AACT-NOW!(African American Community Takes New Outreach Worldwide) is an exciting initiative of NAMI NEW JERSEY to connect with NJ's African-American families affected by mental illness, mental health consumers, the faith community and mental health professionals to provide culturally competent support, education and advocacy. AACT-NOW! goals are to dispel the misconceptions surrounding mental illness and to create an anti-stigma environment for those seeking treatment.

Program Activities

 Formation of an African American Outreach Advisory Group composed of individuals from the African American Community including consumers, family members, clergy, mental health and other professionals.
 Development of AACT-NOW! - an initiative established to help African American families and those suffering from mental illness to promote awareness, provide resources and act as a support system.
 Community Outreach and Networking (fairs, conferences, festivals, etc.)
 Development of partnerships and jointly sponsored events.

Support Groups

Swing Phi Swing Donates to AACT-NOW

 Swing Phi Swing, a National Social Organization, presenting AACT-NOW an African American Mental Health Outreach a check in the amount of $1,200.00 for the outreach, resources and conferences on mental health that AACT-NOW provides to the church community as well as the surrounding communities on mental health. Outreach on mental health brings awareness and helps remove stigma connected with mental illness

L to R Sitting: Tiffany Mayers, Yvonne Pressley
L to R Standing: Dorothy Slaughter (Swing), Edina Brown, Pat Chalmers (Swing), LaVerne Wilson (Swing President), Cynthia Miles-Small (AACT-NOW Program Coordinator), and Jacquese Armstrong.

Past Events

2010 African American Conference on Mental Health

NAMI NJ's 2010 African American Conference on Mental Health
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Days Hotel & Conference Center
East Brunswick, NJ

2009 African American Conference on Mental Health

NAMI NEW JERSEY successfully presented an African American Conference on Mental Health in October 2009 at Rutgers University Labor Education Center in New Brunswick. Over 150 African American mental health professionals and families attended the conference.

Click to download the Keynote Presentation, "Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in the African American Communities", by King Davis, Ph.D., Professor and Robert Lee Sutherland Chair in Mental Health and Social Policy, the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work.

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Mental Health Campaign for the African American Community from SAMHSA

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), working in collaboration with the Ad Council and the Stay Strong Foundation, announced the launch of a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to raise awareness of mental health problems among young adults in the African American community.

Mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, are widespread in the U.S. and often misunderstood. According to SAMHSA, in 2008 there were an estimated 9.8 million adults aged 18 or older living with serious mental illness. Among adults, the prevalence of serious mental illness is highest in the 18 to 25 age group, yet this age group is also the least likely to receive services or counseling. In 2008, 6.0 percent of African Americans ages 18-25 had serious mental illness in the past year. Overall, only 58.7 percent of Americans with serious mental illness received care within the past 12 months and the percentage of African Americans receiving services is only 44.8 percent.

“Raising understanding and attention to these issues within the African American community will provide greater opportunities for those needing help to receive effective mental health services,” said Kathryn A. Power, Director of SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services.

Created pro bono by Grey Worldwide through the Ad Council, the campaign aims to promote acceptance of mental health problems within the African American community by encouraging, educating and inspiring young adults to step up and talk openly about mental health problems. The television, radio, print and Web ads feature real personal stories of African Americans dealing with mental health problems, and they aim to engage those in the community to support young adults who need help. The PSAs direct audiences to visit a new website, www.storiesthatheal.samhsa.gov, where they can learn more about mental health problems and how to get involved.

“According to our research and the leading mental health experts, young adults with mental health problems are more likely to seek help if social acceptance is broadened and they receive support and services early on,” said Peggy Conlon, president & CEO of the Ad Council. “We are proud to continue our partnership with SAMHSA to address these issues in the African American community and help create the necessary societal change that will decrease the negative attitudes that surround mental illness, and ultimately inspire those who want help to get it.”

Terrie M. Williams, MSW, co-founder of The Stay Strong Foundation, collaborated on the development of the Web videos and PSA materials and serves as a campaign spokesperson. The Stay Strong Foundation works to support, educate and inspire African American youth through a series of programs and events that are designed to raise awareness of teen issues, promote the personal well-being of young people and enhance their educational and professional development.

“It is the work of the Stay Strong Foundation and my personal mission to educate everyone, and in particular the African American community, about depression and its impact on our communities,” said Williams. “Every day so many of us wear the “mask” of wellness that hides our pain from the world. Now is the time to identify and name our pain—minus the myths and the stigmas—and seek the help so many of us need.”

SAMHSA’s Campaign for Mental Health Recovery partners include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Mental Health, state mental health agencies, leading researchers on stigma and a broad coalition of stakeholders, including organizations that represent provider organizations and consumer and family member groups. The Campaign held a series of regional meetings to develop a grassroots network to support the Campaign and provide assistance with anti-stigma efforts to states and local communities.

A resource guide entitled, “Developing a Stigma Reduction Initiative,” is also a part of the campaign and is based on the evaluation and lessons learned from the Elimination of Barriers Initiative. The guide provides information on how to mount a statewide anti-stigma campaign, examples of outreach materials, reports on the best practices for stigma reduction, and lists important resources for technical assistance. Copies of the guide can be downloaded at mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/sma06-4176/ or by calling SAMHSA’s Health Information Network at 1-877-SAMHSA7. SAMHSA also maintains a national technical assistance center called the ADS Center (Resource Center to Promote Acceptance, Dignity, and Social Inclusion) to help States, communities, and individuals get the necessary information and resources to counter misperceptions, prejudice and discrimination associated with mental illnesses. For more information, visit www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov.

“In general, mental health problems are difficult to talk about,” said Rob Baiocco, EVP and managing partner of Grey New York. “But the second someone opens up and tells their specific personal story you instantly realize what they are dealing with. It’s such an immediate, intuitive and emotional understanding. And from that understanding comes the healing.

Related link:
NAMI African American Community Mental Health Fact Sheet

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