Mental Health News You Can Use...
September 2009
Issue 25
This electronic update is written by SAMHSA's Resource Center to Promote Acceptance, Dignity and Social Inclusion Associated with Mental Health (ADS Center), a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) Office of Consumer Affairs. We invite you to share this information with your friends and colleagues who share your interest in confronting prejudice and discrimination associated with mental illness and to post this information in your own newsletters or listservs. Visit the ADS Center on the Web at http://www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov.
In this issue...
A Letter from the ADS Center
Celebrating Five Years of Service
Online Resources
Models, Programs, and Technical Assistance Tools... SAMHSA's Campaign for Mental Health Recovery
In My Experience... “Prescription Refill” by Ashley Ryker
A Letter from the ADS Center
In this issue we’ve highlighted the past five years of our efforts. The ADS Center serves the public by providing technical assistance, coordinating and producing training teleconferences, and sharing information and resources on social inclusion on our Web site. Prior to 2007, the ADS Center was known as the Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma Associated with Mental Illness. Recognizing the power of words and looking to help advance recovery oriented, person-centered goals we changed our name to the Resource Center to Promote Acceptance, Dignity, and Social Inclusion Associated with Mental Health.
We hope that you continue to access our Web site, contact us for technical assistance, and utilize the many resources that are available to you.
Sincerely,
The ADS Center
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Celebrating Five Years of Service
For five years, the ADS Center staff have dedicated themselves to providing the public with a wealth of information on social inclusion and the reduction of prejudice and discrimination associated with mental health. If you are not familiar with the services that the ADS Center provides we have highlighted a few of our key activities below.
Technical Assistance
As part of our daily work, technical assistance specialists respond directly to inquiries received via our toll-free number, email address, regular mail, and fax. Each individual that contacts the ADS Center is provided with information and resources specific to their inquiry. Through July 2009, technical assistance specialists responded to more than 11, 300 requests.
Some frequently asked questions are noted below:
What do I do if I have been discriminated against because of a mental illness?
How can I develop a program to reduce stigma?
What can I do to get involved with advocacy efforts in my area?
How can I incorporate a program to reduce social exclusion in our company?
If you have a question for a technical assistance specialist, contact us Monday through Friday at 1-800-540-0320 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time or by email at promoteacceptance@samhsa.hhs.gov.
Our Web site
The ADS Center Web site is an important tool for the Center’s success. During the last five years more than 305,000 individuals have visited our site, accessing three million Web pages, with an average visit length of just about 20 minutes each. This is great news to us, since we continuously work to improve our site and the information that we offer.
You may not know this, but the ADS Center Web site was re-designed in 2007 to make the site more navigable and user-friendly. We even added a searchable online library, containing more than 2,200 items related to mental health, social inclusion, stigma reduction, and discrimination. The library is the only one of its kind. Items include research articles, brochures, fact sheets, guides, toolkits, and links to resource organizations.
All of the information in this searchable database is divided up by topics such as art, culture, policy and legislation. Visit our home page to select your topic of interest; www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov.
Campaign and Program Map
The Web site also houses our campaign and program map which provides individuals with information about 122 existing international, national and local campaigns and programs. These campaigns and programs serve as a resource for individuals interested in developing their own social inclusion efforts. You can access the map here: http://www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/campaigns/default.aspx.
If you are interested in having your local social inclusion effort listed on our site, email us at promoteacceptance@samhsa.hhs.gov.
Training Teleconferences
If you have not participated in our teleconferences before, you may be interested to know that we sponsor four to six teleconferences throughout the year. These teleconferences address various topics but they all focus on social inclusion and changing the negative attitudes that are oftentimes associated with mental illness.
To date, the ADS Center has sponsored 37 training teleconferences which have all been recorded and archived for use after the live event. Each teleconference features up to three presenters and an accompanying PowerPoint presentation which is made available on the ADS Center Web site. More than 6,000 individuals have participated in our events and we’ve had an average of 231 participants for each call.
Below are just a few of the teleconferences we have conducted:
- Art Works! Using the Arts to Counter Stigma and Discrimination
- Improving Provider Attitudes, Behaviors and Practices toward People with Mental Illness
- Reducing Stigma and Discrimination among People who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT)
- Mental Health & Women in the Military: Promoting Social Acceptance and Inclusion
- Promoting Acceptance and Inclusion for People with Mental Health Problems in the Workplace
To access a complete list of our archived teleconferences, visit: http://www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/teleconferences/archive/default.aspx.
Collaboration with the Campaign for Mental Health Recovery
The ADS Center serves as a key resource and partner to the Campaign for Mental Health Recovery (CMHR), a national public education effort that improves the general understanding of mental illnesses, promotes recovery, and encourages help-seeking behaviors across the age span and across multicultural groups.
Since the Campaign’s launch in December 2006, ADS Center staff has worked extensively to expand the reach of the campaign by creating a grassroots network of State coordinators, partners, and other interested parties. An ADS Center staff person and a NAMI partner serve as liaisons to the Campaign and facilitate technical assistance and training support to the network of interested parties that has been established.
Through grassroots outreach and mobilization the liaisons provide information on the Campaign and provide guidance on the development of marketing plans to increase the reach of the Campaign goals. Liaisons also develop and distribute a monthly email listserv to approximately 775 individuals updating them on Campaign activities and other related information.
Through July 2009, CMHR liaisons have responded to more than 6,000 CMHR-specific technical assistance requests; including requests from individuals participating in the state implementation awards.
To access the CMHR specific area on the ADS Center Web site, visit: http://www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/CMHR/default.aspx.
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Online Resources
Moving towards Social Inclusion Teleconference
This ADS Center teleconference provides individuals with a definition and framework for social inclusion, information and findings from the April 2009 SAMHSA meeting on social inclusion, and shares effective strategies for promoting social inclusion.
Vision and Progress: Social Inclusion and Mental Health
This report issued by the National Social Inclusion Programme provides information and results on the past years of activities developed and implemented to reduce social exclusion in the United Kingdom.
Mental Health Action Plan for Europe: Facing Challenges, Building Solutions
This brief report from the United Kingdom provides information on the areas that the World Health Organization has deemed important in order to “deliver mental health activities capable of improving the well-being of the whole population, preventing mental health problems and enhancing the inclusion and functioning of people experiencing mental health problems.”
Social Determinants of Heath: The Solid Facts
This publication provides information on the social determinants of health and the overall implication of these issues towards public policy development and implementation.
Mental health, Resilience, and Inequalities
This report by the World Health Organization “explores the wealth of evidence that mental health influences a very wide range of outcomes for individuals and communities.” It provides information on the importance of developing initiatives to address mental health as a component of overall well-being.
Combating NIMBYism What a Difference a Community Makes
This online booklet provides mental health providers and advocates with advice on overcoming this resistance and gaining long-term community acceptance for housing for mental health consumers.
Mental Health: It’s Part of Our Lives at Work
This fact sheet is designed to help people in the workplace who experience mental health problems.
Mental Health: What a Difference Student Awareness Makes
This fact sheet provides college students ideas for generating mental health awareness on campus.
Mental Health Anti-Stigma Walkathon Development Guide
This guide can help organizations develop walkathon or similar events to generate public awareness of and support for mental health.
Mental Health: It’s Part of Aging
This fact sheet can be used to help older adults in learning how to cope with mental health problems.
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Models, Programs, and Technical Assistance Tools: SAMHSA’s Campaign for Mental Health Recovery
In December 2006, SAMHSA launched the Campaign for Mental Health Recovery (CMHR), a national public education effort that improves the general understanding of mental illness, promotes recovery, and encourages help-seeking behaviors across the age span.
The Campaign uses proven social marketing strategies and public education methods to disseminate TV, radio, and print public service advertisements (PSAs) along with many supporting materials including a Campaign web site, brochure, community site kit, and web-based advertising. To view the PSAs developed for the Campaign, click here.
The CMHR also has an extensive community-based grassroots network that includes State and local partners who are working to expand the reach of the Campaign. To access a list of local partners in your State visit: http://www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov/site.asp?nav=nav00&content=5_2_presources#regional.
The first phase of the Campaign has targeted a general audience of young adults who are 18 to 25 years of age. The Campaign message has encouraged, educated, and inspired these young people to step up and support friends they know are experiencing a mental health problem.
Currently, in its third year, the CMHR continues to target this age group, but it has expanded the audience to reach specific cultural groups including; Hispanic American, African American, Chinese American, and Native American populations.
In order to effectively reach these cultural groups, a second phase of the Campaign is currently in development. This second phase of the Campaign will use social marketing strategies to develop culturally relevant radio and print public service announcements to address mental health awareness among the specific groups. To learn more about the second phase of the CMHR, you can access a Webcast available on the ADS Center Website via the following Web link; http://www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/CMHR/webcasts/ MulticulturalPhase.aspx
Through the Campaign for Mental Health Recovery, SAMHSA has also funded state implementation awards to support and enhance the CMHR through the development of State outreach and community-based efforts, mental health education and social inclusion activities. Awards support State efforts to promote and expand the campaign. Specifically, they are used to provide State consumer organizations with infrastructure development for campaign implementation through needed technical assistance and training and provide resources to educate, maintain, and expand statewide activities to support the campaign's social inclusion efforts. To date, 23 organizations have received funding to develop and implement their projects. To learn more about the funded projects, click here.
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In My Experience... “Prescription Refill” by Ashley Ryker
Refill after refill! When will it end? I just want to feel normal!!! Is this even worth it? ABSOLUTELY!!! The key component: the right prescription. After years of going through multiple medications in an attempt to find the “perfect pill,” I finally discovered that there isn’t one. As my hope continued to dwindle downward, my frustration level continued to rise upward. At some point, I got to a point where I decided I needed to make some changes. I came up with my own prescription that greatly contributes to my story of survival.
Dose One: Attitude
My attitude can make or break the way my mental illness affects me. For years I asked, “Why me?” however, I never got an answer. When I no longer allowed myself to be the victim, I began to see things differently. Continuously asking myself why I have been plagued with a mental illness only kept me stuck in the mud. After accepting the fact that I have a mental illness, I had to find out what that meant for my life.
Dose Two: Education
Educating myself about my mental illness has been necessary for my recovery. Being able to identify and explain my emotions has helped me gain control. Having a mental illness used to make me feel like I was crazy! After understanding all of the dynamics of my mental illness, though, I realized I’m not crazy; I simply have an illness.
Dose Three: Identity
I used to spend a lot of time worrying about what others thought of me. I didn’t want anyone to know I had a mental illness, because I thought this meant I was an outcast. When I began to view my mental illness as a part of me rather than all of me, I was free to search for the identity the best suited me. I see no point in even mentioning what I’ve been diagnosed with, because my mental illness does NOT define me.
Dose Four: Medication
Though my mental illness does not define me, it is a part of my life. I do need to take my medications in order to stay in control of the illness. Taking a medication for a mental illness is no different than taking medications for a physical illness. In a majority of the cases, it is exactly the same. A chemical imbalance in the brain is something that can only be managed through medication. Taking my medication daily is a small task to help manage something that can potentially ruin my life.
Dose Five: Support Systems
I have found huge value in utilizing a positive support system. My support system involves my therapist, my psychiatrist, remedial workers, spiritual mentors, close friends, and family. Incorporating these support systems into my everyday life is vital for my success. The supports in my life keep me accountable to what I need to do to manage my mental illness.
Dose Six: Spirituality
I grew up in a Christian home; however, it wasn’t helpful for me until I was able to make the religion personal. I have found a God that loves me unconditionally and holds no judgment over me because of my mental illness. Though coming to my God has been difficult, the rewards have been amazing. Due to making many poor choices in my life, I have spent years being consumed with shame. At first, I could not even talk to God because of the huge amount of shame I experienced. As I continued to learn more about Him, however, I began to see Him for who He really is. In today’s society, people search everywhere for love and acceptance. I have found a love and sense of acceptance from my God that goes beyond perfection.
Dose Seven: Socialization
Isolation is my own worst enemy. When I begin to isolate, I can’t seem to stop. It’s a vicious cycle that is extremely hard to get out of. This is why socialization is so important for me. I have been blessed with amazing friends, and I love to spend time with them. The quote “laughter is the best medicine” is right on the mark for me. A good laugh can usually get me feeling better immediately.
Dose Eight: Compassion
Taking the time to think about others has allowed me to stop thinking about my problems and the distressing thoughts that come with them. When my mental illness was controlling me, I was entirely selfish. I allowed myself to be consumed with my wants and needs and left little room for anyone else. Taking time to look outside of my own little world helped me gain perspective of my part in the real world. I now consider myself a contributing member of society rather than a lone citizen on my own planet.
Dose Nine: Relaxation
I tend to keep myself pretty busy, so taking time for relaxation is essential. I have many forms of relaxation that refresh me. Listening to soft music calms me down when I’m anxiety stricken. Taking a nap when I’m feeling stressed out helps tremendously. Listening to my favorite CDs, watching my favorite shows on television, taking a warm bath, and so many other things really help put my mind at ease. These relaxation techniques are so simple, but they have been extremely beneficial for me.
Dose Ten: Passion
The most important component of my recovery from a mental illness has been to find something I’m passionate about and pursue it with all of my being. After years of being in and out of hospitals, institutionalized, and deemed dysfunctional, I got to a point where I was determined to become functional. I returned to college to study psychology. I maintained a 4.0 grade point average and attained my Associate of Arts degree. Last year, I transferred to a University with a double major in Psychology and Human Services. As I near the end of my junior year, I am still maintaining a 4.0 grade point average and working hard towards earning my Bachelor’s Degree in both majors. If someone compared my high school transcript to my college one, she would think they were from two different people. Turning from a straight-C student to straight-A student took one thing: passion. I’m passionate about my education, and I believe that with the education I have and will attain on top of the personal experiences I’ve had, I have the potential to do great things with my life.
Number of refills remaining: UNLIMITED!!!!!
This prescription can be refilled at any time and my insurance company can never deny coverage. I will be refilling this prescription as often as needed! With this prescription, I’m not just surviving…I’m thriving!!
This story is part of a book, 2009 Stories of Survival: Iowans’ Essays of Recovery Told in Their Own Words, developed by the Iowa Advocates for Mental Health Recovery, as part of a SAMHSA Campaign for Mental Health Recovery state implementation award.
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