#99 - Good Morning America Features Lupus Thursday, August 31st

Great News from the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.

Public awareness of lupus will get a giant boost on Thursday, August 31 when representatives of the Lupus Foundation of America appear on ABC's Good Morning America between 8:30 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Dr. Susan Manzi, a member of the LFA Medical-Scientific Advisory Council, will present an overview of the medical aspects of lupus. Kelly Drury, a member of the LFA, Illinois Chapter Board of Directors and a national spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation of America, will discuss her personal case of lupus and explain to Good Morning America's nearly six million viewers the serious impact lupus can have on individuals and families.

This is an excellent opportunity to bring urgently needed national attention to lupus.

Please share this message with others and encourage them to watch Good Morning America next Thursday, August 31 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.

Message sent by:

Lupus Foundation of AmericaNational
Office2000
L Street NW,
Suite 710
Washington, DC 20036
www.lupus.orginfo@lupus.org

#96 - URGENT: Suicide Hotline Number Update

1-800-SUICIDE Hotline Set to Shut Down on Saturday August 12

The nation's largest suicide hotline, 1-800-SUICIDE, is scheduled to go out of service this Saturday, August 12, 2006. There are currently negotiations in progress that may prevent this. However, in the event that these negotiations are not successful, NAMI is issuing this alert to raise public awareness of the alternative for those in need of help.

The alternative number for those in crisis is 1-800-273-TALK. This number will put callers in touch with the federally-funded National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a service that has been in operation since January, 2005. It functions as a central switchboard to immediately connect callers to virtually the same network of certified, local crisis centers accessed by 1-800-SUICIDE. So callers can receive counseling or emergency services, if needed, close to home.
All calls to the 1-800-273-TALK Lifeline are private and confidential. Confidentiality of personal information and of personal disclosures during calls is a high priority for the parties involved in operating the Lifeline.

The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is working with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the entire suicide prevention community to ensure that every call for help during a suicide crisis is answered. Some of the measures being put in place include:

Ensuring that the entire suicide-prevention community is working the phones and Internet to make sure that all referring agencies know that 1-800-273-TALK is the number to call for suicide intervention.

Notifying service providers, including directory 411 and 211 operators, that 1-800-SUICIDE is scheduled to go out of service beginning August 12, 2006 and to direct callers to 1-800-273-TALK for help.

Redirecting callers who call 1-800-SUICIDE to call 1-800-273-TALK through a recording.
As a part of this effort, NAMI will participate in a meeting with SAMHSA and its other partner groups on Friday afternoon, August 11, and we will issue an update afterwards if there is additional information to share.

NAMI urges you to help distribute this alert in your community. Together, we can ensure that every call for help is answered.

Thank you,

Michael J. Fitzpatrick, MSWExecutive DirectorNAMI

NAMI E-News Alerts are electronic newsletters provided free of charge as a public service. With more than 1,100 state and local affiliates, NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with severe mental illnesses. Contributions to support our work can be made online.

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#95 - More Fun with Neurology

Back in the neurologist's office today.

Mabel the migraine monster kicked me down hard really bad yesterday.

So the Frova did not work as hoped.

I had an MRI with dye contrast this morning in which I was given an iv and had dye squirted into me.

Then I was marched over to the "infusion room" for another treatment with another new medication.

Loretta meet Depakote, and Depakote meet Loretta.

They hooked up an IV line and squirted some of that stuff in me.

And now I take Depakote for three consecutive days.

I am starting to feel like a pin cusion.

If you poke me too hard I'll squirt.

RESOURCES:

DEPAKOTE ER - Home