Why Should You Give to NAMI Utah?

This Friday, March 22nd, NAMI Utah is participating in the Love UT Give UT 1st Annual Day of Giving across the state of Utah. Over 500 non-profit organizations are participating in this unprecedented day of giving. With so many non-profits needing your funds and requesting a $10 or more donation this Friday, we wanted to give you some reasons to donate to NAMI Utah. One in four of us are affected by a mental health disorder. Whether you live with a mental illness, you have a family member or loved one who lives with a mental illness, or you just stumbled upon this blog, here are some reasons to donate:

1.) NAMI Utah provides FREE support groups and education classes across the state of Utah to individuals living with a mental illness as well as families and loved ones. In order to make these classes free, we rely on donations to print materials, recruit volunteers and train teachers and facilitators.

2.) NAMI Utah is a huge advocate for mental health during the legislative session. NAMI is recognized as the preeminent voice in Utah for all Utahans impacted by mental illness. NAMI advocates have fought for policy changes that raise the bar on mental health treatment and educate our lawmakers on the lived experience of mental illness.

3.) NAMI Utah KNOWS what you're going through. Our mentors answer phone calls Monday- Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. talking to individuals who have a variety of needs such as housing, discounted medications, mental health treatment resources. Our mentors also provide a listening ear for individuals with a current or new diagnosis who don't know where to turn or need some encouragement to get them through the day.

4.) Our classes are taught by individuals with the lived experience of a mental illness. They've been there, they are in recovery and they know what you're going through.

5.) NAMI Utah provides a weekly Social Group where individuals come to have sandwiches and get support from their peers. You can learn more about social group HERE.

6.) NAMI Utah holds the largest mental health awareness event in Utah, the NAMIWalks. Click HERE to watch the video featuring our 2011 Walk.

7.) Early Intervention is crucial! NAMI Utah participates in many early intervention programs including the Family Resource Facilitator project as well as the school-based mental health program called Hope for Tomorrow. This program talks to students about mental health issues, helps erase the stigma of mental illness, and fosters hope among students and their families.

8.) The NAMI Provider Education Program is a 5-week course that presents a penetrating, subjective view of family and consumer experiences with serious mental illness to staff at public and private agencies, who work directly with people experiencing severe and persistent mental illnesses.

9.) We have recently expanded our Diversity Outreach efforts and have classes in Spanish for both family members and individuals! We have a support group for the LGBT community and we recently completed a support group for the refugee community.

10.) If you've taken one of our classes, participated in a support group or any of our other programs, you have been impacted by NAMI and we need your support! So many individuals who take our classes are forever changed by the content discussed and the community that results from sharing stories, and a shared understanding of the journey towards recovery.

These are just 10 reasons to donate to NAMI Utah, we can think of so many more! Have you been impacted by NAMI in some way?! Make sure you share YOUR reason to give with your friends, family,  co-workers, and strangers! If you give on Friday, your donation will be matched, up to $2,000. An even better reason to give! Every $10 donation counts!

HERE is the link to our fundraising page.

What Would Happen if you Had to Jump Through Hoops to Get the Mental Health Medication that Works for you?

NAMI Utah has taken an opposing stance on Senate Bill 85. SB 85 is a bill that will put mental health drugs on the Medicaid Preferred Drug List. You can read the bill in it's entirety here.

Some history on the bill: In 2007, the Utah Medicaid Program implemented a "Preferred Drug List" which included an exemption for psychotropic or antipsychotic drugs. 

NAMI Utah has been involved with this discussion to maintain the exemption for medications used to treat mental illness for many years now. This exemption is critical in keeping those who live with mental illness healthy and productive. 

NAMI takes an opposing position to this bill because treatment does work if people can access it. Having access to the medications this vulnerable population needs based on their physician's best clinical judgement can make all the difference in the outcomes for people and in helping them live full and productive lives in the community.

You cannot simply look at pharmacy costs in treating mental illness. It costs the state $3,200 to maintain someone with serious mental illness in the community. It costs the same amount to hospitalize someone for three days. That can be just one medication change. Individuals living with serious mental illness have complex conditions that require individualized treatment. Adding a level of bureaucracy to the process of accessing medications will be a deterrent to individuals complying.

It is important to note that two very expensive (and effective) psychotropics have gone generic this year (Zyprexa, Seroquel). This is significant because this shows how the market takes care of itself to regulate these medications, and their costs.

Talking points to use in your conversation to your Senator: 

1.) Mental illness and the medications for treatment can be very complicated.  Missed doses, discontinuation, or changes in doses or specific medication can result in serious relapses which can result in devastating consequences for individuals, families and our communities. 

2.) Prescribers must be able to use their best clinical judgment when prescribing psychotropic medications.  With mental illness, people often have to try many medications and different combinations to find relief of their symptoms and to move on to recovery. 

3.) Because compliance is critical for treatment success, side effects can be very serious, and there is not a “one-size-fits all” solution, medications for mental illness should remain exempt from the Preferred Drug List. 

Please write to your legislators and tell them to oppose SB 85. Need help finding your legislator? Click here to search by your district.