Cindy Forehand, Author at NAMI-Tallahassee

Get Training to Help Fight for Medicaid Expansion

Cindy Forehand2020-12-02T16:28:28-05:00

Fighting for Medicaid Expansion: NAMI’s Florida Mental Health Advocacy Coalition (FMHAC) joins Health Care for Florida Coalition
With many of our daily routines gone in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, it can be difficult for some individuals to cope with the new normal. According to the CDC, social distancing can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness that can increases chances of or worsen anxiety and depression. This is why it is important now more than ever for individuals have access to resources they need to support and treat their mental health, especially in the most severe cases. Advocating for Medicaid expansion is one way to ensure the availability of these resources for all.

Florida Mental Health Advocacy Coalition (FMHAC) is a statewide organization that functions as an advocacy component of NAMI Florida in collaboration with Mental Health America. One of the main initiatives FMHAC takes is to promote Medicaid expansion, believing that the impact of expansion can allow currently unserved low-income adults to receive healthcare and eliminate the limited, lengthy and difficult process uninsured adults face to receive potential Medicaid healthcare. Recently FMHAC has joined the Health Care for Florida Coalition to further and strengthen advocacy efforts to improve the lives of those with mental illness and demonstrate to legislators just how important access to mental health resources is.
You as well can help with spreading this message to Florida legislators. NAMI Smarts for Advocacy is offering training in the NAMI Tallahassee sector! By joining our advocacy efforts, you can help promote Medicaid expansion and ensure a future where everyone gets the opportunity for recovery and support.

Please contact us at admin@nami-tallahassee.org if you are interested

Get Training to Help Fight for Medicaid ExpansionCindy Forehand2020-12-02T16:28:28-05:00

Mental Health Workshops for LCS Parents

Cindy Forehand2020-12-02T16:36:43-05:00

Leon County Schools is partnering with Capital Regional Medical Center to provide Mental Health Workshops for LCS Parents

Two December workshops will be presented via Facebook Live covering topics designed to help parents be on the lookout for signs and symptoms that their child may be experiencing depression, anxiety or increased stress. Each presentation will be led by an expert in the field and begin at 6:00pm live on the Leon County School’s Facebook Page. The presenters will cover important information and then take facilitated questions from online participants.

“I have visited every one of our schools and have seen first-hand the impact that this pandemic is having on the mental well-being of our students. We are focused on working with our community partners to provide support and resources to our families and these workshops are another example of that commitment,” said Superintendent Rocky Hanna.

Rachel Stiles
Director of Marketing/Public Relations
Capital Regional Medical Center
850-508-9407
Leon County Schools is partnering with Capital Regional Medical Center to provide Mental Health Workshops for LCS Parents

Mental Health Workshops for LCS ParentsCindy Forehand2020-12-02T16:36:43-05:00

A Tool For Emotional Well Being

Cindy Forehand2020-11-12T19:54:12-05:00

Will Boynton wrote in this week to share his journey with learning to play Bridge and how it became a tool for his emotional well-being:

“I already know how to play bridge!” I complained to my Grandmother.

I had just come out of the hospital, finally for the first time admitted I needed help, and accepted treatment. My world was very much still spinning. Bridge lessons were not what I really wanted at that time.

My Grandmother and my Mother exchanged looks and laughed at each other. “I got you bridge lessons for your birthday. If you already know how to play bridge, then you’ll breeze through them.”

Suddenly a little unsure of myself, I let out a deep breath of exasperation, but I went. I had no idea the lessons she had gotten me for my birthday would transform my life. I discovered I didn’t know the first thing about bridge and to say, “I know how to play bridge,” did nothing but betray my ignorance. You see, nobody really knows how to play bridge, but it’s fun. We can improve our game of bridge while having a blast doing it, but nobody really knows or perfects the game. It’s an ever-evolving game. Stretching your memory and ability to pick up nuances, it’s a blend of some math and some language, some memory, some deductive reasoning, and even some mood.

Bridge became my crutch. It exercised my brain in just the right way it needed to be. I connected with the older generation feeling like an old soul myself. These people didn’t sweat the small stuff; they just wanted to enjoy their remaining years around each other playing the game they loved and it was refreshing to me. They genuinely cared for me too, loving having some young energy around them. Bridge quickly came to mean much, much more than just some passing fad of a game to me. It became a facet of my life that will always be there for me. I am eternally grateful to my Grandmother for many things, but nothing probably compares to introducing me to the game of bridge. I am beyond excited; I feel blessed to be able to offer these classes to the mental health community.

If bridge means half of what it means to me to even just a couple people, these classes will be well worth it!

Will is offering lessons to members of our community who are interested in learning this classic game. Playing Bridge helps exercise rational thinking, memory, strategy, concentration, awareness, deduction, social skills, and communication as well as giving a means to measure yourself on a day-by-day basis AND IT’S FUN!!!

For more information, email w_boynton@yahoo.com.

A Tool For Emotional Well BeingCindy Forehand2020-11-12T19:54:12-05:00

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Big Bend

Cindy Forehand2020-11-12T19:52:31-05:00

Sign your child up for a Mentor today!

Go to bigbendmentoring.org, click Enroll a Child.
Our staff will contact you to answer any questions and send enrollment forms.
We will match your child with a mentor who will meet with them virtually (via zoom or facetime) at least once a week to help with school work, reading, or just talk about life challenges.
Contact Melanie@bbbsbigbend.org for more info.

All volunteers are background checked!
This service is FREE to you!
Our Staff will guide and support you throughout the life of the match!

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Big BendCindy Forehand2020-11-12T19:52:31-05:00

About Cindy Forehand

Our Mission

A Registered Non-profit