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I've been writing up the speaker presentations at the bi-monthly meetings of the National Alliance on Mentally Illness - East Bay Chapter (formerly the American Schizophrenia Association - Alliance for the Mentally Ill) since 1993. For the convenience of members and other interested parties, here are articles from past meetings in inverse chronological order. These documents are in the Adobe Acrobat PDF format. You should have the Acrobat Reader installed on your system before clicking on the links below. If you don't have Reader, please visit Adobe Systems Incorporated to download this free software.
Perhaps the most significant story to develop over the past ten years is the understanding of how brain chemistry affects mental disorders and the rise of new medications to treat mental illness. For example, see the articles for September 2011 and November 2009. As the names of these new medications can be tongue-twisters, and the categories are sometimes confusing, here is an online copy of NAMI-East Bay's popular Medications for Mental Health, which was revised and updated in September 2011.
The other significant theme of the past decade is the development and refinement of services available on a community level to treat people with mental disorders. Legislation enacted in the mid-60's ended involuntary commitment and forced medication of the mentally ill—which at the time was thought to be the only way to treat people who might be a danger to themselves or others. However, a realistic model for community-based treatment was not then available to fill the gap, and funding at the local level was often inconsistent. To see something of the new treatment model that is now being developed, sample the articles for September 2002, July and March 2000, and March 1999.
To read more about any of the various mental disorders, try the National Institutes of Health's Medline Plus.
Mental Illness: Genes vs. Environment, Isabel Zaror, PhD, October 23, 2024
A Discussion with the Author of “American Madness,” Alice Feller, MD, September 25, 2024
Explanation of Special Needs Trusts, Stephen Dale, August 28, 2024
Report on the Supportive Housing Community Land Alliance, Teslim Ikharo, August 14, 2024
Integrative Approaches to Mental Health, Eric Arnold, MD, March 17, 2024
Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy and Mental Health, Stephanie Criteser, RD, CSP, February 28, 2024
Power of Attorney and Conservatorship for Your Loved One, Baron Miller, JD, January 24, 2024
SSI Application Pitfalls, Daniel Fortuño, November 15, 2023
Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience, Dan Lurie, PhD, July 26, 2023
Coping, Communication, Self-Care, Dr. James Bramson, May 24, 2023
Allies in Recovery: Forming a Connection with Your Loved One, Kayla Solomon, LICSW, March 22, 2023
“Beyond Madness,” an Interview with Dr. Rachel Pruchno, January 24, 2023
Wellness Centers, Jimisha Baker, Clarise Burton, LeAnne Rozner, November 16, 2022
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, November-December, 2022
Hearing Voices Network, Cindy Marty Hadge, September 28, 2022
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, September-October, 2022
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, July-August, 2022
Let’s Discuss Meds, Jeffrey Johns, MD, May 25, 2022
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, May-June, 2022
Mental Health Law: A Road of Potholes and Roadblocks, Paula Aiello, March 23, 2022
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, March-April, 2022
Our Pandemic Perspective in 2022, Panel Discussion, January 26, 2022
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, January-February, 2022
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Timothy Quinn, Mary Weinstein, Shelley Holst, November 17, 2021
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, November-December, 2021
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, September-October, 2021
Telehealth and Changes in Mental Health Care, Kim P. Norman, MD, July 28, 2021
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, July-August, 2021
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, May-June, 2021
Strategies for Coping Through Emotionally Challenging Times, Sarah Carr, LMFT, March 24, 2021
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, March-April, 2021
Independent Living Association, Francesca Barua and Sarah Swain, January 27, 2021
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, January-February, 2021
Treatment Modalities, Daniel Sager, Pablo Picones, and Elizabeth Hedrick, November 18, 2020
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, November-December, 2020
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, September-October, 2020
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, July-August, 2020
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, May-June, 2020
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, March-April, 2020
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, January-February, 2020
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, November-December, 2019
Ask the Psychiatrist, Jerry Gelbart, MD, September 25, 2019
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, September-October, 2019
Medications for Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Disorders, Seth Gomez, PharmD, BCPP, July 24, 2019
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, July-August, 2019
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, May-June, 2019
When the Caregiver Can No Longer Provide Care, Stephen Dale and Christine Grabowski, March 27, 2019
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, March-April, 2019
Outpatient Treatment in Alameda County, Penny Bernhisel and Francesca Tenenbaum, January 23, 2019
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, January-February, 2019
Hearing the Consumer Voice, Chris Hunter, Oscar Herrera, David Hallsted, November 28, 2018
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, November-December, 2018
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, September-October, 2018
Advances in TMS Therapy: Treatment-Resistant Depression and Beyond, Rick Trautner, MD, July 25, 2018
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, July-August, 2018
Addiction and Mental Health, David Kan, MD, DFASAM, May 23, 2018
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, May-June, 2018
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, March-April, 2018
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, January-February, 2018
Healing Voices: Let’s Change the Conversation, Digital Eyes Film, November 15, 2017
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, November-December, 2017
Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Psychosis, Michelle Sallee, PsyD, September 27, 2017
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, September-October, 2017
A Holistic Approach to Health, Marcey Shapiro, MD, July 26,2017
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, July-August, 2017
New Psychiatrist with Berkeley Mental Health, Rebecca Carrillo, MD, May 24, 2017
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, May-June, 2017
Triple Treat: A Discussion with Guy Qvistgaard, March 22, 2017
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, March-April, 2017
Report from the Board, NAMI East Bay Members, January 25, 2017
NAMI East Bay Newsletter, January-February, 2017
Current Research on Emotions and Mental Health, Ann Kring, PhD, November 16, 2016
Long-Term Care Planning, Linda Durston, PhD, JD, and Sharon Toth, LCSW, CLPF, September 28, 2016
Staff Psychiatrist with Berkeley Mental Health, Todd Mitchell, MD, July 27, 2016
Berkeley Mental Health: A Time for Growth, Steven Grolnic-McClurg, LCSW, May 25, 2016
Forty Years of Mental Health Practice, Rebecca Woolis, MA, MFT, March 23, 2016
Community Collaborators and Resources, Panel Discussion, January 27, 2016
Overview of Psychiatric Medications, Margo Pumar, MD, July 22, 2015
Housing Costs and Mental Illness, Robert Ratner, MPH, MD, May 27, 2015
FERC at Five Years, Annie Kim and Bettye Foster, March 25, 2015
Causes of Mental Health Disorders: Genes, Environment, or Both? Isabel Zaror, PhD, November 19, 2014
Minds on the Edge, Fred Friendly Seminars, September 24, 2014
Meet Berkeley Mental Health’s New Manager, Steven Grolnic-McClurg, LCSW, May 28, 2014
Ask the Doctor, Jeffrey Johns, MD, March 26, 2014
Open Dialogue: Mental Health Treatment in Northern Finland, Video by Daniel Macker, March 27, 2013
Perspectives on Stigma and Families with Mental Illness, Dr. Stephen Hinshaw, January 23, 2013
Trapped Within OCD, NAMI California Video, November 28, 2012
WRAP: Wellness Recovery Action Plan, Yaffa Alter, September 26, 2012
From Bipolar Disorder to Bipolar in Order, Tom Wootton, May 23, 2012
Who Will Care When I'm Not There? Baron Miller, March 28, 2012
In Our Own Voice, Robert Villanueva, January 25, 2012
Crisis Assessment and Intervention, Panel Discussion, November 16, 2011
A Review of Psychotropic Medications, Dri Wang, PharmD, September 28, 2011
Alameda County Consumer Opportunities and Programs, Panel Discussion, May 25, 2011
Sleep Better … Feel Better, Allison Harvey, PhD, March 23, 2011
Using Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Treat Mental Illness, Abby Haile, PsyD, January 26, 2011
Charlie Rose Brain Series: Panel Discussion on Mental Illness, November 17, 2010
Some Subtleties of Recovery, Rebecca Woolis, MFT, July 28, 2010
Alameda County’s Family Education and Resource Center, Karina Foote and Andie Kim, May 26, 2010
Current Psychiatric Thinking and Research, Dr. Jeffrey Johns, March 24, 2010
Minds on the Edge, Fred Friendly Seminars, January 27, 2010
Issues Surrounding Dual Diagnosis, Mark Shotwell, May 27, 2009
Questions About Current Medications for Mental Illness, Pauline Chan, PharmD, March 25, 2009
The Bipolar Advantage, Tom Wootton, July 23, 2008
Housing Options and Programs in Alameda County, Robert Ratner, MPH, MD, May 28, 2008
The LPS Conservatorship Laws in California, Harry Gin, ACSW, March 26, 2008
The Promise of Early Intervention for Psychosis, Shelley Levin, PhD, January 23, 2008
What’s New in Schizophrenia Research, Sophia Vinogradov, MD, November 28, 2007
Personal Insight into Serious Mental Illness, Xavier Amador, PhD, September 26, 2007
Special Needs Trusts for Family Members with Mental Illness, Linda S. Durston, PhD, May 23, 2007
Update on Electroconvulsive Therapy and Other Brain Treatments, Robert Dolgoff, MD, March 28, 2007
Guiding a Loved One Toward Recovery, Rebecca Woolis, MFT, January 24, 2007
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Other Clinical Conditions, Kumar Vedantham, MD, May 24, 2006
A Critique of the Dr. Phil Show on Schizophrenia, NAMI-East Bay Members, January 25, 2006
Anxiety Disorders: Recognizing and Treating Them, Michael Menaster, MD, MA, September 28, 2005
Planning for a Family Member’s Future: the Special Needs Trust, Linda S. Durston, PhD, May 25, 2005
Mental Health Programs in the Oakland Public Schools, Ilene J. Yasemsky, LCSW, March 23, 2005
Mental Health Services Available in Alameda County Through BACS, Clayton Goad, MFT, January 26, 2005
Early-Onset Bipolar Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder in Adults, Bradley Engwall, MD, July 28, 2004
The Role of the Psychiatrist in Treating Mental Illness, Roger Mendelson, MD, November 19, 2003
Bipolar Disorder and Other Depressive Disorders, W. Douglas Moorhead, MD, March 26, 2003
New Concepts in the Treatment of Psychosis, S. Craig Risch, MD, January 22, 2003
Developing Housing for People with Mental Illness, Thomas Walker, May 22, 2002
Local Research on Bi-Polar Disorder and Major Depression, Randy Bloch, MD, January 23, 2002
Coping Strategies for Family Members During the Holidays, Rebecca Woolis, MFCC, November 28, 2001
Exploring Schizophrenia, Christopher Amenson, PhD, September 26, 2001
Mark Watanabe Updates NAMI-East Bay on Psychotropic Medications, Dr. Mark Watanabe, May 23, 2001
Adolescence and Mental Illness, Moises Garcia-Lemus and Liz Rebensdorf, March 28, 2001
Exploring Depression, William C. Wirshing, MD, and Lori Altschuler, MD, January 24, 2001
Psychiatric Help Within the Criminal Justice, Edmunds, Sherman, and Meyers, November 15, 2000
Exploring Bi-Polar Disorder, Jerome Vaccaro, MD, May 24, 2000
Assembly Bill 1800: Changing Mental Health Law, Randall Hagar and Yehuda Sherman, MD, March 22, 2000
Psychotropic Medications: What's on the Horizon?, Dr. Mark Watanabe, January 26, 2000
A Psychologist Describes His Own Experiences with Schizophrenia, Dr. Fred Frese, September 23, 1998
What Rights and Benefits do People with Mental Disorders Have?, Dan Jordan, July 22, 1998
Current Research into Prenatal Causes of Schizophrenia, Catherine Schaefer, PhD, July 23, 1997
Panic Disorder — Stories of Hope, Sarah Stadler, MD, March 26, 1997
Providing a Financial Future for Your Mentally Ill Relative, Janet Fairchild, July 25, 1995
Mood Disorders and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents, Glen R. Elliott, MD, PhD, March 22, 1995
Motivation and Coping, Rebecca Woolis, MFCC, January 24, 1995
Ask the Doctor…, Richard A. Shadoan, MD, November 16, 1994
Anxiety and Panic Disorders, Sarah Stadler, MD, September 28, 1994
Financial Benefits Available to People with a Mental Illness, Dan Jordan, July 27, 1994
The Psychobiology of Suicidal Behavior, Bruce Victor, MD, January 26, 1994
New Medications for Treatment of Schizophrenia, Dr. Sophia Vinogradov, November 17, 1993