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For
immediate release November 14, 2001
Contact:
Irene S. Levine, Ph.D.
Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research
914 398-6503
e-mail: levinei@nki.rfmh.org
Orangeburg, NY - Life as we once knew it changed dramatically
on September 11th. Many individuals were directly affected
by the tragic events that occurred that day, losing relatives,
friends or jobs. Tens of millions of others were touched
in more indirect ways as fear, anxiety, and shock gripped
our nation. What was once unprecedented, unthinkable,
unimaginable became the reality of life for Americans---including
individuals with serious mental illness.
At
the annual educational conference of the National Alliance
for the Mentally Ill for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) of NYS,
held at the Westchester Marriott on November 2-4th, Dr.
Irene S. Levine, Research Scientist and Liaison to Families
at NKI and a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the NYU
School of Medicine, reviewed research on the effects of
trauma on persons with serious mental illness.
Drawing
upon research conducted after other disasters (Hurricane
Andrew, the Loma Prieta Earthquake in San Francisco, and
the Gulf War in Israel), Levine noted that people with
mental illness more often than not "rise to the occasion,"
and even perform heroically. Nonetheless she stressed
that the barrage of recent chemical, nuclear and biological
threats and terror alerts merit concern and attention
by families who have a relative with mental illness.
Dr.
Levine presented "Seven Tips for Families of Persons with
Serious Mental Illness" to help reduce stress and prevent
exacerbations of existing illness.
Commenting,
Dr. Robert Cancro, Director of NKI and Chair of the Department
of Psychiatry at NYU noted, "It is obvious that severe
stress can disrupt stability in people, including those
who are severely mentally ill. Families need to make sure
that these individuals receive prompt support and have
their medication readjusted, if necessary."
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Located on the grounds of Rockland Psychiatric Center,
The Nathan Kline Institute is a facility of the New York
State Office of Mental Health that is nationally and internationally
renown for its pioneering contributions to psychiatric
research.
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