Depression in Children & Teens: Signs & Interventions
Thursday April 9 from 6-7:30pm
Social Skills for Special Needs Children
Tuesday April 14 from 6-7:30pm
Child Sexual Abuse: Signs, Symptoms & Solutions
Tuesday April 28 from 6-7:30pm
Promoting Healthy Behavior in Kids
Thursday April 30 from 6-7:30pm
All classes will be held at the Parents Services Center located at 4411 Old Bullard Rd., Ste.602, Tyler, Tx. You must register for the class at 903-595-2235.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Grading the States 2009
Mental health care in America is in crisis. The nation’s mental health care system gets a dismal D. As the nation confronts a severe economic crisis, demand for mental health services is increasing -- but state budget cuts are creating a vicious cycle that is leaving some of our most vulnerable citizens behind. We must move forward, not retreat ... more
Read the full report here.
Read the full report here.
Legal Coalition
Email from Dawn Trammell:
Hello everyone,
I am sorry that it has taken me so long to send out an update, but I have been very busy working on this. If you attended one of my workshops or have read my book, you know that I have been working as an advocate for Families of the Mentally Ill.
For those of you that are not aware of it, I am taking that one step further and starting a non-profit for that purpose. The name of the group will be the Legal Coalition for Families of the Mentally Ill. Check out our website at www.legalcoalition.org .
Our first board meeting will be in Tyler at Traditions Restuarant on April 9th at 6pm and I would like to invite you all to be there. If you are interested in becoming a board member please email me back and let me know so that I can put you on the agenda. Our objectives are as follows:
1. To educate the general public and families of the mentally ill about any and all legal avenues that are available to them.
2. To educate Law Enforcement, the Judicial System and Mental Health Care workers as to the avenues available to them and their consumer’s families.
3. To provide a support system for families during the legal process of getting help for their loved ones with a mental illness, including legal counsel and monetary and emotional support during this process..
4. Assisting the State of Texas in organizing a viable Assisted Outpatient Treatment program statewide.
I would also like to be able to tell you about the project I am working on with State legislators in May and June regarding objective number 4. It is a huge project and will benefit all mentally ill in Texas and their families.
If you are coming to the meeting, please RSVP so that I can have a big enough space reserved for all of us. If you cannot make the meeting, but would like to make a monetary donation, please also let me know. I hope to see you all there!
Dawn Trammell
Director
Legal Coalition for Families of the Mentally Ill
www.legalcoalition.org
schizo100@ymail.com
903-689-4904-office
903-497-6758-cell
Hello everyone,
I am sorry that it has taken me so long to send out an update, but I have been very busy working on this. If you attended one of my workshops or have read my book, you know that I have been working as an advocate for Families of the Mentally Ill.
For those of you that are not aware of it, I am taking that one step further and starting a non-profit for that purpose. The name of the group will be the Legal Coalition for Families of the Mentally Ill. Check out our website at www.legalcoalition.org .
Our first board meeting will be in Tyler at Traditions Restuarant on April 9th at 6pm and I would like to invite you all to be there. If you are interested in becoming a board member please email me back and let me know so that I can put you on the agenda. Our objectives are as follows:
1. To educate the general public and families of the mentally ill about any and all legal avenues that are available to them.
2. To educate Law Enforcement, the Judicial System and Mental Health Care workers as to the avenues available to them and their consumer’s families.
3. To provide a support system for families during the legal process of getting help for their loved ones with a mental illness, including legal counsel and monetary and emotional support during this process..
4. Assisting the State of Texas in organizing a viable Assisted Outpatient Treatment program statewide.
I would also like to be able to tell you about the project I am working on with State legislators in May and June regarding objective number 4. It is a huge project and will benefit all mentally ill in Texas and their families.
If you are coming to the meeting, please RSVP so that I can have a big enough space reserved for all of us. If you cannot make the meeting, but would like to make a monetary donation, please also let me know. I hope to see you all there!
Dawn Trammell
Director
Legal Coalition for Families of the Mentally Ill
www.legalcoalition.org
schizo100@ymail.com
903-689-4904-office
903-497-6758-cell
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Martin Sheen Advocates for Treatment
Martin Sheen Advocates for Treatment
Award-winning actor and activist Martin Sheen is working to raise awareness of the need to change state laws to improve treatment for severe mental illnesses. Sheen joined Father Jim Kinney of the Peace of Mind Project during an interview on Philadelphia’s ABC Action News show Puerto Rican Panorama. They discuss the challenges and struggles facing those living with untreated severe mental illness and the despair facing their loving families. Watch the video and learn more about other topics by clicking read more below.
Philadelphia ABC Action News public affairs show Puerto Rican Panorama talked to actor Martin Sheen and Father Jim Kinney on January 10, 2009. They talked with show host Dr. Diego Castellanos about the importance of family members in getting help for a loved with a severe mental illness. The segment emphasizes the pivotal role Pennsylvania treatment laws play in determining who gets treatment and the consequences of delay. Help spread the word and tell 10 friends about this Martin Sheen interview.
Award-winning actor and activist Martin Sheen is working to raise awareness of the need to change state laws to improve treatment for severe mental illnesses. Sheen joined Father Jim Kinney of the Peace of Mind Project during an interview on Philadelphia’s ABC Action News show Puerto Rican Panorama. They discuss the challenges and struggles facing those living with untreated severe mental illness and the despair facing their loving families. Watch the video and learn more about other topics by clicking read more below.
Philadelphia ABC Action News public affairs show Puerto Rican Panorama talked to actor Martin Sheen and Father Jim Kinney on January 10, 2009. They talked with show host Dr. Diego Castellanos about the importance of family members in getting help for a loved with a severe mental illness. The segment emphasizes the pivotal role Pennsylvania treatment laws play in determining who gets treatment and the consequences of delay. Help spread the word and tell 10 friends about this Martin Sheen interview.
Myths vs. Facts
Mental Health: Myths Vs. Facts
Myth:
There’s no hope for people with mental illnesses.
Fact:
There are more treatments, strategies, and community supports than ever before, and even more are on the horizon. People with mental illnesses lead active, productive lives.
Myth:
I can’t do anything for someone with mental health needs.
Fact:
You can do a lot, starting with the way you act and how you speak. You can nurture an environment that builds on people’s strengths and promotes good mental health.
Myth:
People with mental illnesses are violent and unpredictable.
Fact:
In reality, the vast majority of people who have mental health needs are no more violent than anyone else. You probably know someone with a mental illness and don’t even realize it.
Myth:
Mental illnesses cannot affect me.
Fact:
Mental illnesses are surprisingly common; they affect almost every family in America. Mental illnesses do not discriminate—they can affect anyone.
Myth:
Mental illness is the same as mental retardation.
Fact:
The two are distinct disorders. A mental retardation diagnosis is characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning and difficulties with certain daily living skills. In contrast, people with mental illnesses—health conditions that cause changes in a person’s thinking, mood, and behavior—have varied intellectual functioning, just like the general population.
Myth:
Mental illnesses are brought on by a weakness of character.
Fact:
Mental illnesses are a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Research has shown genetic and biological factors are associated with schizophrenia, depression, and alcoholism. Social influences, such as loss of a loved one or a job, can also contribute to the development of various disorders.
Myth:
People with mental illnesses cannot tolerate the stress of holding down a job.
Fact:
In essence, all jobs are stressful to some extent. Productivity is maximized when there is a good match between the employee’s needs and working conditions, whether or not the individual has mental health needs.
Myth:
People with mental health needs, even those who have received effective treatment and have recovered, tend to be second-rate workers on the job.
Fact:
Employers who have hired people with mental illnesses report good attendance and punctuality, as well as motivation, quality of work, and job tenure on par with or greater than other employees. Studies by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) show that there are no differences in productivity when people with mental illnesses are compared to other employees.
Myth:
Once people develop mental illnesses, they will never recover.
Fact:
Studies show that most people with mental illnesses get better, and many recover completely. 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. 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.
Myth:
Therapy and self-help are wastes of time. Why bother when you can just take one of those pills you hear about on TV?
Fact:
Treatment varies depending on the individual. A lot of people work with therapists, counselors, their peers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and social workers in their recovery process. They also use self-help strategies and community supports. Often these methods are combined with some of the most advanced medications available.
Myth:
Children do not experience mental illnesses. Their actions are just products of bad parenting.
Fact:
A report from the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health showed that in any given year 5-9 percent of children experience serious emotional disturbances. Just like adult mental illnesses, these are clinically diagnosable health conditions that are a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, social, and sometimes even genetic factors.
Myth:
Children misbehave or fail in school just to get attention.
Fact:
Behavior problems can be symptoms of emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders, rather than merely attention-seeking devices. These children can succeed in school with appropriate understanding, attention, and mental health services.
From wpxi.com
Myth:
There’s no hope for people with mental illnesses.
Fact:
There are more treatments, strategies, and community supports than ever before, and even more are on the horizon. People with mental illnesses lead active, productive lives.
Myth:
I can’t do anything for someone with mental health needs.
Fact:
You can do a lot, starting with the way you act and how you speak. You can nurture an environment that builds on people’s strengths and promotes good mental health.
Myth:
People with mental illnesses are violent and unpredictable.
Fact:
In reality, the vast majority of people who have mental health needs are no more violent than anyone else. You probably know someone with a mental illness and don’t even realize it.
Myth:
Mental illnesses cannot affect me.
Fact:
Mental illnesses are surprisingly common; they affect almost every family in America. Mental illnesses do not discriminate—they can affect anyone.
Myth:
Mental illness is the same as mental retardation.
Fact:
The two are distinct disorders. A mental retardation diagnosis is characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning and difficulties with certain daily living skills. In contrast, people with mental illnesses—health conditions that cause changes in a person’s thinking, mood, and behavior—have varied intellectual functioning, just like the general population.
Myth:
Mental illnesses are brought on by a weakness of character.
Fact:
Mental illnesses are a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Research has shown genetic and biological factors are associated with schizophrenia, depression, and alcoholism. Social influences, such as loss of a loved one or a job, can also contribute to the development of various disorders.
Myth:
People with mental illnesses cannot tolerate the stress of holding down a job.
Fact:
In essence, all jobs are stressful to some extent. Productivity is maximized when there is a good match between the employee’s needs and working conditions, whether or not the individual has mental health needs.
Myth:
People with mental health needs, even those who have received effective treatment and have recovered, tend to be second-rate workers on the job.
Fact:
Employers who have hired people with mental illnesses report good attendance and punctuality, as well as motivation, quality of work, and job tenure on par with or greater than other employees. Studies by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) show that there are no differences in productivity when people with mental illnesses are compared to other employees.
Myth:
Once people develop mental illnesses, they will never recover.
Fact:
Studies show that most people with mental illnesses get better, and many recover completely. 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. 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.
Myth:
Therapy and self-help are wastes of time. Why bother when you can just take one of those pills you hear about on TV?
Fact:
Treatment varies depending on the individual. A lot of people work with therapists, counselors, their peers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and social workers in their recovery process. They also use self-help strategies and community supports. Often these methods are combined with some of the most advanced medications available.
Myth:
Children do not experience mental illnesses. Their actions are just products of bad parenting.
Fact:
A report from the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health showed that in any given year 5-9 percent of children experience serious emotional disturbances. Just like adult mental illnesses, these are clinically diagnosable health conditions that are a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, social, and sometimes even genetic factors.
Myth:
Children misbehave or fail in school just to get attention.
Fact:
Behavior problems can be symptoms of emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders, rather than merely attention-seeking devices. These children can succeed in school with appropriate understanding, attention, and mental health services.
From wpxi.com
Person First Language
Distributed from the Hogg Foundation, posted by WPXI.com
Mental Health: Terminology
Posted: 12:45 pm EDT March 25, 2009
It is essential to use healthy terminology when writing about mental health. For example, using the word “usual” rather than “normal,” can have a dramatically different affect on your audience. Using the proper terminology can eliminate stigma in society!
Also, keep in mind that a person suffering from a mental illness is not defined by the illness. Oftentimes people are referred to as the illness and not as a person that is struggling with the illness.
Derogatory Labels
Avoid, where possible, any slang term referring to mental illness, including crazy, lunatic, nuts, deranged, deficient, wacko, loony tune, psycho, mad, freak, weirdo, schizo, manic, handicapped, special, slow, low-functioning, retarded, disturbed, weird, strange, insane, loco, abnormal, normal, and other words with negative connotations or inherent judgments.
Also, avoid phrases such as “off his meds” when used in a judgmental or derogatory context.
Inaccurate Diagnoses
When referring to a person who is affected by a mental health related illness whether being “Manic”/ “manic depressive” / “bipolar” or “Schizophrenic” or another mental health related illnesses remember that the person has a disorder-- the disorder is not a label for who the person is.
Referring to a person as a “schizophrenic” or “bipolar” is always inappropriate (a person has schizophrenia or other mental illnesses; he or she is not “schizophrenic,” “bipolar,” etc.), and the term is often misapplied to characteristics that are not symptoms of schizophrenia.
For example, “multiple personalities” and “schizophrenia” are not the same thing, but often are used interchangeably.
Additional terminology resources can be found by Clicking Here and by Clicking Here.
Mental Health: Terminology
Posted: 12:45 pm EDT March 25, 2009
It is essential to use healthy terminology when writing about mental health. For example, using the word “usual” rather than “normal,” can have a dramatically different affect on your audience. Using the proper terminology can eliminate stigma in society!
Also, keep in mind that a person suffering from a mental illness is not defined by the illness. Oftentimes people are referred to as the illness and not as a person that is struggling with the illness.
Derogatory Labels
Avoid, where possible, any slang term referring to mental illness, including crazy, lunatic, nuts, deranged, deficient, wacko, loony tune, psycho, mad, freak, weirdo, schizo, manic, handicapped, special, slow, low-functioning, retarded, disturbed, weird, strange, insane, loco, abnormal, normal, and other words with negative connotations or inherent judgments.
Also, avoid phrases such as “off his meds” when used in a judgmental or derogatory context.
Inaccurate Diagnoses
When referring to a person who is affected by a mental health related illness whether being “Manic”/ “manic depressive” / “bipolar” or “Schizophrenic” or another mental health related illnesses remember that the person has a disorder-- the disorder is not a label for who the person is.
Referring to a person as a “schizophrenic” or “bipolar” is always inappropriate (a person has schizophrenia or other mental illnesses; he or she is not “schizophrenic,” “bipolar,” etc.), and the term is often misapplied to characteristics that are not symptoms of schizophrenia.
For example, “multiple personalities” and “schizophrenia” are not the same thing, but often are used interchangeably.
Additional terminology resources can be found by Clicking Here and by Clicking Here.
NAMI TEXAS 2009 Legislative Priorities
NAMI TEXAS 2009 Legislative Priorities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Community MH funding in the state budget: Increased capacity for recovery oriented adult services
With the new emphasis on mobile crisis outreach, funding is needed for increased capacity in the community for recovery oriented services. Most community mental health centers now have waiting lists for services; funding is needed to address this shortfall.
2. Community MH funding in the state budget: Crisis redesign maintenance
NAMI Texas supports the maintenance of the crisis redesign funding for the next biennium. Due to the late start of the roll out, the majority of funds in the current budget are targeted for 2009. NAMI Texas will fully support the maintenance of that amount for the next biennium.
3. Community MH funding in the state budget: Increased funding for children's services
Due to years of inadequacy in funding children's services in Texas, the present state of children's services is abysmal; additional funding is imperative to address this lack of services for children and adolescents.
4. Increased funding in the state budget for substance abuse/co-occurring mental illnesses
There is a serious lack of appropriate programs for those with co-occurring mental illnesses and substance abuse problems. NAMI Texas supports the increase in funding to address this serious issue.
Supported Issues
(This list may be added to as the session proceeds and other issues arise.)
Veteran's mental health initiatives
Additional state hospital capacity for staffed beds
Jail diversion strategies
Not guilty by reason of insanity issues
Competency restoration initiatives
Mandatory judicial training
Education of public school students/teachers K-12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Community MH funding in the state budget: Increased capacity for recovery oriented adult services
With the new emphasis on mobile crisis outreach, funding is needed for increased capacity in the community for recovery oriented services. Most community mental health centers now have waiting lists for services; funding is needed to address this shortfall.
2. Community MH funding in the state budget: Crisis redesign maintenance
NAMI Texas supports the maintenance of the crisis redesign funding for the next biennium. Due to the late start of the roll out, the majority of funds in the current budget are targeted for 2009. NAMI Texas will fully support the maintenance of that amount for the next biennium.
3. Community MH funding in the state budget: Increased funding for children's services
Due to years of inadequacy in funding children's services in Texas, the present state of children's services is abysmal; additional funding is imperative to address this lack of services for children and adolescents.
4. Increased funding in the state budget for substance abuse/co-occurring mental illnesses
There is a serious lack of appropriate programs for those with co-occurring mental illnesses and substance abuse problems. NAMI Texas supports the increase in funding to address this serious issue.
Supported Issues
(This list may be added to as the session proceeds and other issues arise.)
Veteran's mental health initiatives
Additional state hospital capacity for staffed beds
Jail diversion strategies
Not guilty by reason of insanity issues
Competency restoration initiatives
Mandatory judicial training
Education of public school students/teachers K-12
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Meetings
General Meetings are the 4th Tuesday of each Month at 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Andrews Center, 2323 W. Front Street, Tyler, Texas Upstairs
NAMI Connections meetings are the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at the Andrews Center, 2323 W. Front Street, Tyler, Texas Upstairs
NAMI Connections meetings are the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at the Andrews Center, 2323 W. Front Street, Tyler, Texas Upstairs
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