Take a Walk for Nami This May
By Dustin Lapray
Mental illness is a private medical condition, one that 1 in 4 Idahoans face, but just because it’s private, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be part of the public discourse.
Bringing mental health into the public realm is the intent of the NAMI Walks, to be held in Idaho’s largest cities this May. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) has held these walks in Boise in the past, but with the help of Rotary International, and Idaho's local Rotarians, NAMI is stretching its legs statewide.
“NAMI Walks is about being very public, saying ‘it’s OK if you’re not OK’ … You’re not alone,” said Beth Markley, Executive Director of NAMI Idaho. “We all deal with these things, so let’s get together.”
Get together and walk about them, in big groups or small. Exercise helps reduce stress and can help people with mental illness. Walking together in public breaks down stigma, but also creates fellowship, Markley said, helps isolated people not feel alone.
NAMI organized the events in the hub cities, but anyone anywhere can host events this May for Mental Health Awareness Month. In Lewiston, there will be an unofficial walk, with a picnic. Others have done jump rope competitions.
Markley said we ought not hide our stigma, but rather, bring it into the open, that mental illness should not come with derision or scorn. She talked about the cancer correlation, how afraid people used to be to talk about the disease, but now, Idahoans confidently share how cancer affects them. The same breakthrough can happen with mental illness.
“Stigma is a factor in the isolation and loneliness that exacerbates a lot of mental health conditions,” Markley said. “There is a ripple effect, to families, communities, places of employment.”
The NAMI Walks are free, but they are a fundraiser for NAMI’s year-long programs and services around the state. Their website has a calendar, a resource tab for faith members, military, teens, frontline workers, and lots of ways to get involved in your community (statewide programs and services, education programs for people with mental health disorders and families, statewide support groups.)
Information expos, tables, and reps from partner organizations will be present at the walks.
2024 NAMI Walks: Click here to Register
May 4 – Coeur d'Alene: Landings Park
May 4 – Twin Falls: Canyon Rim Trail
May 11 – Pocatello: Bonneville Park
May 25 – Boise: Anne Morrison Park + Greenbelt
June 1 – Idaho Falls: The Waterfront
 As we enter the final year of our Idaho GLS Grant funding, we hope to see you at this final Assessing and Treating Suicide Risk training by the Idaho GLS Grant Project! Learn skills on intervening with suicidal individuals in a clinical setting and hear from an internationally and nationally recognized expert in clinical Suicidology. CE credits are available for this training, but seats are limited.
Mental Health Awareness Month Calendar of Events
By Division of Behavioral Health
May 1: Boise VAMC Mental Health Summit (Warhawk Air Museum, Nampa)
May 1,15, & 29: FYIdaho Youth MOVE Social Support
May 1 – 29 : FYIdaho Boise Brick House Programming
May 3: Mental Health Month Celebration at the Capitol
May 3: FYIdaho Parents of Youth with Complex Diagnosis
May 4, 11, 25, June 1: NAMI Walks (Statewide throughout the month)
May 6 & 20: FYIdaho Caregivers’ Support Group
May 8: Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week Festival
May 7 & 9: Uniquely You Virtual Workshop
May 8: Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
May 9-10: ASIST Training in Meridian
May 6-10: Hope Week
May 6: Chalk the Walk
May 7: Hope Notes
May 8: Wall of Kindness
May 9: Acts of Kindness
May 10: High Five Friday
May 10: The 21st Annual Mental Health Symposium – The Future of
Behavioral Health in Idaho (Idaho Falls)
May 11: The 9th Annual Hustle for Mental Health 5K (Idaho Falls)
May 14-15: Idaho Conference on Alcohol and Drug Dependency (ICADD)
May 16 & 20: FYIdaho Coffee Chat: Parent Input
May 16 & 22: FYIdaho Coffee Chats
May 17: Get to Know Region 3 Behavioral Health Board
May 17: Oxford House Halliday Open House
May 18: Empower Idaho Art Exhibition
May 16: Mental health Action Day (U of I)
May 23: FYIdaho Family Advocacy Meeting
May 23: Adult Mental Health First Aid Training
May 29-31: Idaho’s Health Priorities Conference
Sept 7 (Registration ends June 1): Battle of the Bands
NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 8-session education program for family, friends, and significant others of adults with mental health conditions. Taught by trained family members who have a loved one with a mental health condition, the course is designed to increase understanding and advocacy skills while helping participants maintain their own well-being.
Topics include:
Anxiety
Depressive Disorders
Schizophrenia
Bipolar Disorder
Other Mental Health Conditions
Communication
Problem-Solving
Treatment
Recovery
Learn More and Register by emailing familysupport@namiidaho.org
The Second Annual Idaho Forensic Clinical Conference
By Dustin Lapray & Jeremy Storton (photos)
 |
|
The Second Annual Idaho Forensic Clinical Conference was held at the Chinden Conference Center, April 24-25, in Boise. Keynote speakers from Denver, Atlanta, Spokane and Boise presented to an audience of about 300 (combined in-person and virtual) clinical providers working in the Idaho behavioral health and criminal justice systems.
|
The conference was sponsored by IDOC, IDJC, DHW/DBH, and Centurion Health, with a special thanks to the Veteran Administration for conference planning support.
|
Topics included forensic mental health evaluations, competency restoration, Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Autism Spectrum Disorder, Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT), and Self-Care as Ethical Practice.
|
|
Keynote Speakers
~ Dr. Jennifer McMahon, Denver First
~ Dr. Karen Grabowski, Denver First
(Pictured)
~ Hannah Bromley, Atlanta Behavior
Academy
~ Dr. Kirk Strosahl, FACT Founder
~ Dr. Jennifer Obenshain, Boise State
University
|
|
 |
Idaho Healthcare Workforce Initiatives Survey
By Dustin Lapray
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, in partnership with Idaho’s Area Health Education Centers (AHEC), is distributing this Idaho Healthcare Workforce Initiatives Survey. Two goals of this survey include:
- Identifying issues leading or contributing to healthcare workforce challenges, and this includes behavioral health and oral health, and
- Capturing existing initiatives underway to help solve workforce challenges
Factors contributing to healthcare workforce challenges are often complex and multifaceted – some examples include workforce shortages, recruitment and retention, training and development of existing staff, etc. The results of the survey will inform future statewide workforce planning efforts by the Department of Health and Welfare, Idaho AHECs, and healthcare partners. When appropriate, the survey may connect your organization with others working to address similar workforce challenges.
The survey recognizes how administration, support staff and other non-provider roles also meet the needs of patients. Please include this population in your responses, if applicable.
The survey will be open until May 21, 2024, and will take approximately 5-7 minutes to complete.
If you are aware of other health workforce efforts by organizations in Idaho, please forward this survey so results are as inclusive as possible.
Survey Link: https://app.keysurvey.com/f/41705457/7a0a/
Listen to the latest episode of the Idaho Behavioral Health Authority Podcast!
Have a topic you would like covered in the Podcast?
|
