NAMI Rockland

08/07/2025

Today is National Purple Heart Day, observed annually on August 7 each year to honor the sacrifices of military personnel who have been wounded or killed in combat. The Purple Heart is a military decoration established by George Washington in 1782. It is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are injured or killed while serving. The day serves as a reminder of the bravery and sacrifices made by service members.

As a whole, veterans suffer from high rates of mental health conditions, including PTSD, depression, and substance use. Suicides among veterans increased 10-fold from 2006 to 2020.
New treatment strategies are desperately needed.

NAMI Rockland reminds our bravest survivors that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. If you have residual issues from your service, please seek help! We are here to help.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.

07/07/2025

Get your running shoes ready! Our annual 5K Walk/Run for Mental Wellness is set for Sunday, Sept. 14 at Rockland Lake. Our registration page is now live! We can't wait to see you on race day!

NAMI Rockland 5K Run and Walk 2025 Rockland Lake State Park, Rockland Lake Road, Valley Cottage, NY - Join us on September 14th for NAMI Rockland’s 5K annual Run… - September 14, 2025

07/03/2025

SAVE THE DATE: Our annual 5K Walk/Run for Mental Wellness will on Sunday, Sept. 14. More information about the event will be announced on Monday, July 7.

07/03/2025

In observance of Independence Day, NAMI Rockland will be closed tomorrow. Our HelpLine volunteers will not be answering calls, but messages can be left and will be monitored. If you are in need of immediate help, call 988. If it is a medical emergency, please call 911.

From our NAMI family to yours, have safe and enjoyable weekend.

06/21/2025

Congratulations Elena Lavalas, for being recognized for her volunteer efforts by the Rockland County Legislature

06/11/2025

Join us on Wednesday, June 18 at 6PM for our Annual Meeting, featuring Keynote Speaker Abraham Thengampallil, MD, MPH (Medical Director – Middletown & Putnam Clinics).

Register now at https://namirockland.org/event/nami-rockland-annual-meeting-2025/

This will be a hybrid meeting, and will be broadcast over Zoom and in-person at the Nanuet Library.

06/05/2025

Reminder:
Family Support Group MONDAY NIGHT!
For family and friends of adults living with mental health concerns.

7 PM - 8 PM Via Zoom

Email info@namirockland.org for the link.

06/05/2025

Please join our community partner tomorrow at Nyack Memorial Park and show your support by wearing orange.

05/21/2025

NAMI ROCKLAND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
TOWN HALL
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82964608488

Join us TONIGHT Wednesday, May 21st at 7PM for a special Town Hall program for Mental Health Awareness Month.

This virtual event will feature GUEST SPEAKERS:
Dr. Susan Hoerter, DO (Acting Commissioner of the Rockland County Department of Mental Health)
and James Norton (Government and Community Affairs Manager for NAMI New York State).

Dr. Susan Hoerter maintains dual board-certification in General Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry. She completed her residency and fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center where she served as Chief Resident. A graduate of North Rockland High School, she returned to Rockland after completing her child psychiatry fellowship and began working for the Department of Mental Health in the outpatient clinic as a child psychiatrist. Dr. Hoerter then became Medical Director of RCDMH, was later appointed as the Acting Commissioner in 2020, and continues in that role today.

James Norton joined NAMI in 2025 as the Government and Community Affairs Manager after having spent 10+ years at the intersection of behavioral health and justice. Including roles with the State of New York, State of Vermont, NYS Senate, AHEC, EMS, Public Safety, and Fire. He has focused mainly on the opioid crisis and still works with Recovery centers and Harm Reduction groups. James also continues to work as an adjunct professor of criminal justice and volunteer local politics.

05/19/2025

Actress Alessandra Torresani talks about the importance of mental health, supporting others and why she cares about Mental Health Month.
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If you or a loved one is seeking mental health treatment or additional information on mental health:
• Visit our website at NAMI.org.
• Call our HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “HELPLINE” to 62640, open Mon-Fri from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Find your local NAMI at nami.org/findsupport
• If you or a loved one is experiencing a crisis, please call or text 988, available 24/7

https://youtu.be/E4LuMxY8Uhk?si=fnNoG7DMWoUZswGN

Actress Alessandra Torresani talks about the importance of mental health, supporting others and why she cares about Mental Health Month.-If you or a loved on...

05/16/2025

Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, NJ begins new program offering Sensory Friendly Screenings for individuals with sensory sensitivities.

To be accessible and inclusive for these individuals and their families, these screenings:

-Will have no trailers or advertisements
-Will have the sound turn down to a lower volume
-Lights will be turned up
-Quiet conversations will be allowed during the screenings

Aspiring musician Miguel, confronted with his family's ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer.