The NAMI Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of our new CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. effective January 21, 2020. Dan comes to NAMI from the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF), the charitable arm of the APA that focuses on research, clinical training to develop future leaders and partnerships to address public challenges in mental health. “On behalf of the NAMI Board of Directors, we welcome Dan Gillison, the incoming CEO for our organization who, with the mission-driven commitment and dedication of NAMI staff, will take NAMI into 2020 and a great future,” said NAMI Board President, Adrienne Kennedy. “With his broad knowledge of the mental health movement and varied back-ground in the non-profit and public sectors, Dan’s experience is a natural complement to NAMI’s decades of representing individuals, families and mental health advocates.”

Reflecting on his appointment as the new CEO, Gillison stated, “I am humbled by the opportunity to lead and work with an organization that has made such an enormous impact on how we address mental illness in this country. I am inspired by the people who work with and for NAMI and by their commitment to making a difference. As I begin my work with the or-ganization, I want to thank each and every person, leader, board member, state organization and affiliate for what you do. I deeply respect the advances that NAMI has made over the last 40 years. Now we are at a tipping point where we have an opportunity to build on that great legacy and do even more.”

al Illness Montgomery County, Pennsylvania www.nami.com

montco memo Montgomery County, PA Winter 2020 Volume XXXVIIII Issue 7

Also in this Issue

Calendar 2

Executive Director’s Letter 3

Governance Message 2020 3

Sleepless Night May In-crease Anxiety by up to 30%

4

NAMI in the Lobby 4

A NAMI Montgomery Coun-ty Fall 2019 Review

5

Bullying's 'Vicious Circle' Harms Mental Health

6

Save the Dates 7

Tributes 7

It is time again to honor those in our NAMI community who deserve recognition for their outstanding efforts on behalf of persons with mental illness and their families. To nominate someone for an award, please call our office (215-361-7784) or email us at: office@namimontocpa.org. Categories of recognition awards are as follows: The Maryella Hitt Advocacy Award — presented to the individual/s or organiza-tion that exemplifies the true advocate for mental illness spirit. The Peg Cochran Volunteer Award — presented to the individual/s or organi-zation that has displayed outstanding volunteer efforts for individuals with men-tal illness and their families. The Glenn Koons Recovery Award — presented to the individual/s or organiza-tion that exemplifies resiliency and recovery, and overcoming the challenges of mental illness. The Criminal Justice Award — Presented in recognition of outstanding service in the realm of mental illness and the criminal justice system. The Carol Caruso Innovation Scholarship – This scholarship embraces the mission of our affiliate to support, educate, and advocate in the community, bring awareness to mental health, and focus on Anti Stigma. Check out our website for more information! PLEASE SAVE THE DATE to join us as at our Annual Membership Meeting - May 13, 2020! All awards are presented at meeting. Details to follow at our website, through email, and social media!

NAMI (National) Welcomes New CEO Daniel Gillison, Jr.

2019 Recognition Awards

the montco memo is published quarterly by

NAMI MONTGOMERY COUNTY PA

Board of Directors

President Donna McNelis Vice President Tricia Malott Secretary Beth Milton Treasurer Sandy Leopold

Victoria Bright Neen Davis Julian DeLehman Jessica Fenchel Dawn Hogan Bruce Kind Mia Marcovici Ayana Walk-er Executive Director Abby Grasso Montco Memo Editor Kelly Ann Berry Development Coordinator Ellen Roberts Administrative Coordinator Elaina Borchelt Bookkeeper Kelly Ann Berry Outreach & Edu Coordinator Bernadette Selgrath

Support Group Facilitators

Coordinator Elaina Borchelt

Abington Presbyterian Church Gail Wagenheim Corinne Smith Lansdale Anne Magowan Beth Milton

Lower Providence Presbyterian Church Ann McFalls Heather Kearney

Pottstown Martha Edwards NAMI Connection Michael Solomon Jeannie Clearkin Jason Matlack Robert Singer Bruce Kind

NAMI Montgomery County PA 100 W. Main Street, Suite 204

Lansdale, PA 19446 Phone: 215-361-7784 FAX: 215-361-7786

Email: office@namimontcopa.org Web page: www.namimontcopa.org

Letters to the Editor and other articles and contributions are welcome. Send them

to the NAMI Office or by Email to

office@namimontcopa.org

NAMI Montgomery County PA is an approved Donor

Choice Agency of the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and

Southern New Jersey

United Way Agency Code # 5076

Calendar

Jan 6 Feb 3 Mar 2

NAMI Connection is a peer-run support group for individuals liv-ing with mental illness, which meets the 1st Monday of every month, except holidays, 6:15 PM. William Jeanes Memorial Li-brary, 4051 Joshua Rd, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444

Jan 4 & 18 Feb 1 & 15 Mar 7 & 21

NAMI Connection is a peer-run support group for individuals liv-ing with mental illness, which meets the 1st & 3rd Saturday of eve-ry month, 10:00 AM -11:30 AM. NAMI Office 100 W. Main St., Suite 204, Lansdale, PA 19446

Jan 6 Feb 3 Mar 2

Lower Providence Family Support Group 1st Monday of every month except on holidays, 7:00 PM. Lower Providence Presbyteri-an Church, 3050 Ridge Pike, in Atrium, Eagleville, PA 19403

Jan 7 Feb 4 Mar 3

Lansdale Family Support Group 1st Tuesday of every month, 7:00 PM. St. John’s United Church of Christ, 500 W. Main Street (at Richardson Avenue), Lansdale PA 19446

Jan 9 Feb 13 Mar 12

Abington Family Support Group 2nd Thursday of every month, 7:30 PM. Abington Presbyterian Church, 1082 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001

Jan 13 Feb 10 Mar 9

Pottstown Family Support Group 2nd Monday of every month, 7:00-8:30PM. Creative Health Services, Consumers Library, 11 Robinson Street, Pottstown, PA 19464

Feb 12 Mar 11

Monthly Community Meeting 2nd Wednesday of every month. Please call the office at 215-361-7784 or visit www.namimontcopa.org as time and location varies.

Jan 16 Feb 20 Mar 19

Montgomery County CSP (Community Support Program) 3rd Thursday of every month, 12:00-2:30 PM, Montgomery County Library, 1001 Powell St., Norristown, PA 19401

Jan 16 Feb 20 Mar 19

Board of Director’s Meeting 3rd Thursday of every month, 6:30 PM. NAMI Office, 100 W. Main St., Suite 204, Lansdale, PA 19446

A Note About Our Meetings Although some of our meetings are held at religious institutions,

they are nondenominational and open to people of all beliefs.

Winter 2020 Page 2

montco memo Volume XXXVIIII Issue 7

REMINDER: Inclement Weather Protocol

Please be aware that in the event of inclement weather, safety is our first

priority. If support groups or educational pro-gramming are cancelled due to

inclement weather, an announcement will be placed on our office voice mail

215-361-7784 Announcements will also be placed on

our Facebook page. If a monthly support group is cancelled, it will resume the next month.

Family to Family class will resume the next week. If you have questions or

need further clarification, please call our office at 215-361-7784 or check

the website and/or social media.

Dear NAMI Montco Friends,

Happy 2020! Every New Year – like a new day - is filled with hope, possibilities, and new stories to create.

During the holiday season I found myself sharing sto-ries and traditions that mean the most to me. Many of those stories were about my dear Nanna Jean who passed away in 2017. She made everything fun, espe-cially the holidays. Over Thanksgiving my brother, cousins and I all laughed about how she used to pack all of us into her white Ford Explorer and drive us to “fancy” malls to pick our Christmas gifts out. We would all shop together and she would take those gifts home, wrap them, and tell us to “be surprised” on Christmas morning. That memory, those stories, are what con-nect my family. Each of us shared stories on Thanks-giving about Nan, some similar stories and some differ-ent, but the common thread in each story was her.

At NAMI Montco, we collect stories and memories just like any family. The sharing of stories and memories are what connects each of us and inspires hope and healing. We are thankful that you are part of our sto-ries, traditions and growth. As we begin 2020 at NAMI Montgomery County we cannot forget all the great sto-ries, memories, and traditions that we experienced in 2019. We had record numbers of walkers at our 12th

Annual NAMIWalks, new volunteers join our office, Board of Director trainings, an Art Show with Montgom-ery County MYLIFE, new facilitators trained for NAMI Montco programming, a dynamic new Office Coordina-tor begin, the Benefit for the Brain and more. We were especially touched by the generosity of the Jack Duffy 5K Run, being honored at the Cedarbrook County Club Women’s Association Charity Luncheon, and being chosen as the Lansdale Business of the Month for De-cember 2019. Most importantly, through the growth and awareness happening we are so happy to see the increase of lives touched through our affiliate’s programming and events.

We hope that you will join us this year to make memories, share stories, and pass the goodness of NAMI Montco on to others.

We are here to support, educate, and advocate! We hope you will stay connected through events, social media, and advocacy efforts. Together, we can do more.

My very best, Abby

Winter 2020 Page 3

montco memo Volume XXXVIIII Issue 7

Message from our Executive Director

Governance Message 2020

2020 is the year of re-affiliation. All Pennsylvania affiliates will be presented for re-affiliation to NAMI National by NAMI Keystone. In preparing for this process, our Board of Directors, specifically the Governance Committee, has been working hard to update our Bylaws to ensure the document is inclusive of Pennsylvania law and NAMI National expectations for affiliates.

Our revised bylaws will be presented to our membership for approval in early January. Through this process, members will be provided an electronic copy of the new bylaws to approve through electronic voting. If a member does not have access to the internet, our affiliate staff will ensure they have a paper copy of the bylaws and assist them in voting. Amendments to the bylaws will not be considered this year due to the revisions of the bylaws being new. The membership will be con-tacted and provided a deadline for voting.

This year we have no open board positions. We have five incumbents finishing their terms and looking to run for re-election. Although we have no open board positions, if you would like to nominate yourself or another for a board position, our affiliate is always accepting nominations so that potential candidates can be interviewed and vetted for when a position does open or an appointment is available.

Criteria for eligibility are:

1. Be a NAMI member in good standing of our affiliate.

2. Attend and participate in monthly board meetings and complete all committee assignments.

3. Act as an ambassador to our affiliate and promote the NAMI mission.

Nominations may be submitted to office@namimontcopa.org or mailed to NAMI, 100 W. Main Street, Suite 204, Lansdale, PA 19446.

Please contact our office with questions at 215-361-7784 or by the above email.

Sleepless Night May Increase Anxiety By Up to 30 Percent

Winter 2020 Page 4

montco memo Volume XXXVIIII Issue 7

By Karina Lichtenstein | 11/19/2019 Just one night without sleep may increase anxiety levels by up to 30%, but getting a full night's sleep restores calm and resets an anxious brain, researchers report.

Neuroscientists at UC Berkeley discovered that deep sleep is a natural anti-anxiety intervention. The deep sleep that fights anxiety is called non-rapid eye movement (NREM) slow-wave sleep. This type of sleep results in drops in blood pressure and heart rate as well as synchronization of neural oscillations (brainwaves).

Lack of sleep shuts down the medial prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain that helps regulate anxiety levels, according to study results published in the journal Nature Human Behavior.

The study found that sleeplessness also increases activity in the brain's deeper emotional centers, which leads to in-creased anxiety.

Deep sleep combats these issues, restoring activity in prefrontal brain areas leading to lower physiological and emotional reactivity and preventing anxiety from escalating, according to study lead author Eti Ben Simon.

Researchers used functional MRI, polysomnography, and other tests to obtain the results. Matthew Walker, senior study author and professor of neuroscience and psychology at UC Berkeley, said deep sleep decreases anxiety by reorganizing connections in the brain.

Anxiety disorders are common psychiatric conditions associated with symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, irritabil-ity, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, headaches, and sleep problems, according to MedicineNet author Michael J. Peterson, MD, PhD. Sleep problems associated with anxiety disorders include trouble falling or staying asleep and sleep that is not restful.

"There are a variety of treatments available for controlling anxiety, including several effective anti-anxiety medications and specific forms of psychotherapy," Dr. Peterson said.

The UC Berkeley study shows an association between the nightly quantity and quality of sleep people get and the level of anxiety they feel the next day. Not only are sleep disturbances symptoms of anxiety disorders, but sleep optimization may one day be recommended by doctors as part of a treatment plan for patients who struggle with anxiety.

Walker said people in industrialized nations suffer from poor sleep and high levels of anxiety disorders and the two may be causally related. Sleep improvement may one day be prescribed as a natural, drug-free intervention to reduce anxiety.

Source: MedicineNet Health News: https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=226039

Our affiliate recently launched the Friends in the Lobby program. The mission of Friends in the Lobby is to offer re-sources and support to those visiting loved ones in area hos-pitals. Volunteer Dawn Hogan and staff member Elaina Borchelt launched the program at Montgomery County Emergency Services in mid-December where they provided brochures and resources to family members and patients. Abington Hospital, The Horsham Clinic, and Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital will launch in early 2020.

NAMI Montgomery County PA is grateful for the partnerships with the providers and opportunity to help those in need in our community.

If you are interested in volunteering for Friends in the Lobby, please reach out to Elaina Borchelt at 215.361.7784 or via email at office@namimontcopa.org.

Winter 2020 Page 5

montco memo Volume XXXVIIII Issue 7

A NAMI Montgomery County Fall 2019 Review

In October, we had a special screening of “Liberate,” a film by Tem-ple Alum, Gabriel Makoul Goodge, along with a suicide awareness panel. The film illustrated the unpredictable nature of Suicide and our panelists provided education, warmth, and resources through their professional and personal experiences. We are so thankful for the collaborative efforts of Belmont Behavioral Hospital and Temple University Ambler to bring this impactful, informative event to our Montco community, for all those that joined us, and for the great resources offered!

In November we hosted our 8th Annual Benefit for the Brain at the Highlands in Fort Washington. It was a wonderful

evening celebrating the remarkable efforts in the area of treatment and recovery for mental illness. This year, the

Scientific Research Award honored Steven P. Levine, M.D. and our Impact Award honored Access Services: Adult

Behavioral Health Service Line.

All proceeds from the event support the mission-driven work of our Affiliate which hosts education programs, facilitates

support groups, provides mental health trainings, advocates for access to services, and offers a compassionate place to

turn for thousands in our community living with and/or impacted by mental illness.

In December, the Cedarbrook Country Club Women's Association acknowledged our NAMI Montco Affiliate as their 2019 Holiday Charity Luncheon recipient. The day was filled with holiday spirit as over 170 women joined together to celebrate the mission driven work done at NAMI Montco. We are beyond thankful for the extraordinary generosity of the attendees and for being chosen for this honor.

There’s no better way to celebrate the season than with our wonderful NAMI MontCo community at our annual holiday party. It was a joyous time to connect, eat, and reflect on our great achievements and special events we had this year.

Many thanks for all the thoughtful gifts donated to the residents of the Coordinated Homeless Outreach Center!

Lastly, we were honored in being chosen as the Lansdale Business of the

Month for December 2019. It was a great way to spread NAMI Good-

ness in the community!

Our award was presented on December 18, 2019 at the Borough Council

Business Meeting by Carrie Hawkins-Charlton, Economic Development

Committee Chair.

Winter 2020 Page 6

montco memo Volume XXXVIIII Issue 7

Bullying's 'Vicious Circle' Harms Mental Health

BY Robert Preidt | HealthDay | Dec. 10, 2019

Bullied teens are more likely to develop mental health problems, and people with mental health problems are also more likely to become bullies, researchers report.

Even though many studies have shown that being bullied can leave mental scars, "no studies to date" have tested the notion that mental health issues might also help drive bullying, explained study author Marine Azevedo Da Silva. She's a postdoctoral researcher in Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, in New York City.

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from 13,200 U.S. youth, aged 12 to 17, and found that:

79% said they'd never bullied others, 11% said they'd bullied others over a year ago, 10% said they'd bullied others in the past year, 16% said they'd bullied others over a month ago, 5% said they'd bullied others in the past month.

Youth who said they'd been bullies were more likely to have a moderate to high rate of mental health problems than those who said they hadn't bullied others. The study also found that teens with moderate to high rates of mental health problems were more likely to bully others, compared to those without such issues. In other words, the link between mental health issues and bullying "is likely to be bidirectional," Azevedo Da Silva said in a school news release.

According to study senior author Dr. Silvia Martins, the findings suggest that efforts to stem bullying "should consider how to take into account and handle negative feelings and mental health problems" of young perpetrators. Martins di-rects the Substance Abuse Epidemiology Unit at Mailman. It's estimated that between 18% and 31% of U.S. youth are involved in bullying, the researchers noted.

The study was published recently in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

We will hold one, possibly two, Family to Family classes this spring, beginning February 2020.

Family to Family is an evidenced based practice. It is a free, 12 session course for family members, friends, and caretak-

ers of individuals (adults) living with mental illness.

The classes will take place one day or evening per week. The curriculum covers topics such as diagnosis, medica-

tions, communication, brain function, and advocacy. For more information or to register,

please call our office at 215-361-7784.

This class has been characterized as “life changing!”

Special Valentine’s Day Event Join us for crafting & kindness in support of the Peyton

Heart Project which raises global awareness about suicide and bullying to help end the stigma surrounding mental health. We will be making & tagging yarn & felt shaped hearts with inspirational messages to place around the

community. Also learn about how you can stomp the stigma of mental illness in your community through the NAMIWalks Greater

Philadelphia 5k Mental Health Awareness Walk!

Friday, 2/14/2020 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm 100 West Main Street, Suite 204, Lansdale, PA 19446

Free Event—RSVP Requested—215-361-7784

Winter 2020 Page 7

montco memo Volume XXXVIIII Issue 7

TRIBUTES

The Tribute Fund is a special way to mark anniversaries, weddings and other special occasions, as well as to express sympathy for the loss of a loved one. Send your check to NAMI Montgomery County PA 100 W. Main Street, Suite 204, Lansdale, PA 19446. When designating NAMI in an obituary notice, please specify NAMI Montgomery County PA.

Individual Donations: Amanda Bechel, Nancy Beck, Dolores Bergey, Sarah Biddy, Anne Burkehardt, Estella Diccianni, Theresa & Jeffrey Haverson, Catharine Keim, Christine Malozzi, Jennifer Mapp, Martha Metacarpa, Samantha Overstreet, Catherine Schuld, Patricia Taraborrelli, Vietnam Veterans of America Inc ., Robert & Sara Wenger, Diane Wenzel, Nicholas Zarvalas

Donations in Tribute: In Memory of: Carol Caruso: Jarema Rudakevic In Memory of: Mark Schnee: Maxine Scherz, Lynn Spiller, Mary Patricia Malott, Health Abington, William & Christine Ockenlaender In Memory of: Dominic Vinciguerra: Greta Garecht, Forst Foundation In Memory of: Dave Davis: Neen Davis, Mary Patricia Malott

Corporate Matching Donations: AXA Matching: Martha Metacarpa; Johnson & Johnson : Kirk Baumeister; Macy's: Monica Atlas; Prudential: Adrenne Clark: in Memory of Don Feeney, Prudential: Laurie Spinello; Travelers Employee Giving: Gregory Rowe; United Way: Anthony Malloy, Felix Toussaint

SAVE THE DATES

The NAMI National Convention is one of the largest community gatherings of mental health advocates in the United States. Each year, our convention connects and inspires people looking for resources, research, support services and recovery strategies. Join us as we embrace our theme — Together Toward Tomorrow — and celebrate NAMI’s 40 years of support, education and advocacy.

Visit: https://www.nami.org/convention or Email convention@nami.org

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PA

Dues are for one year and are Tax Deductible. Donations are welcome and are also Tax Deductible. (Please print clearly)

NAME__________________________________________________________________________________

STREET ________________________________________________________________________________

CITY_______________________________________STATE_____ZIP______________________________

PHONE (H)__________________________________(C)_________________________________________

E-MAIL_________________________________________________________________________________

Annual Due: Household $60.00_____ Individual $40.00 _____ Open Door $5.00 ____ Donation $_____

What is the best way for us to contact you? Phone ______ Email ______ Snail Mail ______

Make check payable and return to: NAMI Montgomery County PA

100 W. Main Street, Suite 204

Lansdale, PA 19446

Or join or renew on our website: http://www.namimontcopa.org/join/

Double or triple the impact of your donation at no additional cost! Please check with your employer’s Human Resources Department to

see if your donation can be matched through a company matching gift program.

NAMI Montgomery County PA is also an approved United Way Donor Choice Agency - Code #5076.

NAMI Montgomery County PA is open to all individuals subscribing to its purpose. All members receive NAMI newsletters and are automatically affiliated with NAMI PA and the National

Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI is a non-profit organization under Section 501(c)3 and all dues and donations are tax-deductible. Official registration and financial information

of NAMI PA Montgomery County may be obtained from the PA Department of State by calling toll free within PA 1.800.732.0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

The official registration and financial information of NAMI PA Montgomery County can be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free within Pennsylvania:

1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA 100 W. Main Street, Suite 204 Lansdale, PA 19446