Bangor Street Augusta, Maine

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From the Desk of Carol Carothers, Executive Director: IMPACT OF GOVERNOR’S BUDGET In early January, the Legislature will convene to consider a significant budget cut. The new budget reduces mental health programs by $108,665,244. Added to the $20,665,000 reduction in the last budget, this brings reductions to spending for mental health services in Maine over two years to $129,330,244. The newest round of cuts does the following: •Eliminates NAMI Maine’s services to families and consumers; •Eliminates the CSSP program, a program that trains people with mental illness to be case managers; •Eliminates case management assistance to people who do not have MaineCare; •Eliminates payments to hospitals for people with no insurance who are involuntarily hospitalized; •Cuts ACT services for 450 people who have no insurance; •Eliminates daily living supports for people who have no MaineCare; •Shifts all mobile crisis services to hospitals; •Eliminates assistance for transportation for non-medical needs; •Limits outpatient therapy to 18 visits per year if you see a community provider and to just 15 if you see a hospital outpatient provider; •Reduces vocational assistance; •Limits inpatient hospitalizations to just five per year; •Places additional limits on anti-psychotic medications; •Reduces rates paid to providers by 10% and delays their June payment to July; and •Eliminates DHHS psychiatrists If you care about people with mental illness and their families: (1)CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/lookup_officials.php (2)SIGN THE PETITION AT WWW.NAMIMAINE.ORG (WHAT’S NEW) (3)BE READY TO COME TO THE STATE HOUSE IN EARLY JANUARY TO SPEAK OUT. If you have questions, please call us 1-800-464-5767 or email us at info@namimaine.org PLEASE HELP SAVE NAMI Maine! Because of the Governor’s curtailment order NAMI MAINE will be taking some crucial cuts in funding this year. But you can help! Here’s how: ACTION STEPS YOU CAN TAKE: 1. SIGN UP TO COME TO THE STATE HOUSE IN EARLY JANUARY. The Legislature will hold public hearings on the budget the first or second week of Janua...ry (We will notify you the exact date and time as soon as we know.) Our goal is to get 1,000 people to those hearings. Each person who knows the important role of NAMI Maine must speak out. Each person who understands what it means when services are not available must help us. Come with a sign that says: SAVE NAMI MAINE and written testimony to hand in. You may also choose to testify – testimony will be limited to 3 minutes for each person. 2. SIGN THE PETITION. Go to www.namimaine.org and click on “What’s New” Then click on the NAMI Maine Petition (Help Save NAMI Maine) link, and SIGN the PETITION. 3. EMAIL YOUR NETWORK. Email your face book and my space friends. Email your friends, co-workers and family. Ask them to sign the petition, or to go to the State House in January, to call and write their legislators. 4. EMAIL OR CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR. Go to www.namimaine.org and click on “What’s New” then click on Find my Representative link, that will take you to the site where you can identify your legislator and send them an email. Tell them your story – how mental illness has affected you and why NAMI is important. NAMI Maine is the state’s only membership organization representing people with mental health and those with co-occurring substance use conditions and their families. Dedicated to improving the lives of all people affected by mental illness NAMI Maine provides services across the entire state of Maine.

NAMI Maine is trying to give teens and young adults the information they need to reach out for help, or give help to a friend who may be struggling with mental health issues.

This is the time in life when so many of the illness' take hold.

Bi-Polar Disorder

Most cases of bipolar disorder present in early adulthood in persons aged 20-30 years, but the second most common age group at presentation is those aged 15-19 years

Schizophrenia

"The onset of clear psychosis is typically in the teens or early adult years. It can occur before the onset of puberty.

Depression

Although there are no specific onset ages of depression, findings show that depression onset age occurs in the early twenties. Women tend to cope with and experience depression differently then men. Both genders experience depression, yet women are more likely to seek depression help and pregnant women can suffer from postpartum depression.

These are just a few of the issues that can become known at an early age. Please see the INTERESTS section for helpful links and You tube movies from consumers on these and other topics.

Voices of Recovery Part 1

Chump Change Productions In partnership with NAMI Maine and Amistad Inc. Funded by a grant from SAMHSA and the National Campaign for Mental Health Recovery

These are the goals of the project/film:

· Recovery is possible. What are some of the things that family members and consumers believe contribute to recovery, not only what helps individuals, but what helps families who are coping with this in their families, living with this and trying to support family members and themselves through the journey.

· Shame and Discrimination are alive and well, and a significant source of shame and discrimination comes from the very providers that we expect to help and support folks. How does discrimination show up no consumer voice, paying for only traditional services, funding expensive crisis oriented services, etc.

· What has been helpful to reinforce recovery, and what our experts wished the system and providers and society would do more of to help others with their recovery.

Voices of Recovery Part 2

Voices of Recovery Part 3

Voices of Recovery Part 4