As the consumer progresses, the plan must be changed as needed to include appropriate psychosocial rehabilitation, education, and pre-vocational skills training compatible with the combined goals of the consumer and the community. NAMI believes that the offer, payment, solicitation, or acceptance of a referral fee in relation to delivery of medical services is an unethical act of the most severe magnitude. Such fees should be prohibited by the canons of ethics of all relevant professional organizations. NAMI encourages all state psychiatric hospitals and other psychiatric facilities to provide within each facility a designated smoking area for consumers who smoke. We recognize the need that many consumers have to smoke.
Most consumers use cigarettes as a calming agent or to ease the side effects of medication.
A ban on smoking does not recognize the inconvenience placed on those who cannot leave the facility or where smoking outside offends facility neighbors. Further, it may cause some who need services to avoid seeking them in a building that bans smoking entirely. NAMI demands systematic reporting of deaths in institutions as an aid to improving quality of care. They must be sensitive to those affected. NAMI supports federal budget expenditures for the clinical training of professionals that provide stipends to students in psychiatry, psychiatric rehabilitation, psychiatric social work, psychiatric nursing, and psychology programs at the baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral levels.