NAMI Maryland, through local affiliates, mounted a letter-writing campaign to the Governor and legislature to urge no cuts by the legislature and restoration by the Governor in the supplemental budget. Brenda Hohman, NAMI Maryland Executive Director, served for over a year on the Hospital Beds Needs Committee of the Mental Hygiene Administration. The additional community services such as 24-hour crisis hotline, mobile crisis treatment, assertive community treatment and other services are needed to handle the hospital downsizing. Persons with serious brain disorders being released as part of the down-sizing effort would then have what they need in the community. The Maryland Psychiatric Research Center sponsored a fall 1999 conference for which NAMI Maryland was a co-sponsor.
Suicide is high among persons with schizophrenia.
Many are not receiving treatment for their depression. Some anti-depressant medications have been shown to be helpful for persons with both diagnoses. Another highlight was research presented by Dr. Lisa Dixon, University of Maryland, on the effectiveness of the NAMI Family To Family Program in training families to better support consumers. The service is available for persons with disabilities, family members, friends, caregivers, service providers, and professional agencies who need to understand and use this information. Benefits INfoSource will also offer an intensive training course beginning in mid-April, which will concentrate on work incentives to enable participants to fully understand the impact of work and the work incentives on benefits, and to advise individuals about their best work incentive strategies.