America's Mental Health Care System in Shambles

By Art Levine, The American Prospect
Posted on July 26, 2008, Printed on July 28, 2008
http://www.alternet.org/story/92406/

It
may seem arcane, but the reimbursement and spending priorities of
government health agencies can literally have life and death
consequences for people with mental illness. Just ask the family of
Carolyn Howard, who was bludgeoned to death in 2005 on her front lawn
by her adult son Keith, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.

The
tragedy unfolded after the Florida Medicaid program abruptly dropped
Zyprexa, the expensive antipsychotic medication upon which Keith Howard
had depended, from its formulary of approved drugs. As a result, Howard
was hospitalized twice in the two months before the killing, having
heard voices telling him his mother conspired with murderers like Lee
Harvey Oswald. An investigation by The Orlando Sentinel last year found
that Howard was prescribed substitute medications but that they didn't
help. Today, compelling federally funded studies question, in general,
the effectiveness of such "second generation" antipsychotic medications
as Zyprexa; these drugs, although they may work for certain individuals
like Howard, also pose health risks like diabetes while boosting
Medicaid's antipsychotic drug costs 10-fold in barely a decade. But
Florida's inflexible, ham-handed approach to cost cutting, as opposed
to more humane cost-effectiveness strategies in a few other states,
shows the devastating impact of shortsighted budgetary policies.

Kennedy’s mental-health bill on fast track

Rep. Patrick
J. Kennedy’s signature mental-health bill has found a legislative
vehicle that could speed its progress through the Senate, where the
measure has been on hold for weeks.

The chairman of the
tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.,
announced Friday that he has added the mental-health parity bill to a
package of tax-relief measures likely to receive full Senate
consideration soon.

Rhode Island Democrat Kennedy and Rep. Jim
Ramstad, R-Minn., are the principal House sponsors of a bill that would
require insurance companies to cover mental-health insurance claims on
an equal footing with claims for the treatment of physical ailments or
injuries — hence the term “parity.”

The two men fashioned their
bill after a series of hearings around the country last year. They
dramatized their drive for parity by highlighting their personal
experiences in recovery — from mental illness, drug addiction and
alcoholism in Kennedy’s case, and from alcoholism in Ramstad’s.

From Gerald Butler: The Consumer Conference

7/26/2008

July 24^th, the day of the Consumer Conference, still seems
like a pleasant dream to me. What’s really hip about conferences put
on by consumers is that the keynote speaker, the workshops, the speeches,
all have to do with issues that affect our everyday lives. This year’s
event was even better than last year’s, in fact it seems whoever is
staging this event has gotten it down to a fine art. My favorite
part is the camaraderie’: there is nothing better than to be in a
room of hundreds of people who think and feel just like you do, and
who walk daily in the same shoes as you. We get to see old friends and
welcome new ones aboard the freedom train. The amount of healing and
growth that occur at these events is immeasurable.

If there is one thing we have grown to accept, it’s broken promises.
So two years ago when Janet Olszewski (Director,
Michigan Department of Community Health)
promised her support for our cause the general feeling was ‘We’ll
believe it when we see it’. Almost immediately there was an increase
in Peer Support trainings. We now have The Virtual Center of Excellence,
support for the Recovery Council has increased, and among other great
things: the Michigan Department of Community Mental Health Boards has
come up with new initiatives centered solely on our recovery. None of
this would be possible without Ms. Olszewski opening doors and pulling
strings. The other day I got a hug from her and it occurred to me that
she cares about our plight from deep within her heart and that makes
us all winners.

The Clubhouses are hubs of growth for us and it is sad to see that one
has to close as in the case of the Fisher Clubhouse. However, there
are plans in the works to change that poison into medicine. Recovery
requires a ‘returning’ to who we were prior to the onset of disease.
During the Civil Rights movement Martin Luther King coined the phrase
"limitations to our achievements" and today in reference
to folks in recovery the equivalent phrase is “capability depravation’.
Both of which refer to a systematic denial of a peoples right to be
the best they can be. Thanks to Joe Tardella and Southwest Solutions,
Shirley Cockrell and Go-Getters will be moving into the building formerly
occupied by Fisher Clubhouse. We will be establishing the ‘Recovery
Center of Creativity’. (RCC). Utilizing Peer Support
and the Recovery Enhancing Environment model, (developed
by the Recovery Council)
we will provide a place where artists will work and grow in an atmosphere
conducive to creativity and recovery. The RCC will then assist consumers
in showcasing their accomplishments, often along with the Recovery Band.

Years ago, around the same time I attended my first Consumer Conference,
Pam Werner (Michigan Department
of Community Health) was
accentuating the concept ‘”Believe it, achieve it’” My dream
was to one day provide the entertainment at that event. When I was asked
to do just that for this years Consumer Conference all I could think
was that dreams can come true if you really believe in them, and then
work to find those who believe in you enough to help you achieve your
goals of freedom and independence. I spent years trying to do my recovery
based on criteria set by those who had never walked in my shoes. The
leaders in the system who helped me the most in my recovery are those
who did and said things that caused me to enhance the recovery that
was already inside of me. They then offered me their praise and support.

The Recovery
Band P

Arise Detroit is a group of over 300 community based organizations organized
by Luther Keith (Detroit
News writer/retired). For
the second year in a row Arise Detroit is sponsoring ‘Neighborhoods
Day’. This is a day when hundreds of groups from around the city simultaneously
hold Block Parties’. The ‘Recovery Band’ is proud to have been
invited once again to participate in this event. This demonstrates that
people in recovery are not only capable of doing great things, but also
can succeed at giving back to the community. The spot where we will
be performing is Luce Park, which is located on Luce Street and St.
Louis, south of 6 Mile, between Mt. Elliott St. and Mound. Road. We
will begin playing around 12:00 PM. August 2^nd.
Then on August 7^th we will be playing the 1^st
Annual Tri-County Consumers Rights Conference. This will take place
at 2601 W. Big Beaver Rd, Troy Mi. This conference promises to be very
informative when it comes to consumer issues and will offer insight
into how we feel about the current system of treatment and recovery.
Hope to see you at at least one of these events.

Gerald Butler

Peer Support
Specialist

Patient Voices: Bipolar Disorder

What is it like to have bipolar disorder? To be labeled "crazy"? How do
you balance the ups and downs? Here, in their own words, are the
stories of nine men and women living with bipolar disorder.

The Recovery Council

from Gerald Butler:

7/19/2008

The ‘Recovery Council’ is a group of consumers from all over the
State chosen by the Michigan Department of Community Health
to advise on the system of treatment and recovery. My first thoughts
were that the council was business as usual and we were merely for show.
I was pleasantly surprised to see our hopes and dreams become state
policy. Consumers were finally being heard. The fun part is looking
back years ago when Irene Kazieczko and Pam Werner (MDCH) were struggling to bring Person Centered
Planning and realizing how, due to their efforts, Michigan is becoming
a national model when it comes to consumer involvement in the recovery
process. Because I work from the street level, (Clubhouses
& Drop In Centers)
I am well aware of the effect ‘Policy’ has on the daily lives of
consumers. Today, the word on the street is “Peer Support”.

At Friday’s ‘Recovery Council’ meeting Mike Head (Deputy Dir. Mental Health & Substance Abuse) gave us ‘A Little Perspective’.
After hearing his bio, I finally realized what makes him so unique.
Mike has been working in the system for a very long time and started
from the lower rungs and worked his way up. Having worked on the streets
he knows our wants and desires, and he obviously knows the system from
an administrative point of view. I wish I had room for all the items
that Mike spoke on, but here are 3 of 13 key points:
1) Michigan’s mental health system is a statewide opportunity,
not an insurance plan, 2) Employment is critical to self esteem and
ones role in the world 3) develop a zero tolerance attitude to poor
care, to responses to other human beings that do not recognize personal
dignity. If you ever see Mike be sure to shake his hand because
even good administrators need encouragement.

The bottom line is that we have true friends in Lansing opening doors
for us. All they ask in return is for us to have a belief in ourselves,
and that recovery is possible. A sort of side bar to the council meetings
is that we have become very close to being family, and these meetings
are an opportunity to catch up on each others lives. Mary Beth bought
photos of her new baby, Nancy received her bachelors’ degree, Sherri
is still proudly heading the WRAP programs, and Tammy looks great and
is doing even better. As a consumer, if you ever come across a Recovery
Council paper, you’ll know that it’s not the same issues, worded
differently. It will be something done by folks who have walked and
still walk in our shoes. The Council presents to MDCH the concerns of
daily life with an illness, and in turn MDCH helps us deal with those
concerns. Administrators’ working side by side with consumers is a
textbook example of System Transformation.

The Consumer Conference is this week and the excitement is in the air,
particularly for the ‘Recovery Band’. Something indescribable
happens to us that promotes our feeling better about ourselves long
before the actual gig. That may be due to our knowing that the folks
we will be playing for happen to walk, talk, and feel, just like us.
The Recovery Band feels both blessed and honored to be able to entertain
at this event, and so we will be at our best. The main thing is that
the states most ardent consumer advocates will be presenting at this
event. So if you can’t attend this conference or send a representative,
you’ll be the one who misses out.

Gerald Butler

Michigan Recovery Council, Part 2

Presentation on Morbidity and Mortality of People with Mental Illness

People with Serious Mental health issues ie 25 years earlier than other people. Recently, this rate has increased. Part of this is a lack of primary care for conditions like diabetes. There are also lifestyle issues like smoking.

Some evidence shows that the side-effects of meds produce some of these problems or make them more difficult to manage.

Access to primary care is a tremendous problem. Doctoprs don't talk to one another.

This needs to be priority public health issue. China raised their life expectency by 25 years in 11 years.

M&M in our community get no notice for the awful sickness and death rates. There is no outrage. We need to take the Executive Summary to every provider we meet. We all need to know more about our meds.Take notes during doc visits. Use the notes to support coordination. Peers need to be leaders in regard to modifiable life-style health factors. M&M reviews should be done for members of our community.

Drop-in centers can be leaders in wellness programs.

Michigan has taken a stand to support an entire curriculum on wellness.

Peers need to insert ourselves into the system in some public way.We owe this to our families, our friends, our children and grandchildren.

Michigan is piloting this curruculum for the nation.

What do we want to see in a health and wellness self-help group. What supports do we need? The program is 8 weeks long. The group also has a seperate activity each week. Specific goals aren't set until week six. Each seession starts out with relaxation.

The team has a packet to support change and recovery. It includes a relaxation CD, a pedometer, quotes, etc.

The Michigan Recovery Council Meeting: Part 1

July 18, 2008: 10 am to 3 pm

The meeting is being held at the Recovery Center for Excellence at the Guidance Center at 13111 Allen in Southgate. There is a good crowd.

After introductions, Mike Head, the new Bureau Director for MI, DD, and Children's mental health. Mike said, "Self-Determination is a power shift". The most recent Self-determination training program showed the promise that SD has for people with mental illness if they are supported in building the lives they want.

Priorities:

• Mental Health Commission Follow-up
• Quality and fairness in access
• Assure quality in state facilities
• Expand consumer and advocate participation
• Expand employment
  
• Assure access to health care

One core goal is a Re-commitment and Renewal process for all PIHPs.

Employment is a real weakness. Many paths must be available to people for work, from micro-enterprises, mentoring, supported employment, self-determined options, and competitive employment.

Zero tolerance: No one written off; No violence in the name of safety and control; No dropping through cracks; Cost can't prevent us from aiming for excellence.

Recovery is a culture change. Can't change a little; the whole culture must change.

We need to talk about supports needed first, then use person centered planning to frame it; THEN talk about cost.

Where is the Recovery Council Going?

It is a toe-hold for recovery. We must start looking to the our future in the Council. Should the Council be independent?

Corrections is a terrible system to try to change.

Questioner asked for presentation on new Parity law.

ARH Psychiatric Center Opens New Recovery Mall

An idea for Michigan? Maybe as part of KRPH?

Depression and Bipolar Results Worth Striving For - A New Recovery Model For Mental Illness

It is possible to live an exceptional life with depression or
bipolar. The Bipolar Advantage Program is an integrated approach of
professional care that addresses your physical, mental, emotional,
spiritual, relationship, and career needs that can help you to set
realistic goals. Through better Education, Assessment, Treatment, and
most importantly Results Worth Striving For, the Advantage Program sets
the new standard of care in mental healthSan Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July
16, 2008 — Bipolar Advantage Inc. will be introducing a new integrated
recovery program called the “Advantage Program” on September 6, 2008.
“The days of thinking a diagnosis of bipolar disorder means living a
diminished life are over,” says company president Tom Wootton.”With
Education, Assessment, Treatment, and Results Worth Striving For, the
core principle of the Advantage Program is that mental conditions
affect our entire lives, so all aspects need to be addressed in an
integrated program. The Advantage Program addresses the physical,
mental, emotional, spiritual, relationship, and career needs of each
participant with an unprecedented coordination of the entire team of
professionals.”

The comprehensive, six-month intensive program utilizes a
professional team including medical, psychotherapeutic, relationship
coaching, spiritual counseling, peer support, Anthony Robbins
Coaching™, mind skills, fitness, and nutrition. The non-residential
program offers working professionals, students and others the chance to
fully participate through a series of workshops and individual sessions.

Michigan Disability Rights Coalition Board meeting

The next meeting of the MDRC governing board is July 24, 2008 from 4 pm to 6 pm.  The meeting will be held at the MDRC office at 3498 East Lake Lansing Rd., Suite 100, East Lansing, Michigan 48823.  Interested parties may attend.  Please let us know you are coming by calling 1-800-760-4600.

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

Integrating Palliative Care For Dementia Into Primary Care

Greg A. Sachs, M.D., has received an award from the National Palliative Care Research Center to conduct a study aimed at improving quality of life and decreasing suffering for older adults and their family caregivers. The award is one of only two pilot project support grants funded by NPCRC in 2008.

Dr. Sachs will evaluate the feasibility of incorporating an outpatient palliative care program for patients with dementia into the primary care setting. Dr. Sachs's multidisciplinary team will build on a successful model that he previously developed for a geriatrics specialty clinic. That model, the Palliative Excellence in Alzheimer Care Efforts (PEACE) Program, provided improved symptom management, enhanced family support, and assistance with difficult decision making.

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

Twenty No-Cost, or Low-Cost, Things You Can Do To Help Cope with Depression, Stress, Anxiety or Nerves

Twenty No-Cost, or Low-Cost, Things You Can Do To Help Cope with Depression, Stress, Anxiety or Nerves
Sue Bergeson, President, DBSA

If you are living with depression, stress or anxiety, it is important
that you see a professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Medication is an important part of a good treatment plan for most people.
The right medication will not change your personality or make you addicted.
However,
if you can not get in to see a doctor right away because of a long
waiting time, many of these strategies can help you cope.
Many of us also use these strategies in addition to our medication to help us move to recovery.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, it is very, very important that you call 911 and seek immediate help.

1. Sleep: Getting too much sleep or not getting enough sleep can affect your mood.
Try to go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time in the morning even if you don’t feel like it.
Use ear plugs to help muffle noises and other distractions to help you sleep.
Other tips to help you sleep include:

The Anxiety Community

This site is a forum-based community. It has over 5000 members. Worth a look.

In the Driver’s Seat: A Guide to Self-directed Mental Health Care

04/14/2008 | 224 Requests *

Summary

Here,
consumers and advocates can find information and tools needed for
effective self-directed mental health care. The guide summarizes the
goals of self-directed planning and the rights of the consumers. It
also lists strategies by states to support these services. Fact sheets
and questions-and-answers provide further information on financing,
eligibility, evaluation, planning, and support brokerage.

Author

Koyanagi, C.; Alfano, E.; Carty, L.

Available Files

• Guide PDF (1,041K, 40 pages)
• Order Print Copies () HTML

Keywords

Cash and Counseling; Eligibility; Independent Living; Medicaid; Person Centered Planning; 1915(b); partnership

Topic

Consumer Direction, Financing HCBS, Mental Health

Type/Tool

Manuals, Reports

Source

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

State

Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, All States/Territories

Date Created

06/24/2008

Contact

Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

pubs@bazelon.org
202-467-5730

Short URL

www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/doc/2285

Mad Pride 2008 Skyrocketing!

Mad Pride has been growing fast! Below are just a few of the Mad

Pride events this month in many nations.



Coverage in the Sunday New York Times, international events that draw

thousands of participants (Thank you, MindFreedom Ireland!), and the

skyrocketing enthusiasm of Mad Pride organizers, all point to the

great strides taken by this movement over the last six months. Mad

Pride celebrates the human rights to be different, and promotes human

rights in mental health.



According to MindFreedom's calendar of events, the second half of

2008 will see this trend continue.



Here is a brief look into a few Mad Pride 2008 events:



UNITED STATES:



This weekend, from July 11 - 13, 2008 at the Country Fair in Eugene,

Oregon, you can visit the "Doors of Expression" booth and uncover Mad

Pride at this famous, annual event.



Mental Patients Liberation Alliance holds 28th Annual Bastille Days

Demonstration, "HELP Stop Psychiatric Oppression." from July 11 - 14,

Albany, New York.



CANADA:



From July 14 - 20, Toronto will celebrate Mad Pride Week, including

their second annual bed push.



Through July 14, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Gallery Gachet is

holding panel discussions, performances, readings and film events to

celebrate "World Mad Pride."



AFRICA:



On July 14, MindFreedom Ghana is holding its third annual Mad Pride

event! This year's slogan: "UNITED AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN

MENTAL HEALTH"



On July 17, in Cape Town, South Africa, there will be a Mad Pride

Parade followed by a celebration and music.



UNITED KINGDOM:



On July 16, in Leeds, West Yorkshire, there will be music, poetry and

more, celebrating Mad Pride.



Bonkersfest 2008 will be held on July 19, in London. This is probably

the largest Mad Pride event in the UK (Last year it drew three

thousand participants!) and will be held at the site of the infamous

Bedlam Hospital.



For updates and more, visit our Mad Pride Campaign page:



http://www.mindfreedom.org/campaign/madpride



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



ACTION: Please forward this Mad Pride News to all of your mad and mad-

friendly friends, relatives and colleagues!

VIGIL TO MOURN THE LOSS OF MS. ESMIN ELIZABETH GREEN AND CONDEMN VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

July 25, 2008 VIGIL and Demonstration - Kings County Hospital

Center, Building G, New York, USA



Please POST



WE THE PEOPLE



Contact: Lauren J. Tenney, MA, MPA, Psychiatric Survivor FOR

IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cell: 516-319-4295

e-mail: lauren@theopalproject.org

website: http://www.theopalproject.org

http://tinyurl.com/green-vigil



WE THE PEOPLE Call for an End of Abuse, Torture, and Neglect in the

Wake of Ms. Green's Death While Detained at Kings County Hospital

Center's Psychiatric Emergency Room.



Advocates, human rights activists, and community members are holding

a vigil and demonstration to mourn the death of Ms. Esmin Elizabeth

Green. WE the PEOPLE are calling attention to the reported horrific

inactions and complete neglect that Ms. Green was subjected to while

detained at the Kings County Hospital Center's Psychiatric Emergency

Room, 451 Clarkson Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11203.



According to the Associated Press, after being involuntarily

committed to the institution, Ms. Green sat waiting for a bed to

become available for nearly 24 hours before she collapsed on to the

floor. She lay there helpless for nearly an hour until she received

medical attention, which came too late[i]. Further, according to the

New York Civil Liberties Union, facility staff possibly falsified

documents, stating that Ms. Green was "up and went to the bathroom"

and was "'sitting quietly in the waiting room' - more than 10 minutes

after she last moved"[ii]. The surveillance tape shown on CNN Video

portrays Ms. Green dying on the floor as people pass her by[iii]. In

fact, on the Internet, one can find a mass of comment on this tragedy

by individuals all over the world - a question repeatedly asked,

"Where is the humanity?"

Medicare Mental Health Parity Approved

Just a few days after reconvening from the July recess, the Senate
joined the House in passing the Medicare Improvements for Patients and
Providers Act of 2008 (H.R. 6331) by a veto-proof 69-30.
Less-publicized than the provision that would halt a payment cut for
physicians providing treatment to Medicare patients is new equity
between mental health and medical coverage.

When enacted, the
bill will end a longstanding requirement that affects Medicare
beneficiaries who need outpatient mental health services. Currently,
they face a discriminatory 50% co-insurance for outpatient
psychotherapy and services furnished by non-physician mental health
professionals (20% for prescription and monitoring of medications to
treat mental illness). In contrast, other outpatient health services
require only a 20% co-payment.

The present outdated and unfair
higher co-payment for mental health services has served as an incentive
to use inpatient or institutional care instead of outpatient services.
It has also led seniors and people with disabilities who rely on
Medicare to forgo needed mental health treatment.

From CMH News

__________________________________________

CMHS CONSUMER AFFAIRS E-NEWS JULY 9, 2008
___________________________________________



Cash and Counseling Program Works Well for Mental Health Consumers

A recent study published in The Gerontologist examined how Cash and Counseling---a self-directed care approach allowing consumers to choose and pay for services and supports---meets their personal care needs and affects their well being. Comparisons involving elderly consumers with and without mental health diagnoses who had been a part of the Cash and Counseling Demonstration Evaluation in Arkansas were done. Several outcome measures were examined including satisfaction with care arrangements and the paid caregiver’s reliability and schedule, unmet needs, and satisfaction with the relationship with the paid caregiver.

Researchers found that Cash and Counseling works well for persons with mental health diagnoses. In fact, those with mental health diagnoses who participated in Cash and Counseling fared better than those receiving traditional treatment.  A consumer-directed service option can be a valuable alternative for persons with mental health needs.

See http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/2280 for further information on the study---Does Mental Illness Affect Consumer Direction of Community-Based Care?  Lessons From the Arkansas Cash and Counseling Program, The Gerontologist, Vol. 48, No. 1 pp. 93-104.  Partial funding for the development of this article came from the Administration on Aging and the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.


___________________________________________

To access our archived E-News Click Here

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

“Shuffling Toward Mental Health Parity”

There are two positions in the Congress on equal coverage for mental health problems. This free editorial explains the issue, where the legislation is now and, below, the editors’ conclusions.
New England Journal of Medicine
“For half a century, advocates and reformers have sought to ensure that mental illnesses are addressed in the same way as all other illnesses. Considerable progress has been made, and today treatment of mental disorders is increasingly part of the medical mainstream. But some glaring exceptions remain. One of the most visible and troubling manifestations of continuing unequal treatment of mental health conditions can be found in the structure of health insurance contracts. For a mental illness, most private health insurance contracts impose special limits on the amount of treatment they will pay for. The federal Medicare program and many private insurers impose much higher cost sharing for mental health treatment than for physical health treatment. Continued calls for parity — equal insurance coverage of mental and other medical conditions — seek to redress this inequity.”
…. “The evidence from the existing parity plans suggests a possible compromise between the House and Senate positions.

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

Update: Jane Gross emailed me on the Fourth of July to enthusiastically invite “your readers — direct care workers, supervisors or anyone else” to contribute to her blog. This is a great opportunity to talk to long-term care consumers and family members about the challenges and rewards and importance of direct-care work. Maybe we can raise a little consciousness, even recruit some valuable allies for the quality care through quality jobs movement. — Elise A new blog by New York Times health writer Jane Gross (pictured) provides a fascinating window into the world of family caregivers, including their thoughts about direct-care workers.

Update: Jane Gross emailed me on the Fourth of July to enthusiastically invite “your readers — direct care workers, supervisors or anyone else” to contribute to her blog. This is a great opportunity to talk to long-term care consumers and family members about the challenges and rewards and importance of direct-care work. Maybe we can raise a little consciousness, even recruit some valuable allies for the quality care through quality jobs movement. — Elise
A new blog by New York Times health writer Jane Gross (pictured) provides a fascinating window into the world of family caregivers, including their thoughts about direct-care workers.


Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

Podcast: Uninsured Workers and America’s Most Dangerous Job

“This workforce is uninsured at a rate of twice the general population,” says Carol Regan, director of the PHI Health Care for Health Care Workers campaign, of direct-care workers in long-term care services. “Yet they’re much more likely to be injured or sick on the job. They have the highest rate of injury and illness of any workforce: higher than truckers, higher than roofers, higher than miners. Which is astonishing.”
Regan outlines the health care dilemma faced by direct-care workers in a seven-and-a-half-minute podcast about The Invisible Care Gap, a recent publication from HCHCW.


Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

Busy, busy busy

 Our sensitive overlords at the National Center for Trauma-Informed Care are holding a conference this weekend; their 3rd in a series spanning two decades. I must be in pretty bad shape to consider this good news, but beneath the layers of shmooze and self-congratulation must lie some potential toward changing hearts and minds in the bureaucracies they toy with. That’s what I tell myself, looking over the program schedule (PDF), which kicks off July 10 with a private all-day Consumer/Survivor/ Peer/Expert Meeting to develop a National Consensus Statement on Trauma-Informed Care. Heaven knows it is time for that or something like it.
From the pink flower-embossed, healing brochure:
The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) has been sponsoring conferences that have defined the agenda of what needs to be done to recognize, understand, spark, and speed the healing and recovery process from violence and trauma.

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

Dark night of the soul

On occasion I get some very moving correspondence from people from all walks of life, from all over the world about my videos and writings.
This post is more about the specifics of processing yourself with meditation. I try to answer questions as honestly as I can and shed some light on the phenomena of experiencing regressions, worsening and mental instability caused by meditation practice.
A recent correspondent sent me substantial background story about their mental health situation and the problems they were facing daily. This person found me from my youtube vids and I assume they know about my recovery strategies because this person wanted to know more about it and what to expect.


Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

Discover and Recover

Its description -  
International, non-profit, community based organization founded in 1937 by the late Neuropsychiatrist Abraham A. Low, MD.

Its mission -
To provide an effective, compassionate path to self-managed recovery from mental illness, behavioral disorders and chronic stress

 Its meetings  -
Peer-led weekly group meetings offer a system of self-help techniques which members learn and then practice in their daily life.
The techniques demonstrated at the weekly meetings are knows as the Recovery ‘Method’.

Information from contact with the organization:
Recovery, Inc. does not push medication.  In fact, discussion about medicine, religion or politics is not allowed.
The meetings are at no-cost with a free-will offering to offset expenses.

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

National Call-in Day for Mental Health Parity Wednesday July 9th!

National Call-in Day for Mental Health Parity Wednesday July 9^th! Your help is urgently needed to help pass Mental Health Parity this session!

The US House of Representatives and the Senate negotiators have reached a final agreement on all the remaining mental health and addiction parity issues. However, approximately $4 billion over 10 years in offsets is needed to pay for the bill and must be found before parity can be brought to the floor in both chambers for final passage. Once an offset has been found, there is commitment from leadership in the House and the Senate to bring the bill up for a vote as quickly as possible.

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/