H.R.3065: Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement Act of 2009 - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

This bill seems like a Federal support system for PATH programs and has 2 Michigan co-sponsors…

Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into chronic care improvement program operator agreements with applicant states to provide for the development, testing, evaluation, and implementation of severe mental illness chronic care improvement demonstration programs……

From the Bill:

care management plan for a targeted beneficiary shall be developed with the beneficiary using person-centered planning principles and shall, to the extent appropriate, include the following:

(A) Explicit general health care goals, measured on a regular basis, such as--

(i) improved access to primary care services;

(ii) improved prevention;

(iii) early identification and intervention to avoid serious health issues; and

(iv) better management of chronic diseases, including but not limited to hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

(B) A designated point of contact responsible for communications with the beneficiary and for facilitating communications with other health care and related community providers under the plan.

(C) Coordination and communication with family members who are actively engaged in supporting the targeted beneficiary’s participation in the program.

(D) Self-care education for the beneficiary in recognizing and managing symptoms of threshold conditions, educating parents and family members, and educating physicians and medical specialists as appropriate.

(E) Education for physicians and other community providers on required collaboration to enhance communication of relevant clinical information.

(F) Active coordination of supportive community services, including peer support, transportation, day care, personal assistance, housing, primary care (including accompanying targeted beneficiaries to medical appointments), mental health care, and other required services.

Technorati Tags: recovery,health care,PATH

(G) The use of monitoring technologies that enable patient guidance through the exchange of pertinent clinical information.

H.R.3065: Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement Act of 2009 - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

MFI Alert: ABC-TV on Mad Pride Tues. 8/25

Debate on Mad Pride:

Tuesday night, 25 August 2009, ABC-TV has confirmed plans to air a segment on the global MAD PRIDE movement, including a number of groups in MindFreedom International, and an interview with David W. Oaks, Executive Director of MindFreedom International.

The Mad Pride piece is slated to air on ABC-TV's national Primetime show at 10 pm ET and PT tomorrow in the USA, but check your local listings for the exact time.

ACTION:

You can read about the Mad Pride story on the ABC-TV web site, and add your comment now. There is already a lively debate on the ABC-TV web site, here:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=8382903

MindFreedom International board of directors agree to communicate with ABC-TV on the project, fully realizing there are absolutely no guarantees on results, but choosing to take this risk anyway to break out of our "mad ghetto" and alert a greater diversity of the general public.

"As never before, the psychiatric industry is targeting the general population, especially in poor and developing countries," said David Oaks, who is currently speaking in Norway at a conference and protest sponsored by one of the oldest groups in the Mad Movement, "We Shall Overcome," founded in 1968. "It is time to warn the public, because it is now the public itself that is at greatest risk. A debate beats even more silence."

Join the debate!

MFI Alert: ABC-TV on Mad Pride Tues. 8/25

Technorati Tags: Recovery,Mad Pride,ABC news

Mental Health Advocates Demand Release of Chasse Records | Willamette Week | Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

 

Approaching the three-year mark since the death of James Chasse Jr. in police custody, the Mental Health Association of Portland has launched an online petition demanding the city release records and a finding of facts in the case……

Thanks and a hat tip to Debi Parker.

Technorati Tags: recovery,civil rights,James Chasse

Mental Health Advocates Demand Release of Chasse Records | Willamette Week | Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

Online films | Time To Change

Technorati Tags: Recovery,stigma,video

As part of our summer campaign we have launched two new online films.  Both films are designed to challenge people’s thoughts and commonly held stereotypes around people who experience mental health problems.

‘The Movie’

This film is appearing as an ad on popular websites such as The Mirror, The Sun, The Daily Mail, MSN and Yahoo. It relies on people’s fascination with the sinister to get them to reconsider their attitudes. It takes people on a journey – from a point of fear and stereotyping, all the way to realising that people with mental health problems are not in fact like the stereotypes. It also points out that it is the support of friends and family that have been the deciding factor in this man’s life………

Kids Party’

This film works on a similar basis to ‘The Movie’, except this time people think they are about to see real video footage – it is being seeded in to video sharing sites e.g. You Tube, with the title ‘Schizophrenic man terrifies kids at party’.

Online films | Time To Change

[MF-NEWS] to MFI Members: Norway, media & technology - ndelisle@prosynergy.org - Michigan Disability Rights Coalition Mail

Technorati Tags: Recovery,Mind-Freedom,Web 2.0

 Web 2.0 is the general term for internet tools and sites that make the internet more personalized, interactive, and useful. On Facebook and Myspace you can connect with other people in the MFI community, carrying on easy conversations without the use of email. Twitter is a social networking tool that simplifies the process even more, using a micro-blogging format so that it is very easy to keep updated on your favorite organizations and people. Our YouTube Channel highlights videos from Mad Pride festivals from around the world, interesting documentaries, and lectures from David W. Oaks, our director.

Why would we spend so much time on these newer networking tools? We want to involve more people in the fight for greater rights in the mental healthcare system, of course! Mr. Feakins of WebTalent SEO concurred, “Many non-profits organizations have done little to take advantage of the potential online audience that awaits them.”

We want you to get involved! Find us on:

Facebook Groups Page (http://bit.ly/Pkh7t),

Facebook Fans Page (http://bit.ly/IIk6t),

YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/MindFreedomIntl),

MindFreedom twitter (http://twitter.com/MindFreedom)

Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/mindfreedominternational)

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

For those interested in volunteering more with MFI Web 2.0 activities, MindFreedom has a small e-mail list for members to talk about this. Current members can sign up here:

http://www.intenex.net/lists/listinfo/mfi-web

And remember the MindFreedom Summer 2009 Support Drive!

Check out the "Big Red Button" on the MindFreedom website at:

http://www.mindfreedom.org

Thanks, 

David 

P.S. And if you want to get my own personal Tweets, here's my Twitter page:

http://twitter.com/davidwoaks

David W. Oaks, Executive Director

MindFreedom International

454 Willamette, Suite 216 - POB 11284

Eugene, OR 97440-3484 USA

web: http://www.mindfreedom.org

email: oaks@mindfreedom.org

office phone: (541) 345-9106 fax: (480) 287-8833

member services toll free in USA: 1-877-MAD-PRID[e] or 1-877-623-7743

MindFreedom International: 

Unite to Change Mental Health Care

Join now! http://www.mindfreedom.org/join-donate

"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted." 

- Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

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[MF-NEWS] to MFI Members: Norway, media & technology - ndelisle@prosynergy.org - Michigan Disability Rights Coalition Mail

maine maven: Outside In

 

Nobody likes to be on the outside looking in, but sometimes, that perspective is clearer, more objective, different, better.
The same could be said of "The Great Outside," an exhibit and sale of outsider art that opens tomorrow and runs through Aug. 12 at 62 Bay View St. in Camden.
All of the artists hail from Maine and many of them have participated in workshops by Living In the Community (LINC) Social Club and Waterville Social Club, peer support programs for those with severe mental illness…..

Technorati Tags: recovery,art

maine maven: Outside In

Lucid Now, Looney Later: Words Of The Wisdomless: Nothing More -

Technorati Tags: recovery blog

"A mental illness relapse is nothing more then a period of time that just didn't go right. It's nothing more to worry about, nothing more then a detour on the road to recovery.  All we need to do is get back on our road and nothing more."

Lucid Now, Looney Later: Words Of The Wisdomless: Nothing More -

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: Recovery Steps

Technorati Tags: Recovery process

Good Summary of Recovery Process:

Relief of symptoms is only the first step in treating depression or bipolar disorder. Wellness, or recovery, is a return to a life that you care about. Recovery happens when your illness stops getting in the way of your life.

What is Recovery?

SAMSHA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/Center for Mental Health Services) (http://www.samhsa.gov/) defines recovery as:

Mental health recovery is a journey of healing and transformation enabling a person with a mental health problem to live a meaningful life in a community of his or her choice while striving to achieve his or her full potential.

Next Steps in Recovery

Depression and bipolar disorder are mood disorders, real physical illnesses that affect a person’s moods, thoughts, body, energy and emotions.  Both illnesses, especially bipolar disorder, tend to follow a cyclical course, meaning they have ups and downs. 

Treatment for these illnesses can also have ups and downs. As much as we may want it to, wellness often does not happen overnight.  It is normal to wish you could feel better faster or to worry that you will never feel better.  However, know that you can feel better, and that ultimately you are in charge of your recovery.  There are many things you can do to help yourself. 

Relief of symptoms is only the first step in treating depression or bipolar disorder. Wellness, or recovery, is a return to a life that you care about. Recovery happens when your illness stops getting in the way of your life. You decide what recovery means to you.

You have the right to recover according to your needs and goals.  Talk to your health care provider (HCP) about what you need from treatment to reach your recovery. Your HCP can provide the treatment(s) and/or medication(s) that work best for you. Along the way, you have a right to ask questions about the treatments you are getting and choose the treatments you want.

It can also be helpful to work with a therapist, family member, friend and peer supporters to help define your recovery.  Your definition of a meaning life may change at different times in life.  At times, depression and bipolar disorder might make it seem difficult to set a goal for yourself. 

Sometimes it might feel almost impossible to think about the things that you hope for or care about.   But goal setting is an important part of wellness, no matter where you are on your path to recovery. Work on what you can when you can…….

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: Recovery Steps

Whole Health Campaign Releases Recommendations for Addressing Substance Use and Mental Illness in the Health Care Reform Process - Caron Drug & Alcohol Treatment Centers

Technorati Tags: recovery,health care reform

The Whole Health Campaign (WHC), an unprecedented collaboration among more than 107 mental illness and substance use prevention, treatment, research and recovery organizations, has created a series of new policy papers outlining the urgent message that substance use and mental illness issues be considered a health care policy priority during the reform process……

The papers focus on access, quality, choice and cost of care for people with these disorders and their family members. The series of policy papers discuss and provide specific recommendations for the education of health care professionals, wellness promotion and chronic disease prevention initiatives, improving health care leadership, access to affordable and timely universal coverage, financing health care reform, integrating health care and addressing disparities. The papers can be downloaded from the WHC website…..

Whole Health Campaign Releases Recommendations for Addressing Substance Use and Mental Illness in the Health Care Reform Process - Caron Drug & Alcohol Treatment Centers

Virtual Recovery Center » Recovery Policy: Promoting a Recovery-Oriented Service System

 

This policy is to formally express the concept of “recovery” as the overarching goal of the service system, for persons with severe mental illness, directly operated or funded by Northern Lakes Community Mental Health (NLCMH).

Recovery shall be the guiding principle and operational framework for our system of care provided by the partnership of public and private agencies and consumer-run services that comprise the NLCMH services and supports system. This begins with the belief that recovery is achievable and possible. We must project hope, communicate the expectation of recovery, and empower people to exercise choice and control over their lives, including the purchase of supports and services and the choice of providers. This must begin by our being a welcoming environment that begins to build hope from the first contact.
It is essential that we do not fail to put this into practice because recovery may conflict with deeply held internal images of how the public mental health system works or images that limit us to familiar ways of thinking and acting. Instead of focusing primarily on symptom relief, recovery casts a much wider spotlight on restoration of self-esteem and identity and on attaining meaningful roles in society…..

Technorati Tags: recovery,policy

Virtual Recovery Center » Recovery Policy: Promoting a Recovery-Oriented Service System

Shadow Voices - Home Page

Technorati Tags: Recovery,documentary,Mennonite

We invite you to enter into the lives of persons living with mental illness.

We challenge you to take up the cause of fighting the stigma that they face. 

We encourage you to read what experts in the field of mental health and clergy have to say as they look at recovery and how communities can join in the effort to create a truly healing and hopeful environment.

This website is an extension of the Shadow Voices documentary – with additional interviews, stories, comments and resources. This website is especially helpful for those who:

• have a family member with a mental illness
• are pastors, social workers, police officers, or any others who encounter people with mental illnesses in their work
• wish to be more aware of how to be a support to those with mental illnesses, whether that is a neighbor or a member of your church
• are students doing research on mental illness
• are interested in reading incredible stories of courage as people do the hard work of living with and recovering from mental illness

Shadow Voices - Home Page

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

Technorati Tags: Recovery,electroshock,Ray

Latest update:

6 August 2009: Ray called today with some good news: Because of his campaign, the mental health system has agreed that he may officially switch psychiatrists. His new psychiatrist is pledged to NOT use forced electroshock!

Also because of Ray's campaign, this Monday, 10 August 2009, the Minnesota State Legislature has scheduled a special hearing on electroshock of committed people.

For more details see the Ray Blog:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/shield/ray/no-more-shock-for-ray-blog/

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

Reception: Cyndy Walters’ Journey To Wellness — NJ Advocacy Network to End Homelessness

Technorati Tags: Recovery,peer support

More than three hundred and fifty (350) formerly homeless people, passionate advocates and housing providers from across the state attended the July 28, 2009 Congressional Reception. As we stated on Monday, one of the most impressive parts of the event were the speeches by the formerly homeless that preceded the speeches by the members of Congress. This is the fifth in our series of publishing links to the video and a summary of the speeches.

Cyndy Walters

Cyndy Walters, a peer specialist with the Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s Journey to Wellness Self Help Center in Ocean County, NJ, spoke about her struggles with mental illness that lead her to live homeless in the woods for six years. Prior to becoming homeless she lost her five children, her housing, her job, her car, and her dignity. Her recovery began when she hit bottom and found support at the Journey to Wellness Self Help Center.

Reception: Cyndy Walters Journey To Wellness — NJ Advocacy Network to End Homelessness

soulful sepulcher: In the shadow of a $40 million dollar NIMH study,Soteria Alaska Opens, alternative to psych meds

 

Philip Dawdy, author of Furious Seasons received an email detailing the opening of the long awaited Alaska based Soteria House. Based on Loren Mosher's plan for schizophrenics to live without (or with minimal by choice without coercion) medication in a supportive environment, this is ground-breaking news for the best alternative to psych med paradigm that psychiatry has based as a platform and results are low quality life outcomes for people……

Soteria definition on wikipedia:
Soteria is a community service that provides a space for people experiencing mental distress or crisis. Based on a recovery model, common elements of the Soteria approach include primarily non-medical staffing; preserving resident's personal power, social networks, and communal responsibilities; finding meaning in the subjective experience of psychosis by "being with" clients; and no or minimal use of antipsychotic medication (with any medication taken from a position of choice and without coercion).Soteria houses are often seen as gentler alternatives to a psychiatric hospital system perceived as authoritarian, hostile or violent and based on routine use of psychiatric (particularly antipsychotic) drugs. Soteria houses are sometimes used as "early intervention" or "crisis resolution" services……

--My personal story about Soteria Alaska……

Technorati Tags: Recovery,Soteria House

soulful sepulcher: In the shadow of a $40 million dollar NIMH study,Soteria Alaska Opens, alternative to psych meds