Clearing the Chaos on ADVANCE for Nurses

 

Frightening. Consuming. Debilitating. Stigmatizing.

These are words Tayla Lewis uses to describe living with mental illness.

"There is one disease, however, that is the epitome of stigma," said Lewis, a middle-age Philadelphia women. "I happen to be one of the people to whom the label was attached.

"When I was 16, I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD)."

Since then, Lewis has been trying to navigate the mental health system with varying degrees of success.

At a recent conference for psychiatric nurses in Philadelphia, Lewis told a standing-room audience her story. For more than 5 years, she was "incarcerated" - her words for the hospitalizations that lasted from 3 months to a year at a time…….

Clearing the Chaos on ADVANCE for Nurses

Family Support Foundation for Mental Illness

Resources:

National Advocacy and Mental Health Organizations

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
www.nami.org

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
www.nimh.nih.gov

Mental Health America
www.mentalhealthamerica.org

American Psychiatric Association
www.psych.org

Anxiety Disorders Association of America
www.adaa.org

American Federation for Suicide Prevention
www.afsp.org

National Eating Disorder Association
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

Obsessive Compulsive Foundation
www.ocfoundation.org

Children & Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
www.chadd.org

Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
www.dbsalliance.org

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
www.samhsa.gov

Friendship and Support Groups

What a Difference a Friend Makes
www.whatadifference.org

Active Minds
www.activeminds.org

NAMI Family-to-Family
www.nami.org/family

Organizations Supporting Young People

Active Minds
www.activeminds.org

Half of Us
www.halfofus.com

APA's College Mental Health Page
www.healthyminds.org/collegementalhealth.cfm

Campus Blues
www.stopstigma.samhsa.gov

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
www.aacap.org

Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
www.bpkids.org

Organizations Supporting Veterans

NAMI Veterans Resource Center
www.nami.org/veterans

After Deployment
www.afterdeployment.org

APA’s Venterans Mental Health Page (Healthy Minds)
www.healthyminds.org/miaw2007.cfm

Welcome Back Veterans
www.welcomebackveterans.org

Organizations Supporting Family Caregivers

National Alliance for Care Giving
www.caregiving.org

National Family Caregivers Association
www.nfcacares.org

Information and Education Resources

NAMI: Advocate Magazine
www.nami.org/advocate

BP Magazines
www.bphope.com

Esperanza Magazine
www.hopetocope.com

National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia & Depression (NARASAD)
www.narsad.org

Schizophrenia Digest
www.szdigest.com

Family Support Foundation for Mental Illness

Docuticker » Blog Archive » DoD Launches Program to Fight Stigma of Seeking Psychological Health Care

 

The Department of Defense today launched the Real Warriors Campaign, a multimedia public education effort designed to combat the stigma keeping some service members veterans and their families from seeking needed psychological health care.

The campaign will promote the processes of building resilience, facilitating recovery and supporting reintegration for those with psychological wounds via an interactive web site and through radio and television public service announcements.

+ Real Warriors: Resilience, Recovery, Reintegration

Docuticker » Blog Archive » DoD Launches Program to Fight Stigma of Seeking Psychological Health Care

Prepared Patient: Managing Mental And Medical Illness

 

In her 1984 boot camp graduation photo, Adrienne Fitts is smiling. Her hair is neatly groomed, her Navy cap and dress whites are spotless and she is regulation fit and trim.
Flash forward to 2001. Fitts, now a retired Gulf War veteran, struggles with a mental illness called schizoaffective disorder. She is 90 pounds heavier and has developed type 2 diabetes. She is certain her regimen of antipsychotic drugs ("there are so many") caused the diabetes as well as high blood pressure.
In April 2006, Adrienne Fitts suffers a stroke……

"Twenty-five percent of people in a primary care practice have a psychiatric illness," says Wayne Katon, M.D., vice chair of the department of psychiatry and behavioral science at the University of Washington School of Medicine…….

Patients have options, Goplerud says. "Talk to your physician about other medicines that might be used."
Speaking up is vital to your mental health…….

Fear of the stigma of mental illness can keep patients from speaking up, says Chris Koyanagi, policy director of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. Some "are reluctant to tell primary care doctors about their psychiatric medicines: 'I just don't want my regular doctor to know.'"…….

Prepared Patient: Managing Mental And Medical Illness

Minneapolis News - Minnesota mental health patient Ray Sandford forced into electro-shock therapy - page 1

 

Ray Sandford doesn't want to do this.

On a sunny yet cool mid-April morning, the pear-shaped 54-year-old emerges from the front door of his ranch-style group home in Columbia Heights. Wearing a black windbreaker and gray sweatpants, he grips the handle of his four-pronged cane and plods begrudgingly toward the street. One of Sandford's caretakers, a large woman wearing all purple, follows perfunctorily behind to see him to his destination.

He's told them repeatedly he doesn't want to do this.

He ambles forward. There's nothing he can do now. No sense in fighting it. Not now.

A 20-passenger Anoka transit bus idles along the curb awaiting his arrival. A short, swarthy driver assists Sandford. The bus slowly pulls away and embarks on the 12-mile ride to Mercy Medical Clinic in Coon Rapids.

Upon arrival, Sandford walks through the automatic sliding doors and assumes his position in a wheelchair. He's whisked to a room on the fifth floor where nurses poke an IV through his fleshy forearm. He's given a muscle relaxant and general anesthesia. Within 30 seconds, the room dissolves. He's out cold………

Minneapolis News - Minnesota mental health patient Ray Sandford forced into electro-shock therapy - page 1

Massive Medicaid Fraud Exposed: PsychRights Calls On Members Of Congress For Assistance

In letters to Senators Charles Grassley and Herb Kohl, and Representatives Henry Waxman, Bart Stupak , John Dingell & Barney Frank, the Law Project for Psychiatric Rights (PsychRights) has exposed massive Medicaid Fraud. While working on PsychRights v. Alaska , its lawsuit to prohibit the State of Alaska from the largely ineffective and always harmful psychiatric drugging of children and youth, PsychRights "discovered that it is illegal for the vast bulk of these prescriptions to be reimbursed by Medicaid." ……..

Massive Medicaid Fraud Exposed: PsychRights Calls On Members Of Congress For Assistance

Fwd: [NPDR] Picket of Psycho Donuts - Day 2 - ndelisle@prosynergy.org - Michigan Disability Rights Coalition Mail

 

This morning, F.U.S.E (Friends United to Support Equality) conducted another peaceful, non-violent picket of Psycho Donuts. Like yesterday, it was very successful:
About 50 of us showed up representing many different organizations. We started with 5 people picketing a few weeks ago, then it went up to 35 yesterday, and 50 today. Our numbers are increasing.
We distributed over 200 flyers yesterday and 300 flyers today (500 people got our message);
Unlike previous times, this morning we started picketing RIGHT IN FRONT on the sidewalk directly outside of Psycho Donuts. Before, we were told we had to picket on the city/public sidewalk outside of the parking lot. Before we began this morning, I had a conversation with the Campbell Police Lieutenant and cited a CA Supreme Court Ruling and the sections in the Campbell Municipal Code that allow us to leaflet on the private sidewalk in front of a business, and they said they would back us up on that as long as we kept moving and didn't block the entrance to the shop. Once we started, one of the owners, Jordan, came out and asked me if I had anything better to do with my time. When I didn't answer he said, "You can't be here doing that." I explained that we had a constitutional right to be there, and he said he was calling the police. I told him to go right ahead since we had already spoken with the police. When the police came out, one of our folks overheard the cop tell both the owners, "I am here to make sure these demonstrators have their first amendment rights protected."…….

We were interviewed by 4 different reporters covering the story today. And our interview from yesterday made it onto MSNBC last night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWeDmhRqNlM

Fwd: [NPDR] Picket of Psycho Donuts - Day 2 - ndelisle@prosynergy.org - Michigan Disability Rights Coalition Mail

Report: Successful Protest of Psychiatric Meeting — MFI Portal

MindFreedom International and California Network of Mental Health Clients co-sponsored a peaceful protest of the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting today Sunday, 17 May 2009, in front of the Moscone Center, San Francisco.

Molly Hogan points to photos of her mother and grandmother, who experienced extreme psychiatric human rights violations.

To see more photos of the protest of the American Psychiatric Association 2009, CLICK HERE.

17 May 2009

Protesters from Five States Vow that "Creative Support" Will Overcome "Psychiatric Corruption"

Report: Successful Protest of Psychiatric Meeting — MFI Portal

EMP. DAY REGISTRATION FORM - Google Docs

 

ONE FORM PER PERSON

4^TH ANNUAL EMPOWERMENT DAY

Thursday, June 11, 2009

“leaders In our Lives”

Sponsored by Detroit-Wayne County Community Mental Health Agency

Located at:

Burton Manor

27777 Schoolcraft Road
(I-96, just west of Inkster Road)

Livonia, Michigan

8:00am-3:00pm

REGISTRATION FORM

Name: ______________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________

City: _______________________________________________________________

Contact Phone:_______________________________________________________

Organization/Clubhouse_____________________________________________

Full breakfast and light lunch will be served. Please circle one:

Diabetic Vegetarian Regular

Fax registration forms to: 313 833-4280 OR e-mail to: aaltman@co.wayne.mi.us

Questions? Contact Anna (313) 833-7440 or Jamar (313) 833-9860

FORMS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN JUNE 1

EMP. DAY REGISTRATION FORM - Google Docs

A Mural - Google Docs

 

5/16/2009

Battle of the Artists

The consumers of the STEP (Services To Enhance Potential) program took the battle against stigma to the streets this weekend. There was an event where professional and semi-professional artists from across the State gathered to paint murals at the Russell Street Center. STEP painted a mural in honor of the mental health-recovery community for this event. As people would drop by to find out about the mural, they would also learn what STEP was all about. It was fascinating to hear statements like: “I didn’t know” or “My impression of mental illness was totally different”, from the majority of folks who dropped by. STEP is fighting stigma by demonstrating their talents and abilities on a community level.

It was exciting watching the STEP folks match the ‘professional’ artists not only the quality of their work, but in the timely manner they completed it. I felt so proud that I wanted to say to everyone in attendance “See what happens when folks in recovery are allowed to be who they are”. The event itself has International significance in the art world; the mental health recovery movement will be represented. It was video recorded and I’ll let everyone know as soon as it is available on the Web. The cool thing is our brothers and sisters from STEP won 3^rd Place!! The train is gathering momentum.

Jazz and Poetry Nights

In keeping with our community outreach efforts, the Recovery Band is hosting twice a month Jazz and Poetry nights at the Café-Con Leche coffee house located on West Vernor across from Clark Park. The environment is positively charged, and conducive to sharing recovery stories. We will be there this Friday the 22^nd and are inviting those with poems to share, stories to tell, songs to sing, or just wanting to be around good people, to join us between 7:00 PM until 10:00.

Empowerment Day 2009

“Leaders in our Lives”

This years Empowerment Day is being held on June 11^th at the Burton Manor/Livonia. Thanks to Detroit-Wayne County CMH we are finally in the bigger place we have needed for so long. One thing we have learned is this: consumers like to have fun and dance. So this year there will not only be space for dancing, but we plan to introduce a new dance called “The Recovery Slide”, a simple hustle that all can do. Each person must register, and I have attached forms. Please make sure to fill them out and return to the Agency by the 1^st. You do not have to be a consumer or relative of a consumer to attend.

Annual Awards Luncheon

Gateway will be holding their Annual Awards Luncheon on the 28^th at Sacred Heart Seminary on Linwood at Chicago. Marianne Bozenski chairs the event and you may recall she was last years Empowerment Day ‘Consumer of the Year’. If this event is anything like the last two years the band has played for them, it will be a positive, fun, and encouraging event.

Finally, we would like to thank the following folks for making it possible for consumers to fight stigma by demonstrating their talents: Simone Brown of Synergy for her financial support, Detroit-Wayne County CMH, Adult Well Being Services, and the staff of STEP, for their love and encouragement and support. Mostly we thank the Russell Street Industrial Center and Indie Edibles for accepting consumers into the community as we are and for supporting and encouraging us. Gerald Butler/ Peer Specialist

Reflections of Self: Self-Care, Healing the Healer | A Soldier's Perspective

 

I have been battling my demons and have an intimate understanding of an overwhelmed and heavily burden soul. I have to constantly remind myself take my time, no hurry here in the journey of healing. I thought I was literally crazy until my education on my malady gave me a sense of normalcy. I learned about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and found that I was not alone in this “inner world,” I was able to begin building a foundation on which I could begin to face my inner demons. In educating myself I had finally discovered my particular pathology and that I could watch for triggers, use newly found coping skills and find a way to express my inner torment without self destructing……

Reflections of Self: Self-Care, Healing the Healer | A Soldier's Perspective

May 22, 2009 Recovery Council Meeting

The next Recovery Council meeting:

Friday, May 22, 2009
9:30 am to 2:30 pm
LCC West Campus Facility (directions attached)
5708 Cornerstone Drive
Lansing, MI   48917

AGENDA:

I: Introductions/Announcements

II. Approval of Minutes from March 20, 2009

III. Questions or Clarifications from Last Meeting

IV. Director Update:  Michael J. Head

V: Center of Healing Arts, Recovery, Growth, and Empowerment (CHARGE):  Gerald Butler and Tanika Sikes

VI: Michigan Recovery Center of Excellence (MRCE) Website Update

VII. “Understanding Trauma: Overcoming Trauma"/National Trauma

Conference:  Colleen Jasper and Kathleen Tynes

VIII: Recovery Enhancing Environment (REE) Initiative -Oakland County Experience:  Marquitta Massey and Leslie Gallant

IX. Child Welfare Task Force:  Sheri Falvay, MDCH

X: 2009 Dates:  July 17; September 18; November 20

Location:      Lansing Community College West Campus Facility

XI: Public Comment

XII: Adjournment

May 22, 2009 Recovery Council Meeting

SEE YOU THERE!!

Recovery Council Web Page

Adolescents At Risk Of Developing Psychosis Benefit From Early And Network-Oriented Care

 

Family and network oriented, stress-reducing care improves level of overall functioning and mental health in adolescents at risk of developing psychosis, suggests a recent Finnish study……

…..The JERI team meets with adolescents at ages 12-20 in their natural surroundings, e.g. at school or at home, together with their parents and community co-worker, who has originally contacted the JERI team because of unclear mental health problems. The aim of the team is to recognize potential risk cases and reduce the stress level by family and network intervention.

Adolescents At Risk Of Developing Psychosis Benefit From Early And Network-Oriented Care

NAMI Magazine Cover Story Features President Obama

 

The 2009 spring issue of the NAMI Advocate Magazine features a cover story about two conversations Matt Kunz of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) had with President Barack Obama on the mental health needs of America's veterans………..

NAMI Magazine Cover Story Features President Obama

Ray Alert #20: Last minute reprieve! Ray's Forced Electroshocked for Today 13 May 2009 is POSTPONED. — MFI Portal

 

This morning, 13 May 2009, Ray Sandford was scheduled to receive another involuntary, outpatient, maintenance electroshock in Minnesota. He was escorted all the way to Mercy Hospital. He was prepped. And then literally at the last minute a psychiatrist told Ray his forced shock would be "postponed." We have another chance to help Ray find another psychiatrist.

Ray Sandford got a reprieve today from another involuntary outpatient electroshock in Minnesota.

Ray Alert #20 - 13 May 2009

Ray says, "I am happy!"

At Last Moment, Ray Sandford's Forced Electroshock Today "Postponed"

by David W. Oaks, Director, MindFreedom International

Ray Alert #20: Last minute reprieve! Ray's Forced Electroshocked for Today 13 May 2009 is POSTPONED. — MFI Portal

2009 Empowerment DAY

 

May 11, 2009

As the date of the 4^th annual “Empowerment Day/ Leaders in Our Lives” nears, I can’t help but think of the consumers I have met over the years who have moved on to bigger and better things. I have no doubt that there are many other consumers with undeveloped talents and abilities. The hopes and dreams of CHARGE will be to provide the recovery-centered environment where folks can expand and develop these gifts. We realize how certain ‘forward thinking’ leaders across the State have laid the groundwork and opened doors for us to do great things. When have chosen this years Empowerment Day theme “Leaders in Our Lives” to honor those folks who have chosen to walk the path of recovery with us. The freedom train is gathering speed!

WHEN- June 11th

WHERE- Burton Manor-Livonia

TIME- 7:30/ 9:00- Full Breakfast & Registration-9:00 Conference begins

To register contact Detroit-Wayne County CMH/ Customer Services

The consumers of STEP have put the base coat of paint on the wall in prep for work on the mural at the Russell Street Center. However, they are still in need of paint and brushes to do the actual artwork. Please contact them if you can help. 565-2200 or mahler.Karen@gmail.com

Gerald Butler

2009 EDAY - Google Docs

MFNews: Tomorrow, 5/13: Forced Shock of Ray Sandford - ndelisle@prosynergy.org -

 

...Italian psychiatrist Ugo Cerlettiis credited with the introduction
of electroshock therapy. Cerletti, having "doubts regarding the danger
of electric applications to man," observed that hogs were subdued and
calm moments before slaughter after the application of 125 volts using
metallic tongs clamped to their temples.
"It occurred to me," wrote Cerletti, "that the hogs of the
slaughterhouse could furnish the most valuable material for my
experiments...At this point I felt we could venture to experiment on
man, and I instructed my assistants to be on the alert for the
selection of a suitable subject."
On April 15, 1938, Cerletti found his man, known only by the initials
S. E. The Police Commissioner of Rome found S.E. wandering, and took
him to the hospital for observation. Cerletti diagnosed S.E. with a
form of schizophrenia and applied the first use of ECT, using the
small dose of 80 volts for 0.2 seconds. S.E. jumped, then stiffened
and fell back on the bed. Then he burst into song.
"It was quite evident to all of us that we had been using a too low
voltage," Cerletti wrote. He discussed the patient with his colleagues
and decided to let S.E. rest before giving him another shock. The
patient, who had - unbeknownst to Cerletti - been listening to the
conversation said clearly in Italian "Not another one! It's
deadly!" [Non una seconda! Mortifierel"]
"I confess that such explicit admonition under such circumstances, and
so emphatic and commanding, coming from a person whose enigmatic
jargon had until then been very difficult to understand, shook my
determination to carry on with the experiment. But it was just this
fear of yielding to a superstitious notion that caused me to make up
my mind. The electrodes were applied again, and a 110-volt discharge
was applied for 0.2 seconds." (1)
With that, electroshock therapy was born.
In an article written by Dr. Frank Ayd in 1963, Cerletti is quoted as
saying "When I saw the patient's reaction, I thought to myself: This
ought to be abolished! Ever since I have looked forward to the time
when another treatment would replace electroshock." (2)
References
1. Frank, LR (1978). The History of Shock Treatment. San Francisco.
2. Ayd, F.J. Jr. Guest Editorial UGO CERLETTI, M.D. (1877-1963).
Psychosomatics, 4:A6-A7, 1963.

MFNews: Tomorrow, 5/13: Forced Shock of Ray Sandford - ndelisle@prosynergy.org - Michigan Disability Rights Coalition Mail

Coming Out Crazy

 

Yesterday, I woke up exhausted. I neglected to take care of number one. Me!

So here's what happened.

I forgot to take my medication until 2:50 p.m. I neglected to brush my teeth all day. I didn't get dressed. I didn't brush my hair. I grabbed unhealthy food and gobbled it down without tasting it. Like a robot. Just to fill a void caused by frustration.

I was struggling with a post for this blog. Inspired by you. It was driving me crazy.

Ideas were flooding into my mind. All day. I had trouble focusing. I was hitting dead ends and desperately turning around re-routing my thinking.

This went on and on and on until 12:14 a.m. this morning, when I gave up and went to bed with a couple of 0.5 mg tablets of clonazepam – which I take only when needed. It helps calm my mind and turn off my thoughts when they're running wild.

No. I do not get depressed. I get the opposite. I get revved up. I cannot turn off my brain. I cannot stop my thoughts. Ideas in words and pictures flood my consciousness. Crazy quilts of ideas. Conflicting ideas. Picture fragments. Images. Blasting away the cerebral quiet needed to fall into sleep.

I don't have the switch that most people have when they get overtired. That's what's wrong with me. That's the root of my "mental illness" and there really isn't a name for it, other than chronic hypomania with a vulnerability to full blown mania if I don't ensure that I sleep.

Sleep is the antidote for my sanity. Everyone's really. But I cannot do it without a little help. Maybe I should learn to meditate, mindfully. But I don't have time.

That's why I'm better on medication. Including my mood stabilizer.

That's what I've learned.

I slept, dreamlessly. Deeply.

At 6:15 a.m. I was awoken by my dogs nipping at my side of the bed and wanting to be let out.

This morning, after five and a half hours of sound, deep, fast sleep, I woke up and guess what...

My mind was back.

Miraculous……..

Coming Out Crazy

Gateway: Campaign to End Forced Outpatient Electroshock of Ray Sandford — MFI Portal

 

Ray Sandford is a 55-year-old Minnesota citizen who is receiving ongoing involuntary outpatient electroshock. He is now court-ordered to leave his home monthly to receive this human rights violation. This is your gateway to news and background on the campaign to support Ray Sandford of Minnesota and his struggle against forced maintenance outpatient electroshock. Or as Ray puts it, "No more shock for Ray!"

Stop the Forced Outpatient Electroshock of Ray Sandford!

There is a great deal of information about the Ray campaign, and it is changing all the time.

To help keep you updated, and organize the news, here is an overview of the main information sources:

Gateway: Campaign to End Forced Outpatient Electroshock of Ray Sandford — MFI Portal

Gateway: Protest of the American Psychiatric Association — MFI Portal

 

Look here for news release, flier, and updates about the upcoming peaceful protest of the American Psychiatric Association at their Annual Meeting at Moscone Center, San Francisco, this Sunday, 17 May 2009, at 1 pm, co-sponsored by MindFreedom International and California Network of Mental Health Clients.

Flier: Creative Support vs. Psychiatric Corruption at Protest of APA by Jeremy Bensman — last modified 2009-05-11 20:13

All you need for the protest! Download this two-page flyer in PDF format with info about speakers and directions. Then join with mental health clients and psychiatric survivors when the American Psychiatric Association holds their huge Annual Meeting at Moscone Center, for a nonviolent Festival of Resistance! Please print this out, photocopy and distribute!

News Release: Mental Health Clients and Psychiatric Survivors to Lead Protest of APA Annual Meeting by Jeremy Bensman — last modified 2009-05-11 20:15

NEWS RELEASE: MindFreedom International and California Network of Mental Health Clients are co-sponsoring a peaceful protest of the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting this Sunday, 17 May 2009 at 1 pm, in front of the Moscone Center, San Francisco.

PDF of News Release: Protest American Psychiatric Association Sun. 17 May by David W. Oaks — last modified 2009-05-11 20:10

You may download a one-page PDF of news release by MindFreedom and California Network of Mental Health Clients about peaceful protest this Sunday, 17 May 2009 of American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.

Gateway: Protest of the American Psychiatric Association — MFI Portal

Recovery Band in Concert

Greetings all! 

I wanted to let you know of this fabulous event that has consumed my life for the last few months and will until June 13, 2009!  On that date The N.O.A.H. Project, the homeless organization I work for, will be hosting a Community Peace Concert to raise awareness on homelessness and poverty all the while we celebrate community in Detroit.  I am emailing each one of you because I am in real need of getting the word out on this fabulous event.  All of you are greatly connected to this city and very passionate about it as well.  And this concert is focused on creating change in this city we love so much.  This is a full fledged concert with five bands, slam poets and a speaker.  Attached you will find a jpeg of the concert flyer, a pdf of the concert flyer and a press release of the concert.  Please use whichever you can to get the word out. 

I would have pasted the jpeg on the email but I'm not really all that sure on how to do it.  Anyhow, please forward on this event information.

Also, here is a little blurb of the concert:

The N.O.A.H. Project Community Peace Concert ** June 13, 2009 ** 3pm-7pm ** Central UMC Parking Lot
On June 13, 2009 the N.O.A.H. Project will present a free community concert in the parking lot to promote peace and raise awareness on issues surrounding homelessness. We all claim to want peace in this chaotic world, let us create peace in our own backyard. All are welcome to celebrate our common humanity and to enjoy music, poetry, and speakers that talk about peace at home. Featuring Jocelyn B & the Detroit Street Players, Julie Beutel, shoe., the Y-Arts Deep River Choir, and the Recovery Band.  Also speaking is Bishop Tom Gumbleton.

Thank you for all that you do!  Each of you are very important to me and thank you so much for helping me get the word out to people you know.  Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or other suggestions on getting the word out. 

In Peace with Each Other,

Krista

Knowledge Is Necessity: My Top Ten Mental Health Stories

Image via Wikipedia

 

Following is what I view as the ten most significant events or trends affecting all of mental health in my ten years researching and reporting on my illness. Obviously, had I been reporting on say schizophrenia rather than bipolar my list would be different. Then again, only one entry here is bipolar-specific. So, without further ado, in no particular order:

…….

Coming of age of borderline personality diagnosis

………

Recovery movement

And many more……

Knowledge Is Necessity: My Top Ten Mental Health Stories

Recovery in Mental Health: Reshaping scientific and clinical responsibilities - Market Research Reports - Research and Markets

 

…Recovery is the consequence of the achievements of the user movement. Most conceptual considerations and decisions have evolved from collaborations between people with and without a lived experience of mental health problems and the psychiatric service system. Many of the most influential publications have been written by users and ex-users of services and work-groups that have brought together individuals with and without personal experiences as psychiatric patients.
In a fresh and comprehensive look, this book covers definitions, concepts and developments as well as consequences for scientific and clinical responsibilities. Information on relevant history, state of the art and transformational efforts in mental health care is complemented by exemplary stories of people who created through their lives and work an evidence base and direction for Recovery….

Recovery in Mental Health: Reshaping scientific and clinical responsibilities - Market Research Reports - Research and Markets

Core Values of Access Standards: Part 2

To make sure that procedures and principles were aligned, the standards are all based on Core Values:

• Access Systems are designed for community benefit.
• All people are made to feel welcome when they call or walk in, and are treated with dignity and respect.
• Regardless of where a person makes contact, that person is linked to an access portal, where screening for eligibility, coverage determination, and supports referral is made.
• Sufficient time is allowed for the person to tell their story and express their need.
• Access systems are culturally competent, trauma-informed, and able to address the complex needs of individuals, including co-occurrence of more than one disability or substance abuse problem.
• Access systems are flexible enough to engage persons at all levels of readiness to change.
• All persons have access to needed services and supports, and can choose among service and supports providers.
• Access systems are individual and family centered, and driven by the person receiving supports.
• Access systems foster engagement, and support recovery, resiliency, and self-determination.
• Should non-Medicaid public resources be insufficient to meet demand, priority shall be given to those who have the most serious disabilities.
• The Access system does its part to overcome stigma.
• Access systems maintain a continuous quality improvement focus.

End of Part Two

Michigan’s New Access Standards: Part 1

Over the last few years, a work group called The Standards Group (TSG), has been working on projects to standardize the operations of mental health programs in Michigan. One of the projects focused on how citizens access mental health services. On Monday, May 4, the first training for the access standards was given to a crowd of 170 in Lansing, Michigan.

In Michigan, Medicaid-based mental health services are organized through capitated Medicaid waiver programs called PIHP-18 in all. Each PIHP has responsibility for a geographic area. Some populous counties are a single PIHP. Some PIHP’s are hubs for several counties. Non Medicaid mental health services are organized in Community Mental Health service providers (CMH). There are 46 of these, and all the CMH’s are organized as “spokes” of a PIHP. Each PIHP is responsible for coordinating and/or providing access center services, so that people can apply for mental health services. Because of the sheer number of programs (both Medicaid and non Medicaid) that provide mental health services, access is complex and has been inconsistent throughout the state. The Access standards were developed to bring better understanding of the many eligibility criteria and operational practices to all Access standards.

End of Part One

http://ping.fm/kxVkD - May is "Protest the Mental Health System" Month - MindFreedom Live Web Radio - Free � MFI Portal

May is "Protest the Mental Health System" Month - MindFreedom Live Web Radio - Free — MFI Portal

 

This Saturday, 9 May 2009, MindFreedom Live Web Radio show will have the theme of nonviolent direct action: Campaigns for peaceful protest about Ray Sandford's ongoing electroshock, Mother's Day electroshock protests, and protests in front of American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting. Free Live Web Radio Show is hosted by MindFreedom's executive director, David W. Oaks.

HOW TO LISTEN AND CALL-IN TO THE LIVE SHOW:

DATE: This Saturday, 9 May 2009
TIME: 11 am Pacific, 12 noon Mountain, 1 pm Central, 2 pm Eastern USA, 6 pm [18:00] UTC/GMT, 7 pm London or Dublin [19:00]. Show is 90 minutes.
CLICK here to listen and call in live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/davidwoaks
CALL-IN number: (646) 595-2125. Tell us how you will protest this Spring!

May is "Protest the Mental Health System" Month - MindFreedom Live Web Radio - Free — MFI Portal

New blog post: http://ping.fm/Py3IS - Charge news from Gerald Butler

Charge news

5/3/2009

Some of you may already know that we recently moved into the Russell Industrial Center & Bazaar and are proud to be members of a vibrant, artistic community. What is amazing is how many doors have been opened to us in the short amount of time we have been there. The ‘Recovery Band’ has played for the Georgia Street Urban Farms; we are working with the Kindergarten Drum Corp and Indie Edibles on an urban farming promotional video, and we did a demo CD with Tapwater Productions.

We have met artists (visual, glass blowers, dance, candle makers, poets, and more) on a daily basis, and most of them are interested in our efforts. The Recovery Band is collaborating with these artists. To date we have provided music for some of their events and promotions. In exchange they are giving our consumers a view of the art world. We are doing our part to fight against stigma by demonstrating how folks in recovery are quite capable of giving back to and being an integral part of society.

We are changing the television image of mental illness and learning to enjoy recovery by realizing our potential. We believe that if a person truly wants recovery, help and guidance should be readily available. Regardless of his or her status in life each person has some unique qualities. A major part of ones recovery journey is the development of these talents. When a leader in the system says ‘I understand your pain’ it goes a long way toward improving one’s self- esteem. Those of us lucky enough to have had such understanding leaders in our lives, have a duty to pass it on.

I have been talking about an upcoming event called “Springs Eternal” in which artists from all over the State will gather at the Russell Street Center. They are asking for artistic folks from the recovering community to participate.

Stepping Up

The Next Step Clubhouse (Hegira Programs Inc) is a psychosocial rehabilitation program for persons whose lives have been disrupted by serious and persistent mental illness. The program is designed to strengthen member’s ability to function in the community and reduce the need for psychiatric hospitalization. STEP utilizes ‘work units’, (clerical, members services food services, and job coaching) for those interested in employment.

Indie Edibles is a community organization advocating “Urban Farming- from seed to the table”.  As hosts of the event, they have asked the band to provide music and poetry will artists paint murals on the 4^th floor of the Center. The event is scheduled for the 16^th of this month, at 8:00 PM. However, special arrangements are in the works to enable consumers to do their artistry during the day hours. In the future when the final production is on display, the recovering community will be proudly represented.

This is short notice, but when opportunity knocks we should answer. The members of Next Step Clubhouse are in need of art supplies to participate in this event. If you can help in anyway possible, please contact the Clubhouse at (313-564-2200) 1403 Inkster Rd. Inkster Mi. 48141. You may also contact Karen Mahler at mahler.Karen@gmail.com

We thank the leaders of Detroit Wayne County CMH for letting us be participants in their community collaboration and outreach initiatives. And finally, Empowerment Day 2009 ‘Leaders in Our Lives’ is scheduled for June 11^th, at the Burton Manor. For more details contact D-WCCMHA / Customer Services. This is going to be a really cool summer.

Gerald Butler

New blog post: http://ping.fm/nmWvo - The Growing Push for "Mad Pride" | Newsweek Health | Newsweek.com

The Growing Push for "Mad Pride" | Newsweek Health | Newsweek.com

 

We don't want to be normal," Will Hall tells me. The 43-year-old has been diagnosed as schizophrenic, and doctors have prescribed antipsychotic medication for him. But Hall would rather value his mentally extreme states than try to suppress them, so he doesn't take his meds. Instead, he practices yoga and avoids coffee and sugar. He is delicate and thin, with dark plum polish on his fingernails and black fashion sneakers on his feet, his half Native American ancestry evident in his dark hair and dark eyes. Cultivated and charismatic, he is also unusually energetic, so much so that he seems to be vibrating even when sitting still….

Hall and Icarus are not alone in asking these questions. They are part of a new generation of activists trying to change the treatment and stigma attached to mental illness. Welcome to Mad Pride, a budding grassroots movement, where people who have been defined as mentally ill reframe their conditions and celebrate unusual (some call them "spectacular") ways of processing information and emotion…..

The Growing Push for "Mad Pride" | Newsweek Health | Newsweek.com

New blog post: http://ping.fm/Msnyl - Community Care Recovery Institute

Community Care Recovery Institute

 

Below are recovery resources related to the Community Care Recovery Institute. These resources are included for your convenience and do not represent any endorsement by the Community Care Recovery Institute staff of their content or the organizations themselves……

Community Care Recovery Institute

New blog post: http://ping.fm/4PzHI - Medicaid Prescription Practices Linked To Worse Outcomes With Mental Illness

State Medicaid Prescription Drug Practices Linked To Worse Outcomes For Patients With Mental Illness

 

Certain state Medicaid practices intended to save money, such as prior authorization, were associated with increased adverse outcomes among mentally ill patients, according to a new study of nearly 600 psychiatrists and more than 1,600 patients….

 

Medicaid prescription practices, such as requiring a switch to generics; placing limits on the number or dosing of medication; requiring prior authorization; and requiring use of step therapy or fail-first protocols, were associated with a greater number of adverse events in patients, the study found. States with more prescription drug management practices in place had significantly higher medication access problems. After adjusting for patient case mix, patients with medication access problems had a 3.6 times greater likelihood of experiencing a significant adverse event….

 

According to the study, patients with problems with copayments had a nearly eight times greater likelihood of experiencing an adverse event. All of the access problems were associated with increased emergency visits and psychiatric hospitalizations. Of the 10 states studied, New York, Texas and California had the lowest rates of access problems, and Ohio, Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Georgia and Michigan all had higher rates….

State Medicaid Prescription Drug Practices Linked To Worse Outcomes For Patients With Mental Illness

I'm at the DCH Access standards tng. ,No wifi so I'llblog later

New blog post: http://ping.fm/WG5BX - NH operators howl as government proposes slashing Medicare payments by $1 billion

New blog post: http://ping.fm/bYOty - 169 Years Of The British Medical Journal Now Free Online

169 Years Of The British Medical Journal Now Free Online

 

Every BMJ article published since the journal's first issue in October 1840 is now freely available online from bmj.com. Eighteen of the BMJ Group's specialist journals - including Heart, Gut, and Thorax - are also available…..

For an introduction to the archive, a series of specially commissioned videos focussing on some of the important issues and individuals that have appeared in the journal's pages are now available at http://podcasts.bmj.com/themes/bmj/mp3/archive_videos/BMJ_archive_the_stories.mp4

169 Years Of The British Medical Journal Now Free Online

New blog post: Cuts for nursing homes in Medicare this fall http://ping.fm/O29Gz - Article - WSJ.com

New blog post: http://ping.fm/yOD4z - CDC releases guidance for long-term care on swine flu infection - McKnight's Long Term Care News

Off to the Arc Michigan Straegic Planning Session

Protest Held Inside Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda to Stop Ray's Shock — MFI Portal

Image via Wikipedia

 

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA: For three hours today, several dozen participants successfully held a peaceful MindFreedom International protest of the ongoing forced electroshock of Ray Sandford, a 55-year-old resident of Columbia Heights, Minnesota. The loud protest was held directly inside the majestic Rotunda of the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Friday, 1 May 2009.
Speakers during a news conference, covered by both mainstream and alternative media, included myself (flying in from Oregon, thanks to donated air ticket by MFI member Darby Penney), plus:…….

Protest Held Inside Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda to Stop Ray's Shock — MFI Portal

Disableism Day Blog Post http://bit.ly/Tb6Yq

The Age of What? on Disableism Day 2009

Culture is Frozen Struggle.
                     -after Roberto Unger

In our fight against ableism/disableism, we have passed through a legislative age (peaking with the passage of the ADA), and we are now  in an operational age, in which building support systems and creating communities that are accessible are the focus, whether through policy change, legislation, or community organizing.

What might the future hold?

• Collaboration with other communities for change that includes our issues, in a broader context of struggle

We remain isolated from the community of psychiatric survivors and that of people with developmental and cognitive disabilities.  The joke still is, “I may be _____, but I’m not ______!” (replace with your favorite vulnerable and oppressed communities). There is still no usable consensus on how to make the web accessible to people with low literacy, and the web as a whole is still growing faster than the accessible web. Driving change through peer relationships and peer organizations is still at its very beginning in both of these communities.

But Michigan has 500 peers working in the mental health system, a group of adults with DD is developing a model of peers, and I saw a nice article about an anarchist conference where safe spaces for recovery was a break out session.

• The oppression of people with disabilities still remains a cultural and ethical “right”.

While there is a lot more going on internationally than even a couple of years ago, people with psychiatric labels and persons with developmental disabilities still wallow in hideous institutions, not to mention nursing homes,  both here and everywhere.

Medicine is finding (even developing standards for), killing us before we would die on  our own, not treating us, and consigning us to ethical limbos based on our “inferiority”.  Sterilization of people with DD still goes on in hospitals everywhere. Stephen Drake and Not Dead Yet still have way too much to do.

But, institutions are being challenged internationally, families are finding the courage to challenge their members oppression, and multi-ethnic culturally focused collaborations are fighting against the assumption of cultural “rights” to oppress.

I think these two arenas are the grounds upon which our struggles will take place for the next generation.

And we need to start working on prisons and disability and post-incarceration peer support.

Struggles they will be…….

Technorati Tags: disableism day

Finding Our Roots Conferences Explores Anarchism and "Space" - News : MediaMouse Progressive Left News Blog - Grand Rapids, Michigan

 

This past weekend, I traveled to Chicago to attend the Finding Our Roots Conference at Roosevelt University. This is the third year the anarchist conference on praxis and organizing has been held. The theme of the conference this year was space:……

Mad Liberation and Safe Space

Facilitated by the Mad Tea Party group of Chicago, this workshop was about creating safe spaces where those who struggle with mental illness can have autonomy over their own recovery.

It was noted that "madness" cannot be separated from our culture. One person shared his experience in the mental health system, in which he worked a menial job six days a week that made him depressed and exacerbated his struggles. Upon seeking help, he found himself in an institution where the end goal was to get him back into a job - he recognized this as a form of oppression.

Several people expressed concern that the issue of mental health is one that gets pushed to the side in anarchist organizing. In response to this, groups have been formed in Chicago (and, I'm sure, in many other cities) to provide peer support, such as The Icarus Project)……

Finding Our Roots Conferences Explores Anarchism and "Space" - News : MediaMouse Progressive Left News Blog - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Care Coordination for Seriously Injured Veterans Improving -- House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Press Release from VA Watchdog dot Org - 04-30-2009

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On Tuesday, April 28, 2009, the House Veterans’ Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, led by Chairman Harry Mitchell (D-AZ), conducted a hearing to evaluate the newly implemented Federal Recovery Coordination Program (FRCP). The Subcommittee examined the effectiveness of the FRCP which was established in October 2007 and went into operation in January 2008. The Subcommittee also assessed if outreach efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has succeeded in bringing coordinated care to veterans who were injured prior to the launch of the FRCP….

Care Coordination for Seriously Injured Veterans Improving -- House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Press Release from VA Watchdog dot Org - 04-30-2009