The has chosen as the recipient of the 11th Annual Gordon and Sharon Smith New Freedom Award.

SENATOR RON WYDEN (COURTESY OF WWW.WYDEN.SENATE.GOV)

Created by NAMI Oregon in 2009 to honor the mental health advocacy efforts of former United States Senator Gordon Smith and his wife, Sharon, the New Freedom Award is presented annually and recognizes an individual or individuals for their leadership on mental health issues.

������Ƶ and NAMI Oregon leaders were present at Senator Wyden’s award ceremony on October 1 at the Portland Downtown Waterfront Marriott.

“Senator Wyden has been a champion for mental health for many years,” Jim Sechrist, Regional Director of Operations for ������Ƶ’s Oregon programs, said.

As an organization, ������Ƶ is a proud supporter of NAMI and its programs in the communities we serve. Together, we want to continue to raise awareness of the importance of mental health advocacy, reduce the stigma surrounding mental health disorders, and provide resources for those who may be in need of services.

To find your local NAMI chapter, click .

Shown in Photograph:

Back row from left to right:

• David Ochoa, Clinical Director, CATC

• Janet Bardossi, Floating Administrator, Northwest
  Chris Bouneff, Executive Director,

• Jim Sechrist- ������Ƶ Regional Director of Operations

• Megan Chaloupka, Administrator, Gresham Recovery Center

Front row from left to right:

• Lisa Naito, Lobbyist

• Linda Reese, Vice President of Operations, Northwest, ������Ƶ

• Melinda Howard, Administrator, CATC

• Jamie DeRuyter, Administrator, Woodburn Recover Center

������Ƶ, with the support of , is pleased to announce the opening of Mark Reed Evaluation and Treatment Center in McCleary, WA.

This new 16-bed facility is designed to provide recovery-centered inpatient care for individuals experiencing an acute behavioral health crisis. The goal is to help those in need to regain stability, connect to additional resources, and return to regular life as soon as possible.

The program serves adults in Grays Harbor County who meet the criteria for an Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) detention and/or a 14-day commitment, and it is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Nearly 50 people gathered to celebrate the center’s ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 14. Many people who had worked at the facility when it was a hospital and were thrilled to see what ������Ƶ had done to the building.

The Mark Reed Evaluation and Treatment Center is ������Ƶ’s first program in partnership with Great Rivers Behavioral Health Organization. We are honored to be new members of this community.

Ahead of World Mental Health Day on Thursday, October 10, the state of California debuted a statewide mental health phone line to help those who need help, but aren't in crisis.

Most counties already run a suicide prevention hotline, however, only a few have a “warm line.” Warm lines, which offer emotional support and resource referrals for people who are experiencing depression, anxiety and other symptoms, are considered a lower level of care. They’re ideal for those who may need someone to talk to and are not suicidal.

During its initial launch, the warm line will be staffed for most of the day. Staffed by peers, individuals can choose to either call or text the line.

• 7 a.m. through 11 p.m. (Monday-Friday)

• 7 a.m. through 3 p.m. (Saturday)

• 7 a.m. through 9 p.m. (Sunday)

By the end of the year, the call center is expected to operate 24/7.

The line is funded by $10.8 million from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first budget to expand the line statewide and operate it for the next three years.