SPRING 2015
802 NW 70th Street
Seattle, WA 98117
206-783-9264
www.nami-greaterseattle.org
SPOTLIGHT
The National
Alliance on
Mental Illness
Greater Seattle
Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in May since 1949, and helps
reach millions of people through the media and local events. Every year, NAMI
affiliates and advocates across the country fight stigma, provide support, and
educate the public. Each year, the movement grows stronger.
Contents
2
Mental Health Trivia
3
Upcoming Events
4
Policy Update
• Join NAMI Greater Seattle’s GO GREEN for mental health day on May 13.
5
Give Big
• Try your hand at the mental health trivia on page 2 and share it with
some friends.
6
In the News
7
Most
Valuable
Volunter
HOW CAN YOU HELP US SHINE A LIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH THIS MAY?
• Invite people to the NAMIWalk Washington and make your own team to support
NAMI Greater Seattle (namiwalks.org/washington).
• Share our resource card with people who might need it.
• Become a member of NAMI Greater Seattle if you aren’t already.
NAMI Greater Seattle is the
only organization in the Seattle
area working specifically to fill
the gaps in our local mental
health system through education,
referrals, and support.
Our Mission. To address the
unmet mental health needs
within our community through
support, referral, education,
and outreach.
Our Vision. A world where all
those impacted by mental illness
know they are not alone, and are
empowered to live a fulfilling life.
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
1. How many people in America suffer from mental health
disorders each year?
a. 1 in 50
b. 1 in 25
c. 1 in 10
d. 1 in 4
2. Approximately how many people die by suicide each
year?
a. > 100,000
b. > 500,000
c. > 800,000
d. > 1 Million
3. People living with a mental illness are more likely to
experience other chronic illnesses like cardiovascular
disease and diabetes.
True
False
4. What is the attributing factor in 90% of suicides for
both children and adults?
a. Financial Situation
b. Homelessness
c. Low Self-Esteem
d. Mental Illness
5. What does “stigma” refer to?
a. A plan of treatment agreed to by patient and doctor.
b. Lack of knowledge about mental health.
c. Societal prejudice that can prevent people in need
from speaking up or seeking help.
6. What is the number 1 barrier to college students
seeking help for mental health conditions?
a. Cost
b. Stigma
c. Lack of resources
d. Don’t think they need help
7. Which sorority did NAMI recently partner with to expand mental health education, awareness, and support
activities on college and university campuses?
a. Delta Zeta
b. Gamma Phi Delta
c. Alpha Kappa Alpha
d. Alpha Phi
8. _______% of Americans will experience a mental illness
in their lifetime.
a. 16.4%
b. 26.4%
c. 36.4%
d. 46.4%
See back page for Answers.
MEET OUR STAFF
Ashley Fontaine, MSW
Executive Director
2
Gail Wilder
Finance Manager
Lyndsay Campbell
Program Manager
Marisa Way-Rogainis, MSW
Development Coordinator
upcoming
EVENTS
JUNE 6 • MARINA PARK, KIRKLAND
NAMIWalks WASHINGTON!
Check in 8am • WALK Starts 9am!
We’ll see you there rain
or shine!
Need to create a team? Register here and choose NAMI
Greater Seattle as your affiliate: namiwalks.org/washington.
Marina Park 25 LakeShore Plaza Drive, Kirkland, WA
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS FORUM
Alpha Kappa Alpha — May 9, 10am-12pm
Atlantic Street Family Resource Center • 5150 S. Cloverdale Street, Seattle WA 98118
REGISTER HERE
WHY I
WALK
WA Behavioral Healthcare Conference
June 17–19, Vancouver, WA
Fulfilling the Promise of Integrated Care. How do we ensure that integration efforts support recovery and result in better health? Join other mental health advocates for networking, learning,
and collaboration. REGISTER before May 23rd for a special registration rate!
“This will be my third year walking to fight stigma
at NAMIWalks Washington and I look forward to
many more. The location and route are beautiful
and the organization flawless. Care providers set
up a tents and provide helpful information about
local services. But the best part is meeting the
other participants who are enthusiastic and
excited about stepping up for better mental
health for everyone.
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
SAVE THE DATE!
Recovery Panel • In Our Own Voice Presenation
May 20, 6:30–8pm
ROO
M TB
D
SELENA ASTON • NAMI Seattle Support Link Volunteer
WHITNEY HELLYER, MSW • Family Advocate at Harborview Medical Center
Involuntary Treatment Unit
TOM GERGEN • Peer Counselor at DESC and NAMIWalk Team Captain
CHRIS SOUTH • Hero House Board Member
There is a real feeling of support, understanding
and knowing nobody has to fight alone. I’ve met
so many interesting people who shared their life
stories and work experiences with me, and it is a
blessing. Those chance meetings and shared stories are one of the things that continue to inspire
me in my desire to support good mental health
and NAMI.”
— Lucia McDonald, Family-to-Family instructor
3
POLICY
NAMI DAY 2015
Recap & Legislative Update
O
UPDATE
ur staff attended NAMI Day in Olympia on January 19, 2015, with over 100 other NAMI
supporters from different regions of Washington. We spoke with Representative Ruth
Kagi’s staff about changing the involuntary treatment criteria and budget issues in WA.
Joel’s Law (HB 2725/SB 5269) passed both chambers on April 22, 2015, becoming the
first ever appeal process in Washington to allow family members to intervene if their loved one is
denied a crisis hospitalization. Washington joins forty-five other states that allow for appeals to a
court. The state financial analysis estimates that 500 or more people each year would be hospitalized
if families are allowed to appeal.
Meanwhile, Assisted Outpatient Treatment (HB 1450/SB 5649) had tremendous support from
local NAMI members. In March, NAMI members filled the room at the Senate Human Services,
Mental Health, and Housing Committee hearing, and in April AOT passed the State House and
Senate. Both bills will now be delivered to Governor Inslee for signing.
THE MENTAL ILLNESS DRUG DEPENDENCY (MIDD) TAX
I
n 2005, the Washington state Legislature authorized counties to implement a one-tenth of one percent sales and use
tax to support new or expanded chemical dependency or
mental health treatment programs and services, and for the
operation of new or expanded therapeutic court programs
and services. In 2007, the King County Council adopted Ordinance 15949 authorizing the levy and collection of an additional
sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for the delivery of
mental health and chemical dependency services and therapeutic courts. The ordinance also established a policy framework
for measuring the effectiveness of the public’s investment in
MIDD programs, requiring the King County Executive to submit
oversight, implementation and evaluation plans for the programs funded with the tax revenue. The tax became effective
on April 1, 2008, and it expires on January 1, 2017. State
statute does not establish an expiration date for this tax; it was
established by the Council via Ordinance 15949.
Ordinance 15949 adopted five policy goals for the programs
supported with MIDD funds. The goals for MIDD funds are:
Policy Goal 1: A
reduction in the number of mentally ill and
chemically dependent people using costly interventions, such as, jail, emergency rooms, and
hospitals
Policy Goal 2: A
reduction in the number of people who recycle
through the jail, returning repeatedly as a result of
their mental illness or chemical dependency.
Policy Goal 3: A
reduction of the incidence and severity of
chemical dependency and mental and emotional
disorders in youth and adults.
Policy Goal 4: D
iversion of mentally ill and chemically dependent
youth and adults from initial or further justice
system involvement.
4
Policy Goal 5: E
xplicit linkage with,
and furthering the work
of, other Council directed
efforts including, the Adult and Juvenile Justice
Operational Master plans, the Plan to End Homelessness, the Veterans and Human Services Levy
Service Improvement Plan and the King County
Mental Health Recovery Plan.
The MIDD sales tax generates between $43-53 million annually,
supporting a full continuum of prevention, treatment, housing,
support, and therapeutic court services. There are 37 unique
MIDD strategies and outcomes serving a wide array of individuals and families throughout King County. The most recent MIDD
Annual Report, with a complete listing of strategies, can be
found here:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/MHSA/MIDDPlan/
MIDDCommittees/Reports.aspx
NAMI Greater Seattle’s Executive Director serves on the MIDD
Oversight Committee, an advisory body that ensures implementation and evaluation of strategies, and reviews and comments
on emerging and evolving priorities for the use of MIDD sales
tax revenue. Oversight Committee meetings are open to the
public, and each meeting includes a public comment period.
We want to ensure that NAMI members are aware that the
MIDD tax in King County is coming up for renewal in 2017, and
have the opportunity to share any comments, concerns, ideas
or feedback that can better inform the renewal process.
Upcoming MIDD Oversight Committee Meetings
Chinook Building 401 5th Ave., rooms 121-123
May 21, 12:15pm-1:45pm
June 25, 12:15pm-1:45pm
is a one-day giving campaign hosted by the Seattle
Foundation. If you donate through GiveBIG on May 5,
you could be randomly selected for a Golden Ticket
that wins you a $100 Starbucks gift card and gives us
an extra $1,000 from The Seattle Foundation & their sponsors!
BE A CHAMPION FOR MENTAL HEALTH
ROBERT MAUZAY 
Meet Robert Mauzay. Robert offered his facilitation services when he saw that one of our long-standing
bi-monthly groups no longer had an active facilitator and was on hiatus until we could find a new volunteer.
He has been a member and facilitator at the Seattle Men’s Wisdom Council for 25 years and is the organizer
and secretary of the Atheist & Agnostic AA Seattle area support group. He brings a balanced approach that
focuses on problem solving and active listening, and even wrote a book on active listening and goal setting!
Robert is a support group champion — bringing back the Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective support group
on the 1st and 3rd Fridays from 3:30-5pm!
TREZ BUCKLAND 
Trez was recognized for her achievements at the 2015 International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses Conference. She has been a NAMI Greater Seattle Board member in the past,
helped develop our Educating the Next Generation program for teens, and runs the Appreciate
Living and Learning Circles for young adults every Friday evening. Trez deserves a standing ovation
for her champion-level efforts!
5
NEW PARTNERSHIP TO RAISE MENTAL
HEALTH AWARENESS
IN THE
NEWS
The National Alliance on Mental Illness and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA), Inc.
the nation’s oldest sorority founded by African American college-trained women, are
excited to announce a new partnership to expand mental health education, awareness, and support on college campuses and in local communities. The partnership
will enable NAMI, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, and
AKA to prepare new volunteer leaders and reach broader constituencies as part of
the effort to address unmet mental health needs.
“Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is proud to stand with NAMI in the fight for mental health and wellness,” said Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. “Our members will work to bring attention to mental illness among
diverse populations with historically low utilization of mental health services.”
“NAMI and AKA will stand together to provide help and hope,” said NAMI national Executive Director Mary Giliberti. “We are
thrilled to be working with one of the nation’s most distinguished service organizations to help individuals and families affected by
mental health conditions. Our common mission will include eliminating fear and discrimination that too often discourage people
from seeking help when they need it.”
NAMI Greater Seattle is excited to work closely with the AKA chapter in Seattle. Check out our upcoming events on page 3 for
more details on AKA’s first Mental Health Awareness Forum in May!
NAMI GS BOARD CO-VICE PRESIDENT
COVERS FINE POINTS OF DISABILITY CLAIMS
“Don’t delay and don’t give up.” That was just the start of Linda Worthington’s recent Speaker
Series session hosted by NAMI Greater Seattle to 40 attendees at St. James Cathedral. Her
insightful speech highlighted many of the questions we all have when facing disability. The
need for both speed and tenacity in filing your claim immediately stem from the fact that the
process may take much longer than you expect—sometimes years. Furthermore, a high percentage of claims get denied initially.
However, keep at it! Linda also provided links to the claims forms you’ll need for submission
to the Claims Administrators, including great tips for keeping the documents from being too
overwhelming. Other topics included the application process, forms you’ll need and how to
gather the information required, plus, how your claims get evaluated.
Finally, Linda strongly recommended a reevaluation of your claim, if denied, rather than a new application. For those who missed
this valuable information, contact the NAMI Greater Seattle office for handouts from the session. Our sincere thanks go to Linda
Worthington for her informative talk, and to St. James Cathedral for providing the space. Look forward to ongoing relevant and
stimulating talks through NAMI of Greater Seattle’s Speaker Series.
— Eileen Cavanagh
HOFMANN HOUSE UPDATE
On April 1st, we announced our plans to transition residents of the Hofmann Houses to other housing in the community.
While this was disappointing to some, and exciting to others, we are responding to the needs of the tenants and the need
for NAMI Signature programs in our community. This change in our operations will allow NAMI Greater Seattle to focus
more time and energy on the core programs that we do best, and aren’t available elsewhere: Family-to-Family, Peer-toPeer, support groups, Educating the Next Generation, and Support Link. The volume of calls and emails to Support Link
almost doubled from 2013–2014 and we are dedicated to meeting this need.
Two tenants have moved into new housing and our Housing Placement Liaison is working individually with the remaining
tenants. We look forward to supporting and partnering with the myriad agencies in the Seattle area that specialize in
housing for people living with mental illness during this transition and in the future.
6
most valuable
In Memory of Laura J. Meins
VOLUNTEER
MARCH 7, 1963-MARCH 21, 2015
As a child, Laura lived in Mount Vernon and Anacortes. She moved to Seattle as a teenager to
live with her sister, Charlene Meins. Laura was a student at Franklin High School, graduating in
1981. She then attended Central Washington University. After her time at Central, she lived and
worked in Ellensburg and Longview before moving back to Seattle to be near her sister.
While living in Seattle over the past 10 years, Laura has been actively involved the mental health
community. She was a dedicated NAMI Greater Seattle volunteer for many years. As an “In
Our Own Voice” presenter, Laura educated students and health care workers about living with
mental illness. Laura was an advocate for system change to a more recovery oriented approach
to mental health through her role on a King County mental health advisory committee, “Voices
of Recovery”. She also participated in fidelity reviews of service providers. She was recently
employed in the King County Mental Health Ombuds office where she worked with clients to
identify resources or solve problems.
Patricia Erickson, a NAMI Greater Seattle volunteer said it best:
“When I first began volunteering at NAMI Greater Seattle, Laura trained me on the help line
phones, and she was a hard act to follow. She taught me a lot about the process along with how
to make a difference. Her knowledge of resources and ability to be a calm voice in a storm was
inspiring. We lost a jewel who gave so much. Thank you Laura, for all that you did to enrich the
lives of others. You may be gone but not forgotten.”
NAMI Greater Seattle couldn’t agree more. Laura touched so many lives and we will miss her
deeply.
NAMI GREATER SEATTLE MEMORIAL & HONORARY FUND
In memory of Andrew
Mohebbi
Book Group Friends of
Courtney Sawyer
In memory of Jim Mitre
Kimberly Boon
Micah Berry
Karen Berry
Mary & Dean Brett
Glenn & Janice Butler
John & Mary Hickman
Eugene & Gaye Godfrey
Stanley & Carol Heimburger
Pam Glaze, Lisa Peterson,
Sheryl Binning, Gail Knops,
Kate Eifrig, Sandra Simon
Janet Henderson
John Busch
Mark Schlichting
James Ashby
Rob & Marylyn Monahan
Michael Smith
Edward & Cherilyn Jackson
Kevin & Margaret Riley
Stephen Seymour
David Schmidt
Chris & Doug Bennett
Hadi & Kathy Mohebbi
George & Margaret Mustard
In memory of Marland
Anderson
Teresa Mitre
In honor of Sid Spencer
Peggy Spencer
Audry Henry
In memory of Ryan
Patrick L’Esperance
Mark L’Esperance
7
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
Paid
Seattle, Wash.
PERMIT NO. 2306
KING COUNTY TRAINING &
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are now available from the King County Consumer Training Fund
to attend local, state or national trainings, classes or conferences focused on
mental health issues. Eligible applicants must be residents of King County
affected by mental illness as a consumer, family member or advocate. Professional mental health employees and other paid staff of publicly funded mental
health agencies are not eligible. There is an annual limit of one scholarship per
year, per person, for a maximum of $500. Applications are available at www.nami-greaterseattle.org. Please contact Gail Wilder at gailw@nami-greaterseattle.
org or 206-783-9264 if you have any questions.
FRIDAY SUPPORT GROUP
OFFICE HOURS
The NAMI Greater Seattle
office is staffed 8am–5pm on
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday;
and Wednesday 9am–6pm.
Callers to our supportlink
206-783-9264 will reach a staff
member, intern or volunteer
who will offer supportive
resources and referrals.
It’s Back! The Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective support group has resumed —
meeting on the 1st and 3rd Fridays from 3:30-5pm at the NAMI Greater Seattle
office . Thank you to our new facilitator Robert for stepping up!
Answer Key from Page 2 : 1- D; 2- C; 3- A; 4-D; 5- C; 6- B; 7- C; 8-B
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