Study Finds Dual Eligibles Denied Access To Psychiatric Drugs Under Medicare Part D, Other Problems

"Medication Access and Continuity: The Experiences of Dual-Eligible Psychiatric Patients During the First 4 Months of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit," American Journal of Psychiatry: For the study, Joyce West of the American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education and colleagues examined access to psychiatric medications under Medicare Part D for dual eligibles -- beneficiaries who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid -- and found that some experience significant problems receiving drugs. More than 30% of dual eligibles were denied medication refills, more than 22% had interrupted or discontinued access to medication and many beneficiaries had their medications changed regardless of whether their condition was stable. The authors concluded that these access difficulties led to suicide, hospitalizations and homelessness, prompting mental health advocates, such as the American Psychiatric Association, to push for the drug plans to follow CMS guidelines (American Psychiatric Association release, 5/1).

Connecting Tags; Medicare, Recovery, fan-the-flame, copower, prosynergy

The origins of Empowerment Day

by Gerald Butler

One day in October of 05, Darryl Cornwell and I had just left the recently opened Highland Park Clubhouse where upon he commented on how enthusiastic I get whenever I am around other consumers. After a few minutes, he asked ‘If you could do one thing for consumers, what would it be? My answer, “My dream is for consumers to have one day a year where they are honored for their struggles in recovery. No politics, no bosses, no fear of being debased, simply a day in their honor”. Over the next few weeks Darryl continued to ask me for more details, even though I kept assuring him it would never happen. The next thing I know I am sitting in front of Marilyn Snowden (Director-Detroit East) telling her my dream in detail. I was pleasantly surprised when she said she would make my dream come true, luckily, I didn’t tell her that it would never happen.

Even though the Peer Support Movement teaches us the value of having hope and self-confidence, I found myself ready to call it off when ever even minor issue arose. I went many times to Ms. Snowden with these concerns, fully expecting her to say it could not be done. It turned out that either she has anticipated the problem and handled it, or she would make a phone call and solve what I deemed a disaster. What she mostly did was gave me HOPE, and like the child with a new toy, I wanted to show my newfound hope to other consumers. So ‘Visions’ began visiting clubhouses during which time we found it better to go not to take something, but just going to listen to consumers. The more I listened, the more I realized our only difference was that I was lucky enough to have gotten some good support.

Folks from all over Wayne County and the Sate came out to support ‘Empowerment Day’. I now know that had I not had a sense of self-esteem and hope, it simply would not have occurred. That sense of self worth is a direct result of the Peer Support Movement, through which our experiences become valuable as we utilize them to help others. When we help others, we feel better about ourselves. The better we fell about ourselves the more positive we become about our recovery.

Next MindFreedom International Free Internet Radio -- Listen and

Neil Gong on "Madness, College & Asian Americans: Create
Community in Response to the Virginia Tech Tragedy."

[PLUS at BOTTOM: News about MindFreedom Virginia... Electroshock
protest in Montreal, Toronto, Ireland... Oregon activism...]

Neil Gong has important insights on what our society can learn from
the Virginia Tech tragedy. Neil is a community organizer on college
campuses supporting students who are diagnosed with psychiatric
disabilities.

Neil's studies include how mental health issues impact Asian American
communities.

You may listen and phone in LIVE to this Internet radio show *this*
Wednesday, 9 May at 4 pm ET at http://prncomm.net. Host is David Oaks.

Evidence-Based Review of Peer Support

BACKGROUND/RATIONALE: Serious mental illness (SMI) is the second most costly medical disorder treated in the VHA. Despite these expenditures, clinical outcomes for these patients are often poor due to a combination of low quality care and severe cognitive and functional impairments. While these problems are multifaceted, studies outside the VHA have shown that the use of different types of peer support-those with SMI in recovery providing assistance and role modeling to other with SMI-can often improve and augment public care. This is because peer support addresses factors that contribute to poor outcomes at the patient level. They reduce social isolation and also facilitate patient involvement in the community-based service and supports. They also address outcomes at the system level by increasing patient access and moving services toward a recovery orientation.

Connecting Tags; Recovery, peer, social production, community-based, choice, fan-the-flame, copower, prosynergy

Youths Describe Obstacles On Their Road to Recovery

Listen to us. Don’t talk down to us. Make us a part of the healing process, and give us choices in our treatment.

This was just some of the heartfelt advice given by a group of young people with mental illness to 200 attendees who gathered at the 17th Annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy held last month in Atlanta. Psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health and educational administrators, parents, and mental health advocates were among those who attended the symposium. As they sat onstage facing 200 attendees at the symposium, "Youth in Crisis—Uniting for Action," the youths related eerily similar stories of alienation, being bullied, powerlessness, repeated suicide attempts, and an endless parade of doctors, therapists, and medications.

Connecting Tags; Recovery, youth, peer, stigma, fan-the-flame, copower, prosynergy

YOUTH VOICES: Speaking Out About Recovery

"When I was 15, I attempted suicide," said Lorrin McGinnis. "My mom was devastated, and a lot of my friends felt hurt. As a result, I decided about a week later that, okay, I can't live for myself right now because I'm not happy, but I'm going to try to live for other people. I was trying to make the biggest impact I could in other people's lives because I felt like I couldn't do that in my own life. The ironic part is that, by doing that, it really helped me. I found purpose in my own life."

Now age 20 and studying for a degree in social work, Ms. McGinnis is a youth coordinator at Utah Allies for Families in Ogden, UT.

Connecting Tags; Recovery, youth, Recovery, peer, fan-the-flame, copower, prosynergy

Good News

by Gerald Butler

May 3, 2007

First, I must get the bad news out of the way: Due to budgetary issues, the ‘Peer Support and Co-Occurring’ conference slated for the 23^rd of this month has been rescheduled until sometime in September. I would like to offer both thanks and apologies to those who have been working with ‘Visions’ over the last year to make it possible. The good news is “Empowerment Day’ is scheduled for June 15^th, and since the only major changes will be the absence of the State folks, we already have the majority of the program in place. This year’s theme will be ‘Peer Support and Consumer Empowerment’. Matrix Theater is a group of folks with MI, DD, SA, and/or any other issue that causes people to have to depend on the system for help. The actually act out their experiences in recovery with plays and skits, and hopefully they will come and share the day with us.

It is no secret that Case Managers fear Peer Supporters are after their jobs, when in reality nothing can be further from the truth. With Case Managers averaging a caseload of about 90 consumers, logic dictates it is impossible for them to give each one of us the time and effort required for us to have a good start on our recovery journey. Since Case Managers and Peer Supporters are like the front line troops, the closer we work together, the better the outcomes for all involved. On June 15^th, we are asking Case Managers to attend and ask questions. We need them to have a clear understanding of exactly what role Peer Supporters play in System Transformation When the relationship is working correctly, Case Managers, as opposed to running around putting out fires, become free enough to devote time and effort to those myriad issues necessary for a consumer to do well in recovery.

Since the first Peer Supporter training in Michigan, Dr. Harriet Green has shown high interest and support for the movement. Over the past year, she has studied the peer support manual from a clinician’s point of view. Dr Green fells it is vital we know where we are in our journey of recovery, and will be speaking on the “Stages of Change”. No one begins a task with out hope of completing it, and unless we have hope of recovery, there is no need for us to participate in the process. Sherri Rushman will be sharing her thoughts on ‘Hope Givers, Hope Receivers’, and personally, I feel energized each time I hear her speak. Throughout the day, consumers will be speaking and giving recovery stories, and we will have fun, meet new friends, and learn new things. The only folks missing will be those who bought the Peer Movement to Michigan, Pam Werner, and Irene Kazieczko. That would make it a perfect day.

Again, sorry for the inconvenience the date change has caused anyone, but hopefully we will make up for on June 15^th. Looking forward to having you come and share this day of recovery with us.

Connecting Tags; Recovery, peer, community-based, fan-the-flame, copower, prosynergy

The Advocacy Network of Maine

In keeping with the vision, values and philosophy of a consumer-driven system of care, we endorse the definition of recovery expressed by the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health:

“Recovery refers to the process in which people are able to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities. For some individuals, recovery is the ability to live a fulfilling and productive life despite a disability. For others, recovery implies the reduction or complete remission of symptoms. Science has shown that having hope plays an integral role in an individual’s recovery.”

GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
In a Transformed Mental Health System …

Connecting Tags; Recovery, peer, social production, fan-the-flame, copower, prosynergy

MindFreedom News

Youth Psychiatric Survivors Speak Out on MFI Free Internet Radio!

The next two MindFreedom Internet Radio Shows -- broadcast live and
free on the web -- will feature youth psychiatric survivors
reflecting on the Virginia Tech tragedy. You may phone in live with
your questions and comments.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, 2 May 2007, at 4 pm ET, you may hear Martin
Rafferty, a 20 year old psychiatric survivor activist and MindFreedom
Youth Outreach Coordinator, as a guest on the show. Host is David Oaks.

The next week, Wednesday, 9 May 2007, guest will be Neil Gong of the
Icarus Project. Neil is a psychiatric survivor college campus
organizer at New York University. Hear from the point of view of a
college student who is working to raise these issues with other
students.

As always, you may call in LIVE with your comments and questions.

HOW TO HEAR SHOW LIVE: Just click on http://prncomm.net/ to hear the
show live, Wednesdays at 4 pm ET. To call in, listen for the toll
free number in the USA or a special number for outside the USA. Or e-
mail at any time to radio@mindfreedom.org and your comment may be
read on the air.

CHALLENGING STIGMA CONFERENCE

The Guidance Center will host a conference for members of the Downriver faith community Saturday, June 2^nd: "Challenging Stigma - Promoting a Realistic, Strengths-Based View of People with Mental Illness." The event, which will feature information about current trends in community-based support, materials from the national anti-stigma campaign ("What a difference a friend makes)" and a panel of mental health consumers, will be held at the Center for Excellence at 13111 Allen Road in Southgate from 8 am to 4 pm. If you are interested in helping to promote a better understanding of mental illness and challenge the stigma associated with mental illness in your community, please contact Rich Casteels at (734) 785-7705 extension 7123 or rcasteels@guidance-center.org.