Happy Holidays!

For many people the holidays can be a tough time of year. Some may be missing loved ones who are no longer with them. Others might not enjoy spending time with certain family members. Or maybe some people are sad to be spending the holidays alone.

There are many reasons why this can be a hard time of year but whatever the reason let's not forget about the many blessing we do have in our lives.

Maybe it's our health, our family, our friends, our pets, or our own achievements. We all have something to celebrate this season. Give yourself the greatest gift of all by practicing an attitude of gratitude.

Have a Happy Holiday and a Healthy New Year!

How Can I Give Back?

That was the question Adria Allison asked after benefiting from NAMI's services. Such generosity of spirit is remarkable, since Adria was living in a shelter and frequenting food pantries when she first arrived here.

Ten years after a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, Adria left behind her support network in Mississippi (including her mother and NAMI National's Teri Brister) and came to New York to find help. After locating transitional housing, Adria sought out the community she counted on at home - the kind that only NAMI can provide.
She is a frequent presenter for In Our Own Voice, our anti-stigma program. She trains facilitators of Peer-to-Peer, and teaches NAMI Basics to parents. Adria believes that no one with mental illness should suffer in silence, and she draws strength from helping others
who are in trouble.

Giving back is a way of life at NAMI-NYC Metro. This is a community of families and individuals who sustain one another, taking and giving in equal measure.
I am writing to ask that you make a year-end gift to NAMI-NYC Metro. Last year, donor support allowed us to expand our NAMI Basics classes, our vital public education series and our support for families in some of New York's neediest communities.

We count on you to be part of our circle, so that inspiring people like Adria can find the help they need, and, when they are ready, give back in powerful, life-changing ways.

Thank you for your support of NAMI-NYC Metro.

Sincerely,

Wendy Brennan
Executive Director

P.S. We've set an ambitious $15,000 fundraising goal for the end of the year. We hope you will help us reach it. You can check our progress at naminycmetro.org.

DONATE NOW!

How To Register for a NAMIWalk

Thursday, December 16th: Your Child's Mental Health: Bullying Call

Time: Noon-1:00pm

Topic: Bullying

Presenter: James Hambrick, Ph.D.
Clinician, Group Therapy Coordinator
Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and
Related Disorders
Department of Child Psychiatry

To participate in calls: Call 1-866-502-8312; enter pass code 990738. You will be prompted for your name, but if you wish to be anonymous just say: "parent," "provider" or "other."

Healthy Recipes for a Happy Thanksgiving

This Thursday and we gather with friends and family to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives, let's also show ourselves a little love by filling our belly's with delicious and nutritious Thanksgiving dishes. Here are 10 healthy recipes you can try out this year! - Fit Sugar

Saturday, November 20th: 12th Annual National Survivors of Suicide Day

National Survivors of Suicide Day is a day of healing for those who have lost someone to suicide. It was created by U.S. Senate resolution in 1999 through the efforts of Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who lost his father to suicide.

Every year, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention sponsors an event to provide an opportunity for the survivor community to come together for support, healing, information and empowerment.

Over 275 simultaneous conferences for survivors of suicide loss will take place throughout the U.S. and around the world. These conferences help survivors connect with others who have survived the tragedy of suicide loss, and express and understand the powerful emotions they experience. You can attend a conference in your city or register online to watch a conference on your home computer.

For more information: afsp.org

November 22: Arts in Mind, An Evening with Mary Karr

Arts in Mind, the conversation series with top artists -- across the literary, visual, multi-media, and performing arts -- whose work touches on mental health issues, continues in November. NAMI-NYC Metro is a proud partner in this series.

Mary Karr, a poet and memoirist, is best-known for The Liars' Club, which remained on the New York Times bestseller list for over a year, and Cherry, also a bestseller. Her most recent book in this autobiographical series, Lit: A Memoir, is the story of her alcoholism, recovery, and conversion to Catholicism. Karr is a professor of literature at Syracuse University.

Date: Monday, November 22
Time: 8 pm
Location: Arnold Hall, The New School, 55 West 13th St. between 5th and 6th Aves.
Contact: Get more info at artsinmind.org

Volunteer at NAMI-NYC Metro

Would you or someone you know be interested in volunteering in our NYC office to do some much needed data entry?
If so please email walk@naminyc.org or ssheahan@naminyc.org.

You support is greatly appreciated!

October 28: Chris Payne's "Asylum: Inside the Closed Doors of State Mental Hospitals"

From 2002 to 2008, Ken Book Award-winning photographer Chris Payne visited 70 closed psychiatric institutions in 30 states for his powerful book, Asylum. Join us for an evening with Chris to learn more about his groundbreaking project and explore these haunting images. This event is free and open to the public.



Date: Thursday, October 28
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: NYU Langone Medical Center, Skirball Institute, Third Floor Auditorium, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY (Entrance is a block north of 30th Street on the East side of First Avenue)
Contact: To RSVP for this event, call the Helpline at 212-684-3264.

Have a Healthy (and Happy) Halloween

Yes folks it's that time of year again when candy is everywhere. It's stocked on the grocery store shelves, it's in the break room at work, and some is even hiding in your own cupboards. You feel as if candy is lurking around every corner, and just like Halloween the temptation can be scary. Never fear because here are some helpful tips to satisfy your sweet tooth without sabotaging your diet.


1. Choose Dark Chocolate
Choosing dark chocolate treats over milk chocolate has a ton of health benefits. Dark chocolate usually contains less butter fat and is packed with antioxidants. Organic dark chocolate, sold at specialty stores like Trader Joe's, are much less processed and contain healthy flavonoids.

2. Treat Yourself
Recipes for Healthy and spooky snacks - Disney Family Fun


3. Know the Candy Breakdown

1 treat size (fun size)	Calories	Fat (g)	Sugar (g)
Snickers	71	3.6	7.6
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup	88	5.2	8
Reese's Caramel Cup	100	5	11
Reese's Nutrageous	95	5.5	7.5
Milky Way	77	2.9	10.2
Butterfinger	85	3.5	8.5
Almond Joy	91	5.1	9.2
Milk Duds	40	2	6.3
M&Ms	90	4	11.5
Peanut M&Ms	93	4.7	9.1
Nestle's Crunch	51.3	2.7	5.6
Peppermint Pattie	47	1	8.6
Kit Kat	73	3.7	.67
Dots	70	0	11
Skittles	80	.8	15
Jelly Belly Jellybeans	35	0	7
3 Musketeers	63.3	2	10
Milky Way	75	3	10
Hershey's Bar	66.7	4	7.7
Take 5	105	5.5	9
100 Grand	95	4	11
Nerds	50	0	12
Whoppers	100	4	13
Mike & Ike	50	0	9
SweeTarts	10	0	2.4

4. Have Fun
Instead of making the whole night about candy, have a party! Play games, have a costume contest, and watch scary movies. Add some healthy treats to the mix by putting out bowls of healthy non-candy treats like popcorn, sliced fruit and your favorite veggies. Set up a Jack-o'-lantern carving station, bob for apples, and make your own haunted house.

Recipie for Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are high in plant sterols and phytochemicals. They aid in lowering cholesterol and promoting good prostate health. On top of that, they're also a good source of protein, fiber, potassium, and magnesium.



Ingredients
2 cups pumpkin seeds
2 teaspoons canola oil
Salt to taste
Optional seasonings to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, toss pumpkin seeds with canola oil and salt. (At this stage also add any additional seasonings to the mix)
3. Spread pumpkin seeds evenly onto a baking sheet in one layer.
4. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the seeds are crisp, stirring every few minutes.
5. Remove from the oven and if desired, re-season to taste.

Tip: Remove pulp by rinsing the seeds through a strainer. Also, make sure the seeds are completely dry before roasting.

Heal Any Mood with These 4 Yoga Poses

1. Stress: Tree Pose
Why it works: Balance yoga postures like this one require your complete focus, and that takes your mind off whatever’s stressing you out.

How to do it: Stand with right foot on the inside of left calf or thigh, knee pointing out. Place hands in prayer position in front of chest, palms together, and hold for 3 breaths. Slowly raise your arms overhead and hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on opposite side.

2. Angry: Twisting Lunge
Why it works: When you're irritated, toxins build up in your liver; this yoga pose literally 'wrings' them out and massages your organs to help you calm down.

How to do it: Lunge forward with right leg until thigh is parallel to floor. Place left palm next to inside of right foot, and extend right arm up, rotating shoulders and right palm upward. Look up at hand. Hold for 5 breaths; repeat on opposite side.

3. Sad: Camel
Why it works: This yoga pose helps open up your lungs so you can breathe deeply, which increases oxygen levels in your blood. That elevates your mood and makes you feel better.

How to do it: Kneel with legs should width apart, arch back, and reach hands behind you to grasp your heels. Push your hips forward so they're aligned with knees, and relax your head and neck. Hold 30 seconds, and remember to breathe deeply.

4. Tired: Shoulder Stand
Why it works: From this yoga position you'll increase the blood flow to your brain, which will boost your energy.

How to do it: Lie face-up with arms at sides, palms on mat, and pull knees in toward chest. Press palms down as you raise hips and extend legs straight up, placing your hands on the small of your back to support you.

Fall into a Healthy Routine this Season

As the fall weather blows in and the day light hours become shorter and shorter we may find ourselves falling into an unhealthy routine of sleeping too much, staying indoors, and over indulging on high calorie foods.

Let's be honest who doesn't want to curl up with a big bowl of mac and cheese on a cold dark night and watch bad TV?

The truth is you can have your lazy and indulgent days... but earn them! If we regularly allow ourselves to overindulge and sink into bed when the sun goes down we'll be setting ourselves up for a long depressing winter.


Here are some helpful tips to stay healthy, happy and motivated all through the grueling winter months.

1. Get some daylight ASAP
A dark house is an invitation to get back in bed. As soon as you get up open the curtains and let in whatever light from outside shine in. If it's not too cold open a window and get some fresh air to wake up all your senses. Keeping yourself in the dark can contribute to SAD (seasonal affective disorder), which we definitely don’t want to do!

2. Eat breakfast
Get off on the right foot by preparing a healthy breakfast for yourself each morning. A nutritious meal in the morning will rev up your metabolism and set you up to make healthy decisions throughout the day.

3. Bundle up and get out
Put your warmest winter wear to good use. Pile on your hat, scarf, coat and gloves and get moving outside. Your brain may not like it but make your feet take you there.

4. Tune into your tunes
Play your favorite tunes to distract you from the cold or blast them indoors to make house work more fun. Music has incredible power over moods.

5. Evening Activity
Plan to take part in an afternoon or evening group activity. This is the perfect time to register for that painting class you've always wanted to do or try something new like a spinning or dance class. Group activities keep you engaged in your community and now there is no excuse to run home right after work.