Minds on the Edge

State By State

New York

NAMI-QUEENS/NASSAU hosted a screening of MINDS ON THE EDGE in Sloman Auditorium at Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks on September 16, 2009.

NAMI-NYS screened MINDS ON THE EDGE at their Educational Conference October 9-11, 2009.

In Plattsburgh, NAMI-CHAMPLAIN VALLEY presented a screening and panel discussion of MINDS ON THE EDGE in October 2009 to local residents and community leaders. The panel included the mental health director of the local hospital, the director of community services, an emergency room doctor, a family member, and a consumer

Amanda Bulris, the NAMI chapter's executive director, reports:

It went really well. We had about 60 people in attendance... part of our strategic planning is to raise visibility and we plan to do this by using Minds on the Edge.

In Buffalo, a consortium of organizations presented MINDS ON THE EDGE on November 17, 2009 at Daemen College followed by a panel discussion with representation from consumers, practitioners, families, government, faith-based groups and churches and academia. The event took a multidisciplinary approach to address issues that impact both mental health services and systems. The film and discussion challenged practitioners, communities, consumers and public officials to consider how they might be a part of an effective mental health system of the future. The event was sponsored by Niagara Frontier District of New York State Occupational Therapy Association (http://www.nysota.org); Restoration Society, Inc. (http://www.restoration-societyinc.org); with support from Erie Community College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.

Erie Community College screened MINDS ON THE EDGE for its occupational therapy department. It will also feature it at a forum for regional mental health occupational therapy practitioners throughout New York State.

In Utica, Kids Oneida, Inc. will screen MINDS ON THE EDGE for its 50 employees and 200 affiliated providers. It is also planning a screening of the program for families affected by severe mental illness and other community officials.

In Syracuse, the Hutchings Psychiatric Center used MINDS ON THE EDGE for staff training at a unit meeting of their outpatient clinic. The group of 18 attending the meeting included two doctors, a nurse practitioner, the director of community services, plus social workers and psychologists. The program started the group thinking about how to improve intakes at the clinic. Can there be a quicker turnaround? How are folks welcomed to the Clinic so that it is a place they want to come to?

Hutchings Psychiatric Center's Chief Psychologist and chair of the Ethics Committee, Maxine Block, Ph.D., will be presenting MINDS ON THE EDGE during the hospital's Executive Committee meeting on March 8, 2010 in order "to engage in conversation about the Ethical, Legal and Clinical issues that are so eloquently addressed in the video." She is also planning to screen MINDS at the Psychology Interns seminar.

NAMI-CAYUGA COUNTY held two viewings of MINDS IN THE EDGE. Prelaw and premed high school students viewed MINDS in an accelerated program called New Visions. And NAMI Family Support Group screened MINDS for 22 members. A lively discussion followed.
Terri Wasilenko reported on the concerns and issues raised by the group:

Where is our comprehensive safety net? Can Kendra's Law be abused or misused? The law stops us (family members) from getting our loved ones help. What is the standard to use - danger or imminent danger when ordering hospitalization and treatment? There were many stories about how the local and state mental health systems had failed to help the ill individual and his/her family. Many liked the idea of implementing trauma centers (emotional counseling) for people.