The National Alliance on Mental Illness is searching for a new executive director and one of the first challenges that its next leader will face is helping determine who NAMI represents and what principles it supports.

Mike Fitzpatrick, who has successfully led NAMI with a steady hand for ten years, announced in January that he is stepping down. He has done a great job.  The NAMI that his predecessor will inherit is a much different organization from the one that Mike took over  in 2004.

In recent years, more members with mental illnesses have joined NAMI and they have brought with them a different perspective from the group’s traditional base — parents of persons with diagnosed mental disorders.

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FROM MY FILES FRIDAY

My son and I spoke last week at a meeting of the Loudoun County Crime Commission.  Mike Chapman, the Loudoun County Sheriff, is doing a fabulous job there of getting his officers Crisis Intervention Team training. Along with his wife, Annie, the Chapmans have become strong advocates for improving mental health services in their county, which is adjacent to Fairfax County, where I live.

This was only the second time that my son and I have appeared together, and I was surprised when he mentioned things about his breakdown that I’d not heard before. It was a reminder to me about how important it is to listen to persons with mental illnesses when they are stable so that we can better understand what they experienced when they were in the throes of a breakdown.

The meeting, which you can read about here, was exciting for me because of the Chapmans’ genuine concern and because of the cooperation that I saw between mental health professionals, local National Alliance on Mental Illness members, law enforcement and lawyers who attended the meeting.

Sadly, I’ve not seen any such concern or cooperation in Fairfax, one of the wealthiest and best educated counties in the nation. I’d like to report that conditions had improved since I wrote this blog in July 2011 but I’d be lying and all of us who live in Fairfax are worse off because of it.

A LACK OF LEADERSHIP HURTS FAIRFAX COUNTY 

Originally published July 25th, 2011.

As my recent flight began its descent into Dulles International Airport, I felt a sense of frustration, embarrassment and irritation. The cause is a lack of leadership in my home county by the Fairfax County Bar Association, Commonwealth’s Attorney, and our local judiciary. Those of us with loved ones who have severe mental disorders deserve better.

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I didn’t intend to become a mental health advocate. I became involved because my son needed my help.  And I certainly never thought there would be any silver lining to what happened to him and to my family.  Yet,  during these past few years, I have come to recognize one.  I have met dozens and dozens of  truly inspiring people.

The lists includes mental health professionals, judges, others in law enforcement and a handful of politicians. However, the bulk of the folks who have inspired me either are persons living with a mental illness or people who love them, such as their parents, brothers, sisters, and children.

These are unsung heroes who spend their time doing everything that they can to improve the lives of persons who have been diagnosed with mental disorders.

Chrisa Hickey is a fabulous example.

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Emotions are difficult to control. You think you can keep them in check and most days you can, and then they rise up.

Seconds before I was scheduled to testify Tuesday before the U.S. House subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations at a public forum entitled: “After Newtown: A National Conversation on Violence and Severe Mental Illness,” I felt my emotions taking hold. Tears began welling in my eyes and my voice started to crack.

I was angry at my lack of self control.

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I want to thank everyone who has posted a comment here since Friday about what I should tell a congressional subcommittee when I speak tomorrow (Tuesday) on Capitol Hill. I’ve  received a number of detailed and thoughtful suggestions. As I was going through them, I was reminded of just how wise many of you are. It’s one reason why I enjoy writing this blog. I hope you will share your comments with your local, state,  and national elected leaders.

I was told over the weekend that I will be given a total of  three minutes to speak. The  subcommittee will then ask questions.  Obviously, I can only make a few key points in such a short period.  However, I will  be allowed to submit written testimony and  I intend to submit  most of the comments that you have posted. I want your voices heard!

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I generally publish a blog from my files each Friday. However, I have been invited to participate in a forum entitled “After Newtown: A National Conversation on Violence and Severe Mental Illness” on March 5th, before an investigative subcommittee of the  U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

I mentioned in last Monday’s blog that Reps. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) and Diana DeGette (D-Co.) are holding the forum and I’m thrilled to report that Pat and Debbie Milam also have been invited to give testimony. I wrote about the death of their son, Matthew,  in a blog entitled: A Father Grieves: No One Listened to Parents.

Along with my formal invitation came a list of potential questions that might be asked at the forum, which will begin at 10 a.m. in Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington D.C. and is open to the public.  I don’t know if it will be covered by C-Span but hope it will.

Okay, now is your chance to sound off.  Here are the questions:

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