Self-Harm

NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS

     Email: namiorangeny@warwick.net
Website: namiorangeny.org
Telephone: 845-956-NAMI (6264) Toll-free: 1-866-906-NAMI (6264)
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*Contact us if you wish to be added to our email database to receive meeting announcements

ADVOCACY:

Not losing MH beds to Coronavirus

Would you be interested in becoming a NAMI Orange board member?
If so, contact our office at 845-956-6264
or email namiorangeny@warwick.net
to learn about the application process

Upcoming Events/Outreaches

Live Concert to benefit NAMI:
The
Armonia Band
Sat., August 15
6-7 pm
on Facebook
click here for details

See details
of upcoming NAMI
meetings and courses by clicking links below:

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NAMI Orange Education Mtg.
Virtual Meeting Mon., Sept. 14
7-8 pm
Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy
Click link for details

UPCOMING COURSES:

Youth Mental Health First Aid
virtual training
Limited capacity
is now closed out

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NAMI Family-to-Family
Virtual Course

8 weeks (Saturdays)
Sept. 5 - Oct. 24
10 am-1 pm

Register now:
Dhanu: 845-294-2749

On-going Support Groups:

Coping Circles
offered through
NYS Office of
Mental Health

NAMI Connection

*Offered online through
NAMI Sullivan Mondays, 7 pm

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*Offered online through
NAMI
capitalregionny
Tuesdays, 5 pm

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*Offered online through NAMI
Mid-Hudson
2nd Friday
of month
6:30 pm

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NAMI Connection
a peer-led support group for adults living with a
mental illness.
No fee, no registration
PLEASE NOTE:
unfortunately these meetings held in Goshen will not be able to resume until a later date, but online is available-
see above

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FAMILY
SUPPORT
GROUPS
(Virtual)

presented by NAMI Orange
Click here for details

Starting Sept. 7
7-8 pm
1st & 3rd Mondays

Register: Call Dhanu at 845-294-2749, or dhanu72@hotmail.com

with name, address, phone # and email

For ongoing Family
Support Group Meetings, click here
for Zoom meetings thru NAMI Sullivan
3rd & 4th Tuesdays
6:30-8 p.m.

NAMI Rockland,
click here for support groups including
Family Support
in Spanish
Thurs., 3-4 pm
845-359-8784

NAMI In Our
Own Voice

CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

NAMI Presentations:

Both programs are arranged by request

Click on links below for details

-Ending the Silence
is an in-school presentation designed to teach middle and high school students about the signs and symptoms of mental illness, how to recognize the early warning signs and the importance of acknowledging those warning signs. Through this classroom presentation, students get to see the reality of living with a mental health condition.
*3 types of presentations are available: for students, for staff and also for families

-In Our Own Voice
trained presenters who are in recovery from mental illness share compelling personal testimonies about their experiences of living with and dealing with the challenges posed by mental illness.

Self-Harm

Cornell University Resources on Self-Injury and Recovery

H.O.P.E Bags: Hold On Pain Ends
In recognizing the growing incidence of self-injury, the Trauma Institute of Orange County collaborated on a special project with youth in our community who have learned healthy alternatives to managing intense emotions and overcome the urge to harm themselves. The end result of this collaboration was the creation of H.O.P.E bags. The institute was happily overwhelmed with the number of clinicians wanting these free bags. Unfortunately our total supply of these bags was depleted within hours of posting the notice that they were available. As we continue to get requests for the bags, we are sharing our ‘recipe’ for what we used.

These bags included:

Letters of inspiration and inspirational sayings and pictures written by survivors and their families
Handouts on alternative coping and distraction strategies from Cornell www.selfinjury.bctr.cornell.edu
A DBT inspired inspirational booklet named ‘Elf Help’, designed to help people manage and tolerate stress and distress www.dbtselfhelp.com
A list of songs chosen by survivors and their families that have been helpful for them in trying to change their mood and negative focus
Community Resources:
Helpline pamphlet (Helpline #: 1-800-832-1200) and a Text 4 Teens card (Texting #: 845-391-1000), both from the Mental Health Association. These resources are available from the Mental Health Association of Orange County
Items to engage the senses and help one tolerate or distract themselves. Some of these items include: body lotion, bubble wrap, jolly rancher and pop rocks candy, stress balls, slap bracelets, tea bags, markers and stickers for skin, Chinese yo yo’s, Jacob’s ladder game, bendable figures, bracelets with inspirational words, mini games and puzzles (Note: we found that the one pictured was not helpful as it was too difficult and created frustration).

The Trauma Institute was able to distribute 100 bags to youth struggling to recover from self-injury through community providers (i.e. therapists, school social workers, etc.). It is our desire that this project will provide ways for others to work with youth to create their own H.O.P.E bags using the letters and handouts for inspiration.
Kristen Fortuna and Robin Guiney- Co-Chairs of the Trauma Institute of Orange County

Self-Harm NAMI information page
Avoiding self-injury-the Butterfly Project