Collaboration with National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) chapters – 10/18/12

Q: Studies have shown that people with mental illnesses are approximately twice as likely to smoke compared to the general population. States may wish to partner with their local National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) chapter to address this disparity. Break Free Alliance would like to learn more about these collaborations. Please tell us:

• Is your state currently collaborating with local NAMI chapters? In what ways? Please provide a brief description of any specific collaborative projects you would like to share.
   
• How did your state initially engage NAMI as a collaborator?

A:

1. Oklahoma: Is your state currently collaborating with the local NAMI chapter? In what ways?
   The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has a Tobacco Cessation Systems Initiative grant through the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust to reduce tobacco use among the behavioral health population. NAMI is one of our collaborative partners in this effort. The Executive Director of NAMI Oklahoma sits on our Behavioral Health and Wellness Systems Council and helps to connect our efforts with local NAMI chapters. As such, he represents both individuals with mental illness and also their families – which serve as a helpful resource when it comes to helping someone quit tobacco use. Specifically, Executive Director and his assistant serve on our workgroups related to data development, peer recovery support and provider education.
    
   How did your state initially engage NAMI as a collaborator?
   The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has had a long-standing relationship with NAMI. In fact, our current Deputy Commissioner of Prevention and Communication is the former director of NAMI Oklahoma. Thus, as our agency began work on tobacco cessation, NAMI was one of several partners that joined us in the development of the Leadership Institute for Wellness and Smoking Cessation Action Plan – an effort carried out through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Additionally, this past June, our Tobacco Cessation Systems Initiative staff attended the National NAMI Convention and spoke at the Oklahoma Delegation meeting, which helped us establish additional connections.
    
2. Oregon: Is your state currently collaborating with the local NAMI chapter? In what ways?
   Indirectly, yes. Since early 2010, when the Tobacco Freedom initiative started - a policy requiring tobacco free campus at all state licensed and funded residential treatment facilities - Oregon has been collaborating with a variety of state and local addictions and mental health partners, including the local NAMI chapter. NAMI voiced support for this policy to state leadership, assisted in spreading the word about the policy and helped recruit behavioral health professionals to policy implementation trainings. The local NAMI chapter executive director has played an important role in supporting this initiative and advocating for its implementation.
    
   How did your state initially engage NAMI as a collaborator?
   Collaboration with the local NAMI chapter is an indirect one for Oregon. Tobacco Freedom brought together several advisory groups, including consumer/survivor advocates. It is through one of the advocates who has the relationship with the local NAMI chapter and its executive director that Oregon has collaborated with this organization. This advocate has kept NAMI informed and involved from the beginning.
    
3. West Virginia: We are not currently collaborating with any local NAMI chapters here in West Virginia.

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