It is unacceptable that people who are suffering from and struggling with mental health issues in their life be at risk of injury, trauma, assault or even death in their interactions with police officers whose only training as "being a good police officer"  leads them to a course of action that produces tragedy.  There is ample evidence that CIT training (Crisis Intervention Training) makes a difference. The "Memphis Model" has made an impact in many communities both large and small. Tragedies may continue to happen, but to expect and accept them as the cost of doing business as normal is simply and deeply wrong.

A few days ago I talked with a man whose 39-year-old "mentally ill" son had been attacked, beaten up and tasered by police in this community who "were doing their job."  Over the last few days I have spent a lot of time thinking about other incidents I either have direct knowledge of  or I have heard about.  And it has left me deeply troubled.

There are lots of people to blame and many people seem intent on solving the problem by trying to figure out who to blame.  I hear people talk about needing more psychiatric hospitals, more coercive treatment options etc.  I dont think there are really going to be an appreciable increase in psychiatric beds regardless of where you stand on the argument, rather you think it is a good idea or not.  Financially it simply not an option.  Arguments that vastly increasing AOT (assisted outpatient treatment) can solve the problem are not honest or realistic.

Someone will be the next Kelly Thomas.  Someone will be the next person a police officer faces on the street corner or in their home or in the jail.  It is happening right now.  It will be happening in a few minutes.  It will be happening tomorrow.  And what stops it from being someone you know, someone you care about, or even you.

It is pointless to bemoan the fact that police are being asked to do things they are not trained to do and then do absolutely nothing about providing them that training.  It is as unfair to the officer who is trying to do the best he can as it is to the person he is trying to deal with.

As far as I know the decision to implement CIT training is a local decision and depends very much on the financial resources of that community as well as the commitment to training that local officials may have.  Many communities, like the one I live in, have gotten officers involved in a piecemeal fashion but they are largely at the mercy of who offers the training and when.

Again, no one should be the victim of where they live.  I have been following in recent days the effort of New York state to deal with the same issue.  The proposal that is currently being fought over is whether or not to include in the state budget funds for what they are calling a "center of excellence for CIT training."  The idea, as I understand it, is for the state to establish a resource that could help communities access CIT training in a way they can afford and in a way that is most effective to them.  It shifts the burden of the argument from "is it practical?  Can we afford to do it?" to "Can we afford to not do it?"

It is too late for anything like that to happen in Tennessee this year, but is not to late to start the conversation.  Several other states already have chosen to establish something like "a center of excellence for CIT."  Some have found access to federal funding.  Others have found grants from other sources.

In the end, it not only saves lives but also saves money because of the injuries and traumas it prevents.

A couple of days I had a post which included a video of the beating of Kelly Thomas.  I made myself watch the video several days before the post and was horrified.  If you havent watched the video and still doubt the importance of what I am talking about watch the video yourself.  I have also seen videos of other beatings from virtually all over the country.  It is more than a Tennessee problem but it is a Tennessee problem.

In the days and weeks that follow I will be revisiting this conversation over and over.  I am by no means anywhere close to an expert.  If you think you know more than me on the subject there is a good chance you are correct.  My goal is to start a conversation, a widespread conversation, in Tennessee that prepares the ground to talk about this issue not as one that affects isolated localities but every person in this state.

It is a conversation I hope you will join.

Larry Drain, hope works community blog

I'm sharing the news of my being among national Award Winners for accomplishments over the past year. It has been a pleasure to serve as State Director and local chapter President. And I consider it an honor to be recognized by DBSA national.

I appreciate all the wonderful support I was given by my fellow officers, Board members, and the chapter membership throughout the year. You may view the announcement on the national web site athttp://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=peer_chapter_spotlights

                       Congratulations to our 2013 Chapter Service Award Winners!
The DBSA Chapter Service Awards recognize exemplary service by DBSA 
chapters, state organizations, and their leaders. Winners will be honored at the 2014 Chapter Leadership Forum in addition to receiving a cash award.

Steve Brannon of DBSA Jackson (TN) and DBSA Tennessee - Outstanding
Leadership
Steve is an excellent role model for pursuing a wellness-focused life while living with a mood disorder. He fights stigma by openly sharing his journey in the local newspaper, on DBSA’s website, and on his weekly online newsletter. He has worked with the local police department to help educate and train police officers for crisis response teams. Steve was selected for DBSA Peer Advocacy Training and was a representative of DBSA for Hill Day in Washington, D.C.
At his local chapter, DBSA Jackson (TN), Steve gently encourages, trusts, and believes in support group participants. He instituted a monthly “share your inspiration” night in which group members report on what keeps them going, creating an environment of hope and personal growth. Steve is dedicated to further advancing DBSA’s mission into surrounding communities and across the state. The number of support groups has doubled in the past year under his direction, encompassing all major cities and some smaller cities across the state. He has traveled hundreds of miles at his own expense to conduct local chapter visitations as state director. Steve’s passion for the advancement of DBSA’s mission in Jackson and the state of Tennessee is so strong that he has diligently dedicated his time and resources for over a decade.

DBSA Tennessee - State Organization Service 
DBSA Tennessee's amazing accomplishments made 2013 a rewarding year! 
They supported chapters in their state by hosting educational presentations and training programs, giving them the tools necessary for successful chapters. With help from DBSA Tennessee, five local chapters were interviewed on television or radio to promote DBSA to the community. Leaders encouraged one chapter’s community outreach, resulting in a city-wide Mental Health Day declared by their mayor. DBSA Tennessee’s robust plan to help new chapters in the startup process helped find free meeting locations, assistance in affiliation fees and paperwork, and provided a sponsor from an already established chapter to assist the new chapter.
Five members of DBSA Tennessee attended DBSA’s Peer Advocate Training in Washington, D.C. and then created an advocacy plan for their state including a campaign against proposed budget cuts to close all 45 of Tennessee’s Peer Support Service Centers. DBSA Tennessee is a growing, thriving organization. With its advocacy for peer support and local chapter start-up, community outreach and commitment to peer education, DBSA Tennessee is one of the most energetic affiliates of DBSA.

DBSA Murfreesboro (TN) - Rookie Chapter Service
DBSA Murfreesboro began in July of 2013 with support from DBSA Tennessee. 
The chapter started out with one support group, which saw its attendance 
double in fewer than six months, becoming one of the fastest growing local 
chapters in the state. The growth of the chapter can be attributed to the forces behind it that work tirelessly to get the word out about the group. Flyers and pamphlets are distributed to agencies and health care providers, the Salvation Army, local hospitals and businesses, and more. DBSA Murfreesboro provides post-hospitalization support for those who would otherwise have none. Educational materials, resources, and wellness tools are provided to each chapter participant. They have also started a family and friends support group.

Members of DBSA Murfreesboro participated in the state chapter meetings and backing of their U.S. Representative. For a chapter that achieved all of this in six months, DBSA Murfreesboro has a fine resume of accomplishments, but they consider their greatest success to be the level of support offered to each person who walks through their doors.

http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=peer_chapter_spotlights

Mental health issues topic of presentations

By Linda Braden Albert | [email protected] | Posted 14 hours ago

A series of presentations on mental health issues will begin Thursday at the Blount County Public Library. The first presentation is by Sita Diehl, past executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Tennessee and currently national director of state advocacy for NAMI National.

Larry Drain, recently named president of NAMI Maryville, said, “When they asked me to take the job, I really wanted to figure out a way not only to help NAMI but to help the community. Every day, nowadays, when you read the paper or watch TV or whatever, in one way or another, mental health issues are there. There’s a lot of bad information, misinformation, so the idea I had was that if we could bring a series of people to Maryville to talk about mental health issues, that would be a real, real positive thing for this community.”

Diehl’s current position entails her traveling from state to state, organizing efforts to make outcomes for mental health possible in each state, Drain said. “I’ve known her for years, and she was the very first person I asked. Her topic will be about finding support, whether you’re a family member, whether you’re somebody with a mental illness. She will talk a lot about NAMI, some about the mental health system in Tennessee. There will be a question and answer period after she gets through talking. Anybody who comes will be enriched by her.”

On April 24, Doug Varney, commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services for the state of Tennessee, will speak on mental health and drug addiction. Drain said, “I think he will talk some about prescription drugs and meth, what the state is trying to do to deal with some of these things. Especially in Blount County, it is such a live issue. ... He knows the topic inside out.”

Additional speakers in upcoming months include Ben Harrington, executive director, East Tennessee Mental Health Association; Scott Ridgeway, director, Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network; Allen Doderlain, national president, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance; Pam Binkley, recovery coordinator, Optum Health, who will talk about emotional first aid; Lisa Ragan, director, Office of Consumer Affairs, Tennessee Department of Mental Health, who will speak on peer support, recovery, etc.; and Elizabeth Power, a nationally known expert on post-traumatic stress disorder. Mental health professionals from Blount Memorial Hospital have also been invited to speak.

Drain said, “I think this will be a quality addition to the Maryville community and I hope lots of folks will come. ... For a lot of folks here, the whole area of mental health, mental health treatment, the resources involved and things like that are so confusing. My hope is that all these speakers can shed some light, bring some facts and really help people in the Blount County area.”

Larry Drain, hopeworkscommunity

 
The National Council has just received word that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is abandoning its recentproposal to strip mental health drugs and immunosuppresants of their protected status in Medicare.
 
CMS said its decision came in response to massive vocal pushback from healthcare consumers, advocates, and congressional leaders.
 
Congratulations - your efforts paid off!
 
Members of the National Council and the Partnership for Part D Access submitted well over 1,000 comments to CMS opposing the drug restrictions. Grassroots advocacy is one of the most powerful ways to influence public policy - and your efforts have once again demonstrated our collective strength.
 
Thank you for your hard work! I hope you will take a moment today to celebrate this success. You deserve it.
 
Sincerely,
 
Chuck Ingoglia
Senior Vice President, Public Policy & Practice Improvement
National Council for Behavioral Health

                                   Alternative to Meds Center                                                
                                          Success Story   
By: Ericka G.
                The script for my success journey had already played out in the optimistic stage of my mind prior to this life-changing breakthrough. Before this perceived notion of accomplishing the most profound discovery, there lied a mental environment of opposing views. The pivotal dynamic contrast that lied dormant was the hopelessness marked by my former psychiatrist’s repetitive voice relaying that psychotic medication intake would be for a lifetime. But something deep within surpassed this voice and rang out louder representing hopefulness with the confidence to know that holistic alternatives existed with healthier ways to manage my symptoms.  Therefore, I launched a mission in search for this non-conventional approach through a few browse searches on Google and suddenly a vision was birthed to one day attend the “Alternative to Meds Center”. As anticipation rose to meet the eager embrace of new found hope, the circling theme that dominated my thoughts involved the declaration of healing that stood me right in the face the night before my arrival. This arrival of recovery victory existed prior to packing my bags and stepping on the soil of Sedona, Arizona to embark upon this outstanding program here at ATMC. With the proper mindset and motivated perception, the stabilizing tone was set for past frustration to become whole manifestation.


Though healing had already taken place, I forged a goal to become totally medication free to avoid the pulsating cardiac distress fueled by the side effects of Geodon. In addition, I didn’t want to play a prolonged game of Russia Roulette by taking a risk on a harmful medication that could cause future health issues. Stable and highly productive the last 8 years, through the collective effort of remaining true to my faith in God as I properly managed my symptoms, I gained the blessing of being hospital-free during this duration. This all-inclusive, holistic approach in addressing every angle of total well-being produced excitement coupled with enlightenment and elevation.  With a willing and open receptiveness, I became a thriving “sponge” with the drive to advance my knowledge of the program’s teachings, tools, and training. From the moment I started the program, the enlightening mode of taking advantage of every nugget of information to better equip myself for mental health and physical wellness became the focal point of my positive interaction. Every aspect of the program especially the counseling has propelled me to new levels of understanding the greater need for self-care through diligence and improvement all in making me a more polished individual. The beneficial knowledge I received concerning the importance of supplementation to the health-conscious meals to the intensive detoxification process worked hand and hand to cohesively promote total restoration, mental clarity, and longevity. With these practices, the collaborative effort of the staff’s supportive attitude and expert awareness of the best solutions to all of my needs made this an exceptional experience. My gratitude continues to deepen, most importantly, to Mr. Lyle Murphy for making his vision a staple reality that would be successfully influential in making a difference for so many of us.