Author Robert Whitaker, who has become a darling of the anti-psychiatry movement because of his charges that anti-psychotic medications often do more harm than good, spoke over the weekend at the convention of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. More than 140 of you posted comments about Whitaker and the changing face of NAMI when I wrote in March 18th about how Whitaker had been invited to lecture at the convention and why his appearance marked a significant change from when NAMI strongly supported Dr. E. Fuller Torrey and his call for Assisted Outpatient Treatment laws.

Here are reports from Joe and Beth Meyer and from Diane Kratt who attended Whitaker’s speech and have been blogging for me about the convention. I also asked a consumer, who agreed to blog for me,  to send me his views of Whitaker’s speech. I will post them when I receive them.

If you attended Whitaker’s presentation and would like to add your comments, please do! I would love to hear from as many of you as possible!

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Report by Diane Kratt  with help from Ethan

The NAMI National Convention is full of excitement, promise and hope. Thousands of participants are here to learn more about making a difference, either in their own lives or in the lives of others in their community. There are a growing number of young people getting involved with NAMI and their presence is noticeable this year. I have met people of all ages from all over the United States who play various roles in the mental health arena. I personally have three roles involving mental health; educator, affiliate president, and mother.

This year’s convention offered a young adult track which especially interested me and was a large deciding factor in whether or not I would attend. As an instructor in the College of Education at Florida Gulf Coast University, the information offered in this track is useful in training to be teachers and for many of the college students themselves. I collected information on ADHD, young adult programs, and school/work related rights. The NAMI on Campus movement is really exciting and gaining much strength in the current circumstances around the country. I thought the presentation given was very well done and Stacy Hollingsworth, founder of NAMI Rutgers, is an inspiration. She has a very promising career ahead of her with NAMI or otherwise. I would be honored to be the faculty advisor if/when we can get a club started on our campus.

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In the nine years since our son was diagnosed with a serious mental illness, one of my coping strategies has been to read, read, and read more.  After awhile, authors and researchers began sorting themselves out in my head—there are the ones that are so-so, the mostly awesome ones, and…the rock stars! 

The rock stars are writers who have a profound impact on my thinking about mental illness—they publish books and articles that I recommend to other parents of those with mental illnesses and often have a unique slant on a topic that has not been addressed by many others.

 Dr. Xavier Amador is one of those rock stars. 

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Here is the first report from bloggers who are attending the National Alliance on Mental Illness Convention in San Antonio. Thanks so much Joe and Beth! I was especially thrilled to read about the continued excellent work that my friend, Gilbert Gonzales, is doing with CIT and jail diversion. Bexar County continues to be an excellent example for us to cite when asked if programs that divert our loved ones from jails save money and lives!

National NAMI Notes by Joseph and Beth Meyer 

We have been to several state and national conferences, but this was our first national NAMI Convention.  Within our first sessions, one thing caught our attention—there were more standing ovations in the first two hours than in all of the other conferences we have attended put together.  It speaks to the hope NAMI has brought to many—those with mental illness, family caregivers, and those of us in both roles.  Living with mental illness can be exhausting, but everyone has a reason to celebrate the progress that is being made for these four days.  

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From my files Friday:  School is out for the summer but here’s a test to check your mental health knowledge. I first published this in December 2010. Enjoy!

Eleven Questions about Mental Health  

           Question one:  A recent president — not President Obama — appointed a commission to study mental illness. Critics immediately attacked that commission and recruited a celebrity to blast it. What president appointed The President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health: Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America and who was the celebrity who criticized it?

1. President George H.W. Bush and Tom Cruise
2. President Bill Clinton and John Travolta
3. President George W. Bush and Patch Adams
4. President George W. Bush and Britney Spears

Question two: What is the “largest, public mental health facility” in the United States? Click to continue…

I wish the author of this recent email that I received could have spoken at the White House summit held a few weeks ago or be heard by Rep. Tim Murphy’s House subcommittee investigating our mental health care system. Sadly, I get a lot of emails like this from dedicating and caring workers who simply get burned out.

Hi Mr. Earley.

I’m a family therapist in [deleted for privacy] having recently graduated from [a prestigious school]  I interned at a federal correction facility in its mental health unit and I currently work in a psychiatric residential treatment facility for children ages 6-12 who’ve been through complex trauma.

I’m beyond disgusted with our system.

I’ll be honest — the mental health treatment was better in the federal prison where I have worked than what I’ve witnessed in our community mental health system.

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