Mental Health First Aid was such a success in 2010! We are excited to announce the upcoming dates for 2011! Mental Health First Aid is a two-day training. Training on both days will begin at 9:30 and end at 4:30. 

2011 Mental Health First Aid Training Dates:
January 27-28
March 24-25
May 19-20
July 28-29
September 22-23
The cost of training will be $30/person and will cover
instruction materials and lunch on both days.

What is Mental Health First Aid?

People who enroll in the Mental Health First Aid training learn a five-step action plan to help loved ones, colleagues, neighbors, and others cope with mental health problems.  Similar to traditional First Aid and CPR, Mental Health First Aid is help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a crisis until professional treatment is obtained or the crisis resolves.  Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based public education and prevention tool—it improves the public’s knowledge of mental health problems and connects people with care for their mental health.

Who should take Mental Health First Aid? Everybody! 

Hospitals and Health Care Centers, School employees, Direct-care Home Staff, Families and Caring Citizens, Nurses, Policymakers, Faith Community Members, Law Enforcement/Justice, Mental Health Authority Employees

This program has been made possible by Community Network Services and Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority

For more information about scheduling a training for your agency, group, or community, please contact Amy Yashinsky at 248-871-1403 or ayashinky@cnsmi.org

We take you now to Waunakee, WI, where the Waunakee High School dance team is headed to the state competition with a rather unique routine. In it, the team “gets crazy” while wearing uniforms resembling straitjackets and restraints with the words “Psych Ward” on them. The girls, however, have been forced to tone down their routine after complaints from mental health advocates and parents that their act mocks the mentally ill. Political correctness gone mad? You be the judge.

From the Capital Times:
News of the routine spread fast this week after photos of the dancers in their costumes were published in the Waunakee Tribune. “The pictures are quite disturbing,” says Hugh Davis, executive director of Wisconsin Family Ties. “We had parents and kids with mental health issues standing in the office with tears in their eyes. This brings up painful memories. It is incredibly insensitive.”
Following the uproar, the dance team has agreed to cover up the words “Psych Ward” on their costumes, and will also read a statement prior to their performance which includes a “we apologize to anyone we might have offended,” non-apology apology.

Not that they should be apologizing in the first place. Exactly who is crazy here? If the girls feel in retrospect that their routine is insensitive and wrong, they should admit it and dump it. If they don’t feel that way, they should keep it unchanged and go full-speed ahead with the madness. Teaching our children to back down under pressure is not cool.

Erin Cotter, the team’s head coach, says she is taken aback by how upset people are about the routine. “I don’t understand where they are coming from,” she says. Hip-hop is all about being “bold,” she says. Last year, a competing team dressed in orange jumpsuits pretended they were prisoners, she says. “The whole point is to get people pumped up and energized. Our intent had nothing to do with mental illness. Our total intent was just a hip-hop dance and the songs and the words that were popular. The thought never crossed my mind or the school’s or the parents’ or the kids’ that it was about mental illness.”

Look, until we get a complaint from Giants’ reliever Brian Wilson, I say that his dance routine is good to go as is.

http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2011/02/05/you-crazy-mental-health-advocates-in-uproar-over-high-school-dance-teams-psych-ward-routine/

Every New Year brings us a fresh new calendar to hang on our walls. This year we also get to welcome a new Governor and many new Senators, Representatives and County Commissioners to their governmental leadership roles.  I am looking forward to getting to know them and working together with our community leaders, community organizations and those we serve. Together, we will continue to overcome the challenges 2011 will bring and improve the lives of those we serve.
 
Looking back on 2010, OCCMHA is proud that we were able to navigate the cuts in State Funding without substantially reducing services or putting individuals on a waiting list.  The State funding (General Fund) is used primarily to provide services to persons not on Medicaid, under insured or not insured. Examples of services included medication, psychiatric appointments, hospitalization, therapy, case management etc.

In 2010 we served approximately 9,000 community members with these dollars. This represents a significantly increase in demand at the same time our funding was reduced.  

We will continue to have challenges regarding General Fund. In 2012 funding reductions will likely impact those who receive Medicaid as well.  OCCMHA will need to determine who to serve, and how to serve a greater number of those in need with fewer resources. Our efforts must reflect the needs and priorities of our community and especially those we currently serve. In an effort to inform and be informed, OCCMHA will be offering a number of opportunities for stakeholders and community members to provide their concerns, ideas and feedback.  Please participate and let us hear your voice.  

Complete details of these events can be found on our website at www.occmha.org. We are also on Facebook and Twitter.

Best wishes for a healthy and fruitful new year.
 
Jeffrey L. Brown
Executive Director
Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority
Community Education Specialist
Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority
2011 Executive Hills Blvd.
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
www.occmha.org
(248) 975-9684

Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority and Baldwin Library present a FREE five week interactive program series on brain science and mental health.

For Bonnie Talbot, a lifelong resident of Pontiac, Michigan, it seemed like her life would always be lived in the shadows. For over 46 years, Bonnie struggled with depression and battled suicidal thoughts on a daily basis. For her, life had become unbearable. Her girlfriend noticed her struggles and suggested to Bonnie that she call for help. She was so desperate for change that she didn’t allow anything or anyone stand in her way. She made the phone call that she says changed her life, “it was the best phone call that I have ever made”. It was just one short year ago when Bonnie called Community Network Services and her journey to recovery began.

“I was so relieved just to know what was wrong with me all those years”, Bonnie said. “I experienced nightmares that I was killing myself, dreams that people were chasing me, trying to hurt me, I didn’t know what was going on.”
The mental health services that Bonnie received have given her a new lease on life. Medicine and therapy have enabled her overcome the negative effects of depression that have kept her in darkness. She is now an active member of Visions Clubhouse. No longer spending her days in lonely isolation, Bonnie looks forward to her days now, going to Visions where she is learning how to socialize and has become more open in her interactions with other people. Bonnie is not just a receiver, she enjoys giving back to others by assisting with the upkeep of the clubhouse on a regular basis.

In addition to this, Bonnie is working to complete her high school education through the GED program that Visions offers. She took her first test and did very well, receiving a score of 420, when the average score is 390. Bonnie has every reason to be proud of her accomplishments over the past year.

Bonnie’s future goals include pursuing a career as a therapist; she plans to further her education at Baker College in Auburn Hills. “I want to become a therapist so I can share with others the benefits that I have received through my own experiences with therapy.” Bonnie has learned not to isolate from others when the darkness comes. Recovery has taught her to reach out to her support network whenever the she experiences suicidal thoughts. Being in recovery has given Bonnie hope, and she has a new found joy in living. “Before treatment I couldn’t have done this interview, talking on the phone to people was almost impossible for me to do.” Some days are still bad days, but Bonnie is learning to master skills that enable her to overcome and persevere on those bad days.

I enjoyed talking to Bonnie and hearing her success story. Her passion for life and her desire to serve others came through as she talked with me. Recovery works, when you work it. Bonnie Talbot is living proof of that!
“If you are struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, don’t be afraid or ashamed to seek help. Help is available!” Bonnie says. “No matter how bad things have been, have hope, your life can get better”.

The New Year has come in with a bang! What a way to start, presenting to over 700 students at South Lake High School in St. Clair Shores. It was quite an experience for us having so many students at one time. We presented a program geared for high school youth which consists of such mental health topics such as, “What is Stigma?” and we played the “Facts or Fiction” Game to encourage conversation about the myths and stereotypes that persist about mental health issues. We also shared with the students about the importance of being a friend, of being available to someone else who may be going through a difficult time. As always we shared our personal experiences with Bipolar Disorder and how living with the illness has affected our lives. We give a very special thank you to Gayle Merkle, the other counselors and staff that made it possible for us to come and share during their Annual Yellow Campaign for Suicide Prevention. We feel that we were able to make an impact on the South Lake students and we look forward to joining them again next year.
We also had the opportunity to talk to the Diabetes Class at Mercy Place Clinic in Pontiac. Tatayanna Coleman, one of our strongest program supporters, invited us to talk to the class about the connection between chronic physical health issues, depression, and stress. It was a very spirited discussion that was enjoyed by class attendees and staff as well.
We finished out the month presenting our very successful program “Adventures in Recovery: We’re not in Kansas Anymore, Toto” to the membership of NAMI Metro at their monthly meeting. Many members and supporters of NAMI Metro had not previously had the opportunity to see us present, and many of them were surprised by the “theatrics” and singing that were a part of our “show”. It was a very good mixture of people in attendance, consumers, family members and other support persons and professionals as well. Thanks to Leon and Mary Ellen Judd for inviting us to come and present, we look forward to sharing with them again in the near future.

Arguably one of the most defining elements of the United States of America is the rich cultural, ethnic and racial diversity of its population. This ever-changing mix of peoples creates a constant evolution of ideas and viewpoints. An area with varying cultural perspectives is health, often to the detriment of minority populations. A foundation to the strength of a country is the health of its people, both physical and mental, and a country can only be as strong as its weakest component. Obesity, for example, is a largely preventable risk factor associated with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and other health problems. However, data show that over two thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. For Black and Hispanic women, the percentages are highest, at 49.6 % and 43 % respectively, and the prevalence rates haven’t really changed since 1999.

Good mental health is also important to general well being. According to the 2004 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA), an estimated 15 million adults, or 7 % of the adult population, had an active severe mental illness (SMI) in the past year. Other studies have shown up to 30% of adults suffer from any mental disorder every year. A recent Surgeon General’s Report noted that Mental Illness is the second greatest economic burden in this country, just below cardiovascular diseases and before cancers! Mental disorders themselves are disabling conditions, and most would agree that the mind and body are inseparable. McElroy et al in 2004 noted mood disorders and obesity may be related. Several studies have also noted a link between depression and obesity. Research has further shown that people with severe mental illness are two to three times more likely than others to die from heart disease or stroke.

Unfortunately, many minorities are in poorer health than the White population. These racial disparities show themselves in higher rates of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and shorter life expectancy for Blacks and Hispanics as compared to the White population. These racial differences are often more startling in the area of mental health. Blacks are 30% more likely to report serious psychological distress than Whites. Suicide is the 8th leading cause of death in the United States, with 81 people dying from suicide each day. Older Asian women have the highest suicide rates amongst women, and adolescent Native Americans death rates from suicide are five times that of the White population. Black men’s death rate from suicide is five times that of Black females. Though the suicide rates for Blacks is generally lower than that of the White population, for the general population males are only 3 times more successful at suicide than females. So these minority statistics are alarming.
The reasons for these disparities are many. First and foremost is lower socioeconomic status. Living in poverty has the most measureable effect on the rates of mental illness. Per the Surgeon General’s Report, people in the lowest level of income, education and occupation are 2 to 3 times more likely to have a mental disorder than those in the highest level. Ethnic and racial minorities in the Unites States face a socioeconomic environment of inequality that leads to greater exposure to violence, racism and discrimination. Poverty often leads to lack of access to healthcare, because of lack of insurance and other economic barriers, lack of transportation, etc. And violence certainly increases stress, which can lead to declines in physical and mental health.

Discrimination itself is a risk factor for illness. It has been associated with increased rates of hypertension, depression, anxiety and stress. Authors have also documented relationships between depression and life events thought to be due to racism, as published in the British Journal of Medicine.

Many Americans with mental illness don’t seek treatment, and for minorities, the majority do not. Of those with SMI in the NHSDA report, only about half sought treatment overall. For Blacks, however, that rate was only 38%, and for Hispanics 27%. In addition to the poverty related issues, stigma appears to be an important reason for avoiding treatment. Historically stigmas were a distinguishing mark, often of social disgrace. Medically, they were a mark on the skin signifying a specific disease, or a “sign of a mental deficiency or emotional upset” (American Heritage Dictionary). Hence, it is clear that mental illness has long been stigmatizing. Additionally, however, stigmas were also a brand identifying slaves, like cattle. How ironic, then, that for African Americans, a legacy of slavery and racism have lead to poor socioeconomic and health status, including mental health, and that Blacks are very reluctant to acknowledge and get treatment for mental illness.

Finally, mistrust of mental health services is an important deterrent for minorities. Firstly, there is the shame of being labeled with a mental illness, and concerns about lack of confidentiality are rampant. Also, people fear being institutionalized. Blacks and Hispanics are disproportionately jailed compared to Whites, and Blacks are more likely to be psychiatrically hospitalized than Whites. Furthermore, Clinical environments often don’t match the culture of minority patients. This leads to patients feeling less comfortable, and being misunderstood. Numerous studies have shown direct and indirect clinician bias and stereotyping, leading to Black males being much more likely to be treated with antipsychotics, and Blacks and Hispanics being overdiagnosed with Schizophrenia.

So what can be done to improve the status of mental health care in America? Firstly more research that specifically addresses and includes minorities. We need to better understand the extent and nature of the disparities in health status and treatments to determine how to address them. As an example, minorities and women are vastly underrepresented in drug studies. The field of ethnopharmacology studies genetic and cultural factors to drug responses. Also, education is paramount. Clinicians must become more sensitive to the needs of various cultural groups and be prepared to provide culturally informed treatment. The institutions our communities, including schools, churches, even grocery stores must know more about good health habits, preventive practices, and medical and alternative treatments to eliminate fears, myths and misconceptions. Also, antistigma programs must target more than mental illness. Discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability and economic status, and the barriers associated with them, all lead to poor mental and physical health. Finally, our approaches to health must become more holistic. As mental health slowly achieves parity to physical health in our insurance laws, wellbeing must eventually be recognized simply as health, which affects and is affected by every aspect of our life, without a separation between the mind and the body.

Discrimination itself is a risk factor for illness. It has been associated with increased rates of hypertension, depression, anxiety and stress. Authors have also documented relationships between depression and life events thought to be due to racism, as published in the British Journal of Medicine.

Many Americans with mental illness don’t seek treatment, and for minorities, the majority do not. Of those with SMI in the NHSDA report, only about half sought treatment overall. For Blacks, however, that rate was only 38%, and for Hispanics 27%. In addition to the poverty related issues, stigma appears to be an important reason for avoiding treatment. Historically stigmas were a distinguishing mark, often of social disgrace. Medically, they were a mark on the skin signifying a specific disease, or a “sign of a mental deficiency or emotional upset” (American Heritage Dictionary). Hence, it is clear that mental illness has long been stigmatizing. Additionally, however, stigmas were also a brand identifying slaves, like cattle. How ironic, then, that for African Americans, a legacy of slavery and racism have lead to poor socioeconomic and health status, including mental health, and that Blacks are very reluctant to acknowledge and get treatment for mental illness.

Finally, mistrust of mental health services is an important deterrent for minorities. Firstly, there is the shame of being labeled with a mental illness, and concerns about lack of confidentiality are rampant. Also, people fear being institutionalized. Blacks and Hispanics are disproportionately jailed compared to Whites, and Blacks are more likely to be psychiatrically hospitalized than Whites. Furthermore, Clinical environments often don’t match the culture of minority patients. This leads to patients feeling less comfortable, and being misunderstood. Numerous studies have shown direct and indirect clinician bias and stereotyping, leading to Black males being much more likely to be treated with antipsychotics, and Blacks and Hispanics being overdiagnosed with Schizophrenia.

So what can be done to improve the status of mental health care in America? Firstly more research that specifically addresses and includes minorities. We need to better understand the extent and nature of the disparities in health status and treatments to determine how to address them. As an example, minorities and women are vastly underrepresented in drug studies. The field of ethnopharmacology studies genetic and cultural factors to drug responses. Also, education is paramount. Clinicians must become more sensitive to the needs of various cultural groups and be prepared to provide culturally informed treatment. The institutions our communities, including schools, churches, even grocery stores must know more about good health habits, preventive practices, and medical and alternative treatments to eliminate fears, myths and misconceptions. Also, antistigma programs must target more than mental illness. Discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability and economic status, and the barriers associated with them, all lead to poor mental and physical health. Finally, our approaches to health must become more holistic. As mental health slowly achieves parity to physical health in our insurance laws, wellbeing must eventually be recognized simply as health, which affects and is affected by every aspect of our life, without a separation between the mind and the body.