2010 General Meeting Topics

We've have some great informative and inspiring speakers at NAMI Sacramento General Meetings. Here is a summary of meeting topics for the coming year:

January - Minds on the Edge - Facing Mental Illness, a PBS seminar. This seminar sheds light on barriers to treatment, ethical and legal dilemmas, and fragmented social policies that are creating a nightmare for families, filling America’s jails, and wasting scarce resources.  Led by veteran broadcast journalist Frank Sesno, the program features hypothetical scenarios that challenge prominent mental health professionals, policy makers and legal luminaries to confront the situations and stigma facing Americans with mental illness.  Panelists include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Bryer, Nobel winning neuroscientist Eric R. Kandel, Pennsylvania Secretary of Public Welfare, Estelle B. Richman and many others.  Additional information can be found at www.mindsontheedge.org.

March - Laurie Sheerer and Nancy White - The presentation described the overarching theme of recovery-oriented services in the VA, including excerpts from the Uniform Mental Health Services Handbook and the strategic plan. They specifically covered the outreach work that’s being done, mental health/primary care integration, inpatient services, other programs, and how Veterans can access services.

May - Dr. Peter Yellowlees - Telemedicine and its application to Psychiatric Treatment.

July - Mary Ann Benneett - Sacramento County Mental Health Director.

September - Freericka Reeves - Chief Executive Officer, Sierra Vista Hospital.

November - Open