont’s Support Groups or Participate in Mental Health Education in Your Community. Call 800-639-6480 ext 102 to register for FREE upcoming educational opportunities or drop in on a support group!
- May 2nd: Free Mental Illness and Recovery Workshop in Bellows Falls, Bradford and Milton: Mental Illness and Recovery is a free day-long workshop for all community members interested in learning more about mental illness, local mental health resources, crisis prevention, recovery, and problem solving. Call 800-639-6480 to learn more or register for the May 2nd class in Bellows Falls, Bradford, and Milton.
- May 19th: NAMI Vermont’s Pathways to Wellness Conference. May 19th: NAMI Vermont Pathways to Wellness Conference at Lake Morey Resort. Keynote Presenters include: Dr. James Hudziak, Health Promotion and Illness Prevention in Child Psychiatry and Mary Ellen Copeland, Ph.D.: Wellness Recovery Action Planning. Workshops include: Pathways to Housing ~ Suicide Awareness Training ~ The Power of Partnership: Inspiring Value Driven Practice ~ Advance Directives ~ Navigating Vermont’s Children’s Mental Health and Youth in Transition Systems ~ Peer Approach to Supported Employment. Last year 200 peers, family members and providers joined us at Lake Morey Resort for a sold out event. Call 800-639-6480 or visit www.namivt.org/conference to register or learn more about this year’s conference.
- Free Family Support Groups: NAMI Family Support Group Meetings are a free, monthly 90-minute support group of family and friends of individuals with a mental illness where they can talk frankly about their challenges and help one another through their learned wisdom and coping strategies. Participants are encouraged to share actively in the work of the group. All meetings are facilitated by trained NAMI family members. Visit www.namivt.org/support.
- Free Connection Recovery Support Groups: NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group Meetings are a free, weekly 90-minute recovery support group for people living with mental illness where people learn from one another’s experiences, share coping strategies and offer mutual encouragement and understanding. The groups provide an ongoing opportunity to discuss the challenges of living with mental illness and the techniques for maintaining wellness. All meetings are facilitated by trained NAMI peers living in recovery. Visit www.namivt.org/support.
- Call 800-639-6480, NAMI Vermont’s information referral line, to get connected with information about major mental illnesses and Vermont’s resources.
- Oct. 3: Join NAMI Vermont Walks at the Burlington Waterfront! If you’re interested in gathering a team or showing your support, visit www.namiwalks.org/vermont ~ email [email protected] to attend the July Team Captain Kick-off Luncheon.
One in four Americans will experience a major mental illness in their lifetime. Visit www.namivt.org and www.nami.org to learn more about mental health conditions and NAMI Vermont’s resources for education, advocacy and support. You are not alone.
NAMI Vermont is the state chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Through the dedicated efforts of grassroots leaders, NAMI focuses on three cornerstones of activity: Support, Education, and Advocacy.
