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Research has
demonstrated that people living with severe psychiatric conditions may
have an increased risk of heart disease and related conditions. For this
reason, NAMI has designed the Hearts & Minds program: a 13 minute
inspirational video tape and a 26 page booklet. The purpose of the
program is to raise awareness and provide information on:
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Diabetes
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Diet
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Exercise
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Smoking
In addition to basic information on
addictions, recovery, stigma and treatment. Along with information on
diabetes and sleep apnea, Hearts & Minds contains tips for exercise,
diet--including a shopping list template, recipes, and a food diary.
Type ll Diabetes has become a particular concern, since research has
begun to question the link between some psychiatric medications and the
disease.
"The program is designed to make people want to get moving; to change
something they can change in order to have a healthier
life," says Kathryn McNulty, NAMI Director of Consumer Education
Programs. "Reclaiming good physical health may be seen as the 'second
wave' of wellness, once people begin to recover with serious mental
illness."
"As a psychiatrist, I am impressed at the importance of promoting
preventive cardiac care for people living with serious mental illnesses
who are at increased risk," stated Ken Duckworth, M.D., NAMI Medical
Director. "Hearts & Minds is NAMI's effort to advance this important
topic."
"We are pleased to offer this new educational initiative at NAMI. Hearts
& Minds fills a tremendous need for accurate, timely information in this
area, and we are proud of this new program, " said Mike Fitzpatrick,
NAMI interim Executive Director.
Click here to view and print .pdf
files containing all sections of the
Hearts & Minds Booklet.
NAMI's new
Hearts & Minds Program is made possible in part by an unrestricted
educational grant from Eli Lilly. For information on Hearts & Minds,
please contact Kathryn McNulty at
kathryn@nami.org.
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