Three Winners are Rethinking Mental Health - RWJF

BuzzNet Tags: Recovery,RWJF,winners

The winners of the Rethinking Mental Health: Improving Community Wellbeing competition are boldly transforming the field of mental health by: building bridges from traditional healers and community leaders in Bhutan to providers of modern psychiatry; creating student-run chapters of mental-health awareness groups on college campuses throughout the United States; and training clinicians to treat depression and epilepsy in post-conflict Liberia.

 

The three winners emerged from a field of more than 340 inspiring solutions submitted from 42 countries. The Changemakers community voted on the Web site for the three winners from a group of 12 finalists, selected for their vision, impact, and unique approach. The winners are:

1. Rebuilding Hope After War: Mental Health and Community Recovery, Liberia

2. Active Minds: Empowering Students and Changing the Conversation about Mental Health on 300 Campuses, United States

3. Promoting Mental Health Treatment in Traditional Bhutanese Society, Bhutan

Three Winners are Rethinking Mental Health – RWJF

OCD Diaries: The Power of Sarcasm « THE OCD DIARIES

BuzzNet Tags: Recovery,sarcasm

The author explains why humor wrapped in sarcasm is one of his favorite coping tools — even though the edge of the knife can be too sharp at times.

“If you can’t say something good about someone, sit right here by me.”

The quote is from Alice Roosevelt Longworth, eldest daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt. She was 96 when she died in 1980, and I can’t help but believe that part of her longevity was her legendary sarcasm.

For me, sarcasm is a mental release that allows me to see the humor in some of life’s bigger challenges. Of course, the danger is that sarcasm can sometimes slide into outright rudeness, and I’m sure I’m guilty of that at times….

OCD Diaries: The Power of Sarcasm « THE OCD DIARIES

Graduation

Yesterday was graduation day from WRAP, the peer counseling recovery group…..

I remember how I felt during the first session.  It centered on hope and empowerment.  I didn't have hope, and I didn't want empowerment.  I had run up the white flag of surrender, defeated, dejected and spent……

I remember how I felt during the first session.  It centered on hope and empowerment.  I didn't have hope, and I didn't want empowerment.  I had run up the white flag of surrender, defeated, dejected and spent……

http://howintheworlddidigethere.blogspot.com/2010/01/graduation.html

Technorati Tags: Recovery,WRAP,graduation

I3 Detroit: Imagine, Innovate, and Inspire

3 Detroit is a collaborative environment for people to explore the balance between technology, art and culture. We feel the best way to create this environment is to bring like mind people together that share a common passion for technology, art and culture.

The community is run by it’s members through voting. All founding members have worked together to create a set of by-laws that all members and non-members are required to follow. The goal is to provide a safe and fun community environment.

We hope to continue to become a community resource by hosting various classes including but not limited to electronics, programming, crafts, Photography, cooking and all other skills that members or others are willing to share. We want to create an environment that promotes learning in a fun non-traditional format.

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/

Mental health in background of upcoming political campaigns

Political candidates are no longer ducking mental health issues as if they disqualified them from office. In Portland, Oregon, a co-founder of Mental Health Association is entering the city council race. And in Minn., the Star Tribune reports the Democratic candidate for governor, Mark Dayton, acknowledged a history of depression. They join a handful of other politicians who have stepped forward, despite stigma and discrimination, to acknowledge their own treatment or that of a relative.

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/

"This Emotional Life" Series

Thanks and a Hat Tip to Stephen Bateson....


This 3-part series represents what television does best. It opens a window into real lives, exploring ways to improve our social relationships, cope with emotional issues, and become more positive, resilient individuals. Hosted by Daniel Gilbert, Harvard psychologist and best-selling author of Stumbling on Happiness.


http://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife/home

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/

A Moving Forward

by Gerald Butler

1/3/2010

        Remodeling is just about complete at the CHARGE space at the Russell site and we will begin operations from there by the first of the year. The list of consumer volunteers has grown to about 30 and we will begin to prepare for a grand opening. We have been using this down time to expand our community out reach and collaborations. The ‘Visions of Recovery Community Gospel Choir’ has been particularly busy since we played the Fort Street Church Open House. Pattie Charleston and I took the choir to the ‘Noel Night’ festivities in Downtown Detroit to see the Rackham Symphony Choir show and meet some of the choir members. They are as just excited as we about our collaboration for the concert for in March.

     At least one of the Rackham Choir members will be working with the Visions Choir between now and the date of the  ‘Concert for the Homeless’. CHARGE is proud to be invited to provide the entertainment for the ‘After Glow’ of this event. The Visions Choir united with Reverend Riggins and the Detroit Rescue Mission for ‘Gospel Night’ at the Russell Center. They also sang at the Detroit Central City Dual Recovery Christmas party where they encouraged consumers to find the rare leaders in the system willing to help us take charge of our lives. Personally, I consider myself lucky because I had positive leaders in my life since the beginning of my recovery journey.

Whether done consciously or unconsciously, providers often set up boundaries that distinguish the consumer from the provider. (Michigan Department of Community Health ‘Issue Paper’ 2009)

        Many providers tend to think of us in this manner, “Look at all the wonderful things I am doing for MY consumers”. Those who distinguish us in this manner are well intentioned. However, just as a loved one can enable another’s addiction, when (even unconsciously) consumers are perceived as incapable, that is how we are treated. This treatment can cause folks to lower their faith in the system and trust in their own ability to take charge of their recovery. A parent who runs alongside a child learning to ride a two-wheeler has to let the child take over at some point. The system of treatment in the U. S. has grown to the point where it should be encouraging and supporting consumer-run, recovery-centered programming. To date, efforts to have a genuinely consumer run entity working within the system have either been unsuccessful or at best, resulted in strained relationships. For the partnership to flourish both sides must have an appreciation and respect for one another. Hopefully, we can make it work with Adult Well Being.    

        I realize that the system does not recognize me by my accomplishments but merely by my illness. So I figured I’d strive to be the best possible recovering consumer. The first thing I had to do was to learn to listen wholeheartedly to what other consumers were saying. Next, I had to confront stigma I had regarding others and myself. I began to view each consumer by their potential, not by their illness. There are literally thousands of consumers who could benefit significantly from being in an uncomplicated, transparent (it is what it is) safe environment run by Certified Peers. Unless and until this occurs no one, not even consumers, will ever know our true capabilities and talents.        

 Gerald Butler 

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

Next Peer Networking Call

Recovery 2000: Peer Networking Call--January 20th

The next Peer Networking Call will be Wednesday, January 20th 3:00 EST


Subject: Hiring Peer Providers: Applications, Screening questions-- What can be asked, What not; Legalities and Ethics. Perspectives from Peer Supervisors, Administrators and Peer Providers to be included.

Presenters: Rodney Pfeister, Austin State Hospital, Kevin Huckshorn, Delaware Commissioner of Mental Health, Holly Dixon, Riverview State Hospital, Augusta, Maine, and Nannette Larson, Director of Recovery Support Services, Illinois

Bios to follow.

Call-In information: 888-537-7715 Passcode: 78462993#.......
http://bit.ly/5mKFAa

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Mental Health Heros of the Year-2009

Knowledge Is Necessity: My Mental Health Heroes of the Year - 2009

My true heroes in mental health are those whose efforts never come to our attention, yet change lives: A mother who battles indifferent clinicians and bureaucrats on behalf of her kid; a volunteer who arrives early to turn on lights and arrange chairs and greet visitors; a doctor who refuses to give up on a patient, a postgrad research assistant laboring tirelessly on peasant wages; a middle manager who sticks his neck out on a risky hire; a patient who falls down seven times and gets up eight ...

Public person hero of the year - Barack Obama...

Internet hero of the year - Katherine Stone. Katherine’s blog Postpartum Progress is a must-read on a normal day...

Advocate hero of the year- Kathi Stringer. The reason you have probably not heard of Kathi is that she is smart rather than loud...

Recovery hero of the year - Abraham Low Self-Help Systems (ALSHS). Recently, Recovery Inc changed its name to Recovery International, then merged with the Abraham Low Institute, which resulted in its present name. Recovery Inc was founded in 1937 by neuropsychiatrist Abraham Low (pictured here), who espoused the radical idea that - with the right cognitive skills and peer help - patients could recover from even severe mental illness. Some 600 self-help groups exist worldwide.  In its new incarnation, ALSHS is retooling to reach out to a wider audience. Stay tuned ...
http://bit.ly/7F11ho

recovery, heroes, 2009

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OCD Diaries 12-22: The Ego OCD Built

Last night I got on here to explain that sometimes OCD is good for me, in the sense that it provides fuel for my professional ambitions. Some might look at the post and think I was letting vanity take over.

Truth is, I was.And I do it often.

I’m the first to admit that humility isn’t one of my strong suits. I’m working on it, because as a Christian that’s what I need to do. I’ve always been a better talker than listener. I’m going to work on that or die trying.....

Has "Some Kind of Monster" as background music...

http://billbrenner1970.wordpress.com/

Recovery, OCD

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