At the 2018 CIT International Conference in Kansas City, MO, keynote speaker Mary Giliberti, the chief executive officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), gave some critical remarks about the significance of NAMI and how it must continue to meet the needs of people with mental illness throughout the country. The following is an excerpt of Giliberti’s presentation.

When there is a need to advocate and provide support for people with mental illness, you can rely on NAMI. Sparked by a small group of families assembled around a kitchen table approximately 40 years ago, NAMI has become the nation’s leading organization on mental health. NAMI has a great number of stories to demonstrate the work it is doing in communities nationwide to raise awareness and provide support and education to people in need.

NAMI realizes there is more work to be done to further address the needs of 44 million people in the country with mental illness and the alarming number of veterans who are dying each day of suicide. NAMI recognizes the value of partnerships with organizations such as CIT (Crisis Intervention Team). According to Giliberti, “CIT is revolutionary in terms of how police respond to crisis.” As an example, she shares the story of how CIT intervened to save the life of a person who had battled with mental illness as a child, lived with the illness throughout his life and threatened to take his life. The person is alive today because of the incredible response and intervention of CIT.

Giliberti has served in her leadership capacity of NAMI since 2014. She advocates the need for NAMI to expand to every city in the U.S., to expand hours for CIT training and to receive additional funding and resources for mental health at the state and federal level.   She also advocates for mental health to be treated the same way as we treat cancer in the U.S.

Continue to follow The Holmes Education Post for additional information on education and resources to serve the needs of people throughout the world.

Dr. Ronald Holmes, Ph.D. is a former teacher, school administrator, test developer and district superintendent. He is the author of 16 books and publisher of The Holmes Education Post, an education focused Internet newspaper. These books include How to Eradicate Hazing; How to Eradicate Cyber Bullying; How to Eradicate Schoolyard Bullying; and How to Eradicate Workplace Bullying. These books serve as a reference guide to an online anti-bullying program that provides training for all students, parents, employees, and managers. These books are also equipped with a 24 hour Web Based Reporting, Tracking, Training and Documentation System that allow individuals to report bullying incidents anonymously from the home, school, work and community.

Click on this link to see a description of all of Dr. Ronald Holmes’ books.