Health Awareness Organization

May named mental health awareness month

NAMI FUTURE EVENTSWHAT Charlie Rose DVDs on the brains of mentally ill

WHERE: Memorial Medical Center Community Room, 815 N. Virginia St.

WHEN: 18:30, May 23

WHAT: Charlie Rose DVDs on the brains of mentally ill

LOCATION: Education Centre DeTar Hospital North, 101 medical

WHEN: 18:30, May 31

MEETINGSWHAT NAMI: NAMI Monthly Meeting

WHERE: Parkway Church, 4802, John Stockbauer Drive

WHEN: 6:30 p.m., all second and third Monday of the month. (There will be no monthly meetings in June or July.)

WHAT: NAMI support group

WHERE: Lawrence Towers, Suite 1908 Saint-Laurent N. 195

WHEN: 18 am every second and fourth Tuesday of the month.

For more information about NAMI, visit or call 361-578-3935 www.namivictoria.org.

May has been officially appointed Awareness Month Mental Health for the City of Victoria.

Mayor Armstrong has signed a proclamation which was presented to the National Alliance on Mental Illness - Victoria on Monday.

"I think that health issues are extremely important for a community to address," said Armstrong. "Mental health is one of these health issues."

Alderman Denise Rangel presented the proclamation to the organization.

Michael Snider, with NAMI, hopes that this observation already national mental health awareness will become stronger today than it was proclaimed at the local level.

So far this month, NAMI and the Gulf Bend Center donated five books related mental health at the Public Library of Victoria.

On May 23, NAMI will show a video on the "Mentally Ill Brain," from the Charlie Rose Brain Series.

"This helps to bring it (mental health) to light and to the forefront," Snider said about the proclamation. "Hopefully, this will break that stigma."

Armstrong agreed that the mental health providers like NAMI and Gulf Bend Center are spending money well by providing a service to the mentally ill.

"This is a cost effective way to prevent crime and to cut down on domestic violence and crimes of all nature," he said.

NAMI plans to host more events in May 2012 now that the month has been proclaimed, Snider said.

"The stigma gets in the way of treatment and recovery," he said. "It's extremely important to get support from local businesses.

Statement from the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization ...

Redondo Beach, CA … May 13, 2011 — The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) issued the following statement today from ADAO President/CEO and Co-Founder Linda Reinstein:

“ADAO shares the horror of other asbestos victims groups, doctors, engineers, scientists, labour leaders, and public health organizations at the Zimbabwean government’s announcement to craft a revival plan for the Shabanie and Mashaba asbestos mines . ADAO joined forces with over 40 associations, institutions, and organizations from across the globe to send an urgent opposition letter to leaders within Zimbabwe spearheading this effort.

The letter states:

‘Your government’s announcement echoes recent attempts to reopen the Jeffery asbestos mine in Canada.  The only support for this reprehensible and retrogressive action is from those who work for and with the asbestos industry.National and international medical and public health authorities and the world have long been in opposition to the proposed mine, and groups like ours pledge a continued commitment to a global ban on asbestos.

The time is now - you rebuild Zimbabwe - to adopt a policy that protects public health. The Zimbabwean government has the opportunity, moral responsibility and duty to stop the deadly legacy of asbestos. We understand that asbestos is a sensitive issue politically and economically and that your government could be tempted by the benefits expected. But the short and long term effects of pursuing this strategy are simply not worth the cost to humanity, as people will be exposed to this deadly carcinogen and will die as a result.

Global borders are indistinguishable and the world is watching you make history through your local and international decisions.  For the sake of humanity, we urge you not to reopen the Shabanie and Mashaba asbestos mines and, instead, to prevent the painful disabilities and deaths of thousands of innocent people around the world.’

Efforts have been long underway to rid Zimbabwe of asbestos – including a large protest dating back to 1974 calling for an end to imports. To consider re-opening mines now is unconscionable. ADAO is hopeful that the joint letter will have a significant impact on the decision of the Zimbabwean government to do the right thing and help foster an asbestos-free environment in that nation.

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