On a PBS Special, “Out of the Shadows” broadcast nationally last week, one of the articulate, brave folks discussing his bipolar disorder and how he lives with it, dumped the contents of his neatly organized and fully packed pill case out on the table in full view of the camera! “When I get discouraged about taking so much medication, I remember these little are the chemical capsules that stand between me and insanity!”

As more and more people are using modern day chemistry as an efficient vehicle toward a better life, it becomes helpful to follow some guideline reminders for pharmaceutical safety. Here are some alerts!

1. Know what you take and why you take it. Does each bottle say what the meds are for? Are the pills in that bottle a brand name or a generic? Do you know the difference in potency? Do you know the difference in cost?
Ask the doctor if any laboratory monitoring is required, and how often, for specific medications.

Keep a list of all of your medications, dosages and the time you take the pills. Keep it with your insurance card in your wallet or purse.

Know the most common and most serious side effects of each medication you take.
Check with your pharmacist about the true “shelf life” of a medicine. Maybe longer than the date on the bottle
Do not throw old medicine in the toilet or down any drain. Instead, smother them in coffee grounds or kitty litter and then put them in the trash.

Do not lend your medications to other people; do not take other people’s pills.
If you miss a dose, skip it and resume the medication routine at the next directed time.
Ask your doctor when it is reasonable to expect results. Is it hours? Days? Weeks or months? This will prevent unrealistic expectations.

Remember the main reason most psychotropic medicines don’t work is not the level of dosage but the length of time the patient has been taking it.

Write down the questions you have about your medications and take it with you when you visit your physician.
Get all of your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy. Everything in the same database will identify and flag all potential side effects and drug interactions regardless of who prescribed them.

All medications have side effects. Know what they are. Both you and your physician should weigh the risks and the benefits of any medication. The bottom line should be an improved quality of life and an enhanced ability to function . . . for YOU!

Jacqueline Castine is the community education specialist at the Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority . Her fall class schedule is posted at www.jacquelinecastine.com. She is the author of I Wish I Could Fix It, But. . . She can be reached at castinej@occmha.org and 248-975-9684.

The Community Network Services Anti-Stigma Program is on the move! The team has been more in demand since we have doing more conferences. This year marks the 1st time the team will be presenting out of state. And preparations for the 2nd Annual CNS Stomp Out Stigma 5K is just around the corner.

Upcoming events in the near future include:

During the week of September 10th thru the 13th the CNS Anti-Stigma Program has been asked do a breakout session for the DBSA (National Depression Bipolar Support Alliance) Conference held in Indianapolis, IN. for the first time in a national venue, the team is doing their newest creation entitled “Recovery: It’s a Journey, Not a Destination”. This slam poetry reading explores the vital elements of recovery, identifies and incorporates essentials needed to insure a successful journey down road of recovery.

September 12th all roads lead to Independence Oaks County Park in Clarkston MI. for the 2nd Annual CNS Stomp Out Stigma 5K run, walk. Join us as walkers, runners and program supporters from all over the Metro Detroit area come together to promote Mental Health Awareness and sensitivity to all those who are affected by mental health challenges.

October 8th & 9th the team is collaborating with the Behavioral Heath Department of St. Joseph Mercy-Oakland to present a panel discussion, social hour, and depression screenings as a way to promote mental wellness through early detection of any mental health issues.

October 17th the team will share mental health resources with the members of the Metro Detroit Chapter of DBSA.

October 20th – 21st the team will be sharing resources at the MACMHB Winter Conference held in Traverse City, MI.

October 23rd the team will also share mental health resources at Kadima’s Educational Conference which will be held at the Auburn Hills Campus of Oakland Community College.

November 9 & 10 members of the team will be presenting a workshop and also be featured as keynote speaker at the MIAPSRS (Michigan Assoc. of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services) Conference which will be held at the Bavarian Inn, Frankenmuth, MI.

November 19th in collaboration with Oakland County Suicide Prevention Coalition, the team will be presenting as part of an educational series called “Understanding Mental Health Issues” for the parishioners of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Community Church in Lake Orion, MI. These lectures are designed to educate the congregants about mental health issues and inform them of resources currently available in Oakland County.

I receive StigmaBuster Alerts from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). In August, they sent one regarding a donut shop in California, just outside San Francisco. The shop’s name, Psycho Donuts, is “tasteless”, said NAMI. I agree. They decorated the shop with straightjackets and a padded cell. I searched for the shop’s website and was offended by what I saw; displays of their donuts with names such as Manic Malt, Mood Swing, Cereal Killer and Coco Kooks.

Besides NAMI, another advocacy group in the California area made strides to confront this business. CAUSE (Community Alliance United to Seek Equality) formed their coalition as a result of the Psycho Donuts controversy.

Their rally held in August gave out t-shirts that said: “Disabilities are nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all."

After protesters and advocates from several organizations took a stand, Mercury News in San Jose, CA reported that advocacy won over Psycho Donuts. Their page still has above-named donuts, but others named “bipolar” and “massive head trauma” are off the menu. The padded cell is no longer and has been transformed into a music studio. The owner said he’d like the shop to take more of a music-themed focus. They even added links to mental health advocacy groups as a result of a so-called “truce.” Even still, the shop’s name remains the same and certain mental health references remain on the menu. The owner is talking about replacing these items.
I’ll have to admit. I searched online for the Psycho Donuts website and was somewhat confused after reading menu items and seeing links to mental health advocacy groups. However, I now understand where it is going. Advocates sat down with the owner face-to-face and brought their concerns. His response was adding the advocacy links and changing the names of some of his donuts. Although they still seem to be giving a mixed message, change remains the driving force.

The more we advocate in a genuine way, the more our voice will be heard. In this case, a community joined together to voice concerns…and the owner is listening! Let’s be encouraged by this story to continue in our efforts as advocates. Determination and persistence mixed with honesty and respect is key.

To receive NAMI’s StigmaBuster alerts, go to www.nami.org and click on Fight Stigma.

I was 14 years old when I lost my Dad to suicide. At the time, my parents were already divorced and I was out with my Dad for the weekend. He was driving me around, running errands and we were fighting about my math grades. I was always horrible with math and my Dad was an accountant, so he was pretty upset. When I got back to his house, I phoned my Mom and said "come and pick me up, I don't want to spend the rest of the weekend with Dad". When she pulled up in the drive, I ran out of the house and I screamed at my father "I hate you, and I never want to see you again!” - I never saw him again, and those were my final words. Words I would never be able to take back.

For 10 years of I blamed myself for my Dad's death, struggled with depression, and abused drugs and alcohol to the point where I hoped that one morning, I just wouldn't wake up. I felt hopeless, and worthless, and that the world would be a better place without me. I felt like I was drowning, slipping farther and farther away from the light, unable to breathe. Nobody knew anything was wrong; I was always smiling, always laughing and partying and carrying on. Nobody knew that I was dying inside, because I was too ashamed to talk about it with anyone.

One night, I decided that I would pick up a pen and notepad and write a note to my Dad. I said that I was sorry for what I said, and that I didn't mean it. I told him that I needed his forgiveness, and that he too needed mine so that I could move on with my life. After reading the note at his graveside, I went home, picked up my guitar and wrote a song called "No Resolve" summarizing what had been in the note. This was a life-changing experience for me, and it got me moving on a new path. Positive change took time of course, I had a lot of things I needed to figure about myself, but I knew my life had been transformed that day.

In 2007 I started a non-profit organization in Macomb County called NoResolve.org and now I go around to middle schools, high schools and colleges to talk about my story, the warning signs of suicide, what to do in crisis, myths, facts and statistics. My dream is that one day, people won't have to suffer the pain of losing a loved one to suicide. I also hope to prevent someone from feeling like I did for so long by encouraging people to express themselves somehow, and remind them that we are not alone out there, that there is hope, and there is help, and that, as my beautiful new friend Malkia said, "it is possible to live, not just exist".

Suicide claims the lives of over 32,000 people every year in the United States - about 1 person every 16 minutes. Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24. NoResolve.org's mission is to reduce suicides by starting a conversation that inspires hope, promotes resilience and encourages self-empowerment through music, art, writing and film. In October, we will launch "The Detour Project". Log on to www.NoResolve.org for more information about us.

If you are having thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.