The President's Page
October 2019
Hello NAMI North Texas Members and Friends of NAMI!
I want to thank each and every one of you who selected NAMI North Texas and donated to us on North Texas Giving Day! In doing that, you s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d your dollars since matching funds will be added to what you were able to give! I was very pleased and impressed as I looked over the list of all of the people who took advantage of this opportunity to support NAMI North Texas. Thank you very much for your generosity!
Wasn’t our last meeting with Dr. Betsy Kennard informative? I was truly grateful to her for donating the time to come educate us about adolescent depression and effective interventions for preventing suicide. This important issue touches all of us.
We have another terrific meeting planned for October 3rd that will take place in Denton County at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church Lewisville, 1251 Valley Ridge Blvd, Lewisville, 75077. Denton County MHMR’s Maryam Flory, MA, LPC, LPHA, and COMPASS Team Lead, and Phyllis Finley, BA, QMHP-CS, QIDP, and Business Development Coordinator will be here to talk about the COMPASS program. COMPASS stands for Collective Opportunity to Manage Psychosis by Adapting, Sustaining and Succeeding. It is a First Episode Psychosis Program that has been recently made available to Denton County Residents. Even if you are not a Denton County resident, come learn about this program! Such programs are also available in Dallas and Collin County and are a very important part of our public mental health system. With early intervention we can prevent so many of the consequences of psychotic illnesses and can impact the trajectory of the illness. People can have a much higher quality of life when the appropriate treatment is given right away-at the first sign of the illness. Sandwiches and refreshments will be made available so if you are coming directly from work and don’t have time for dinner, we will have some nourishment available for you.
Also, don’t forget our Don’t Quit 13.1 half marathon and 5K takes place on Saturday, October 5th, 2019 at Flag Pole Hill on White Rock Lake. Are you familiar with the history behind this event? I find it to be very inspirational. Jennifer Gray Anthony is the Don’t Quit founder and is an avid runner. She has dealt with mental health issues throughout her life, including the depression struggles and suicide of her beloved mother, the untimely passing of her loving father, and a major car accident that left her severely injured with doctors doubting she would ever run again. Throughout it all, Jennifer has remained strong and had the motto of “Don’t Quit.” Now, she wants to encourage others that they, too, can do the same. Come join the rest of us at NAMI North Texas as we participate in this wonderful mental health awareness event.
Another reminder, please nominate someone who you feel has made a difference in improving the lives of persons with mental illnesses and their family members. You can find the categories and the form to use for nominations on our website HERE. We really need to recognize those who have worked hard to make a difference-so please take a moment to recognize and thank someone and submit your nomination. Awards will be given out at the Annual Holiday Dinner and Awards celebration.
Thank you for all that you do for NAMI North Texas, we appreciate you and look forward to seeing you soon!
Sherry Cusumano,
President of NAMI North Texas
Sherry Cusumano, RN, LCDC, MS, President of NAMI North Texas
Administrative Director of Community Education and Clinical Development
Medical City Green Oaks Hospital
7808 Clodus Fields Dr.
Dallas, TX 75251
I want to thank each and every one of you who selected NAMI North Texas and donated to us on North Texas Giving Day! In doing that, you s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d your dollars since matching funds will be added to what you were able to give! I was very pleased and impressed as I looked over the list of all of the people who took advantage of this opportunity to support NAMI North Texas. Thank you very much for your generosity!
Wasn’t our last meeting with Dr. Betsy Kennard informative? I was truly grateful to her for donating the time to come educate us about adolescent depression and effective interventions for preventing suicide. This important issue touches all of us.
We have another terrific meeting planned for October 3rd that will take place in Denton County at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church Lewisville, 1251 Valley Ridge Blvd, Lewisville, 75077. Denton County MHMR’s Maryam Flory, MA, LPC, LPHA, and COMPASS Team Lead, and Phyllis Finley, BA, QMHP-CS, QIDP, and Business Development Coordinator will be here to talk about the COMPASS program. COMPASS stands for Collective Opportunity to Manage Psychosis by Adapting, Sustaining and Succeeding. It is a First Episode Psychosis Program that has been recently made available to Denton County Residents. Even if you are not a Denton County resident, come learn about this program! Such programs are also available in Dallas and Collin County and are a very important part of our public mental health system. With early intervention we can prevent so many of the consequences of psychotic illnesses and can impact the trajectory of the illness. People can have a much higher quality of life when the appropriate treatment is given right away-at the first sign of the illness. Sandwiches and refreshments will be made available so if you are coming directly from work and don’t have time for dinner, we will have some nourishment available for you.
Also, don’t forget our Don’t Quit 13.1 half marathon and 5K takes place on Saturday, October 5th, 2019 at Flag Pole Hill on White Rock Lake. Are you familiar with the history behind this event? I find it to be very inspirational. Jennifer Gray Anthony is the Don’t Quit founder and is an avid runner. She has dealt with mental health issues throughout her life, including the depression struggles and suicide of her beloved mother, the untimely passing of her loving father, and a major car accident that left her severely injured with doctors doubting she would ever run again. Throughout it all, Jennifer has remained strong and had the motto of “Don’t Quit.” Now, she wants to encourage others that they, too, can do the same. Come join the rest of us at NAMI North Texas as we participate in this wonderful mental health awareness event.
Another reminder, please nominate someone who you feel has made a difference in improving the lives of persons with mental illnesses and their family members. You can find the categories and the form to use for nominations on our website HERE. We really need to recognize those who have worked hard to make a difference-so please take a moment to recognize and thank someone and submit your nomination. Awards will be given out at the Annual Holiday Dinner and Awards celebration.
Thank you for all that you do for NAMI North Texas, we appreciate you and look forward to seeing you soon!
Sherry Cusumano,
President of NAMI North Texas
Sherry Cusumano, RN, LCDC, MS, President of NAMI North Texas
Administrative Director of Community Education and Clinical Development
Medical City Green Oaks Hospital
7808 Clodus Fields Dr.
Dallas, TX 75251