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Allen Doederlein to speak in Maryville reported by The Daily

7/20/2014

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Support for mood disorders: Allen Doederlien shares information Thursday

By Linda Braden Albert | [email protected] | July 20, 2014

A series of presentations focusing on mental health issues that began in March at the Blount County Public Library will continue Thursday as Allen Doederlein, president of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), speaks on bipolar disorder and depression. The presentations, sponsored by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Maryville, are free and open to the public.

Doederlein said, “Our headquarters are in Chicago, Ill., and yet, we are really all over the country and have some incredible and important affiliates in Tennessee. The work they do is entirely volunteer. It’s done as a labor of love and it’s done from a very personal place.”

The organization is by and for people who live with depression or bipolar disorder. “That lived experience informs everything we do,” Doederlein said. “We provide information that’s easy and understandable, not written in ‘medicalese,’ not confusing but gets directly to what these conditions are and what you can do to live and get well. We provide empowerment. These are conditions that can make people feel disenfranchised, that can carry great stigma. We want to make sure that people are strong advocates for themselves.”


Peer support

Doederlein said another goal is to raise concerns and needs to elected officials but also on a more personal level. “Also in their work places and their families — anyplace people with mood disorders may find themselves, to say, let’s work collaboratively and constructively to make sure everyone does well,” he said.

DBSA support groups provide valuable assistance and education for those with mood disorders. Doederlein said, “Our chapters operate free, in-person peer support groups. That’s a group that meets without a doctor or clinical professional present, just the people with a lived experience. There’s a great deal of scientific literature that shows that peer-to-peer experience is greatly beneficial and helps people get well and stay well.”

About 53,000 people are reached nationally in a year by these peer support groups, he added.

Doederlein said Larry Drain, president of the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Maryville and initiator of the mental health informational series, is a wonderful example of someone with a great deal of power and intellect who has been challenged by mood disorders.

“He had taken that lived experience and made something in terms of giving back to others,” Doederlein said. “When you think that there are people doing that all over the country, it’s really, really something. Larry’s not only done that in terms of support but also as an advocate.”


Inspiration

At the national level, 50 percent of the paid professional staff and volunteers must, by charter, have personal experience in dealing with mood disorders.

“That perspective informs everything that we do,” Doederlein said. “That’s really important. Very often in health-related education or advocacy, it will be doctors talking to doctors, not really related to a person getting herself or himself well. We make sure that’s at the center of what we do.”

Mood disorders include a spectrum of conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder. Doederlein said, “About 21 million American adults are estimated to be affected by depression and bipolar disorder. That breaks down to about 14 million affected by depression, and between 6 and 7 million affected by bipolar disorder.”

Mood disorders are challenging, but they can be managed and those with the disorders can thrive and contribute to society, Doederlein said. A prime example — Abraham Lincoln.

To learn more, visit the DBSA at www.DBSAlliance.org or attend Thursday’s presentation. It begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Blount County Public Library.


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Larry and Linda need help and get notice!

7/7/2014

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Exciting news is always welcome. One of our own steps out to bring national attention to those suffering due to lack of medical healthcare coverage.  Links to articles in The Tennessean and USA Today are below.

Larry Drain, DBSA Tennessee Legislative Liaison, is well known among many for his staunch work in advocacy for health care for all. Larry and Linda Drain share their story, open up their lives, in hopes that many will find the help they need. After 33 years of marriage, Larry and Linda had no other choice but to separate in order for Linda to keep the healthcare coverage she so desperately needs. Also, Larry is without healthcare coverage because his income is "too low" to meet the requirements for coverage.


The NBC Today show asked to interview Larry and Linda. The interview is expected to happen today. Airing of their interview is expected some time this week. Let's all send our best wishes and thoughts to this couple as they do all that they can to see that no one else needlessly suffers in like fashion.


Respectfully, 
Steve Brannon
State Director
DBSA Tennessee


Links to Larry and Linda's story:

http://usat.ly/VSQXne

http://tnne.ws/VSQCAY


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Murphy Bill is DBA (dead before arrival)

6/19/2014

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The death of the Murphy Bill: On being the national spokesman
Larry Drain


The Murphy Bill as we know is dead.  The Republican leadership in the House announced a change in strategy.  They basically decided to toss in the towel on the more controversial parts of the plan and try to see if they can move forward on elements that seem to have a greater consensus behind them. There may be CPR efforts yet but it appears done.

It was a bill in trouble from the start despite the massive pr campaign that tried so hard to say it wasnt so.  It managed to unify groups that might not agree on what kind of reforms they wanted, but were absolutely sure what they didnt want and that was the Murphy Bill.

Part of the problem was Murphy himself.  He assumed that as "the only psychologist in Congress" he was the obvious and deserved national spokesman for mental health reform.  He wasnt.  Being a psychologist certainly didnt qualify for the role.  Neither did being a member of the House of Representatives.  It seemed that Dr. Torrey annointed him and for some reason they both thought that mattered.  In the end it was hard to know where he started and Dr. Torrey ended and that was perhaps a fatal flaw.

He didnt understand that leadership was built or that it was a two way street.  He alienated people who had lived mental health reform their entire adult lives.  He thought it was about them joining him and never seemed to know it was the other way around.  And he never realized that trust was everything and that when he snuck AOT into the medicare bill he destroyed his chances of trust with people whose support he needed.

He was naive.  The only people who believe federal laws change everything are federal lawmakers and most of them know better.  To say that his law was going to prevent the next shooting was simply ego.  He believed his own press clippings and his posturing before the dead were even buried just seemed like rank opportunism.

Mental health reform is an ongoing effort by many, many people with different values and priorities.  Sometimes it is its own worst enemy.  People who cant stand each other have a hard time standing together for anything.  Murphy I hope has to some degree taught people they can find unity despite their differences.  And maybe the fragile unity borne of him will be the biggest take-away from the entire thing.

He may indeed try again.  He probably will.  Dr.  Torrey most surely will.  He has won many, many short term victories and will doubtless win more, but the big prize has eluded him again. He is not the national spokesman he has annointed himself to be either.


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Larry Drain sends out a thank you for help with letters to Governor Haslam

6/19/2014

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Thanks for the support
by Larry Drain, hopeworkscommunity

The following organizations have offered support of "Dear Governor Haslam".  They have put links to this site or printed the letters on their websites.  I really appreciate it.  I invite you or your organization to do the same.


Tennessee Health Care Campaign.
Tennessee Citizen Action.
Tennessee Disability Coalition.
Tennessee Chapter Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.

AGAIN THANKS.

WRITE GOVERNOR HASLAM TODAY

hopeworkscommunity | June 1, 2014 

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One person's wonderfully inspiring story

5/2/2014

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May 2014: Kathy Flaherty

Kathy Flaherty works as a senior staff attorney at Statewide Legal Services of CT, Inc.  She has dedicated her professional life to advocating for the rights of the underserved.  A graduate of Kingswood-Oxford School, Wellesley College and Harvard Law School, Kathy has 17 years of experience in poverty law, specifically focusing on housing, benefits, and consumer law. 

Kathy lives with bipolar disorder.  She makes full use of her work place’s very generous sick leave benefits and a flexible schedule.  Kathy was diagnosed her first year of law school after being civilly committed.  She was not permitted to return to Harvard until the next fall, at which point the school put conditions on her return. 

During her third year of law school, she used the Harvard Law School newspaper as the forum to come out about her illness.  Against the advice of the Office of Public Interest Advising, when applying for jobs after law school, she included her position on the council of former patients of McLean Hospital, making her disability fairly obvious.  “If someone didn’t want to hire me because of my disability, I didn’t want that job.” Kathy says that she has gotten jobs because she has disclosed.

Kathy shares that her biggest barrier to the legal profession was getting admitted to the Connecticut Bar.  Despite the fact that she had already been admitted to the Massachusetts and New York Bars, she had to wait for a year and a half and then was conditionally admitted. For the next nine years, she had to report that she was taking her medication, as well as provide a doctor’s note twice a year confirming that she was in fact taking her medication. 

Since 1999, Kathy has served as a volunteer trainer, presenter, and facilitator for Connecticut’s chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-CT).  Combining her personal experience as a recipient of mental health services and her legal background, she is able to speak to issues affecting those living with mental illness from a multi-faceted perspective.  Her advocacy work has earned her numerous honors including the Dr. Karen Kangas Advocacy Award from Advocacy Unlimited in 2010.   “Winning an award named for someone who is a role model for advocacy and a very dear friend is humbling.”

Kathy currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Advocacy Unlimited, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers-CT, and the Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement (CABLE). She also serves on Governor Malloy’s Sandy Hook Advisory Commission.  Her goal for the future?  “To continue to do work I enjoy.”

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loss of Innocent Life Due to Lack of Knowledge - Part Two

5/1/2014

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2013 DBSA Chapter Service Award Winners

3/21/2014

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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
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Larry Drain: Open Letter to Governor Haslam

2/19/2014

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A very personal plea for medicaid expansion: a letter to the governor

By Hopeworkscommunity

Dear Governor Haslam:
I want to start by first thanking you for your decision to restore funding to peer support centers in Tennessee.  As a mental health advocate I can tell you it is one of the best decisions you have ever made and I am so thankful you made it.

But my decision to write this letter is about much more than the peer support centers.  In your state of the state message you talked a couple of times about the importance of government giving good customer service.  You seemed to put a lot of stock in that idea.  It was not the first time I have heard you speak about it.  The decision to fund peer centers was a great example of good customer service.

My hope is that you will consider my request in the light of that concept.  I am in a desperate situation and without your help I dont know where to turn.

I want to ask you to reconsider your stance on medicaid expansion.  I know you are in a tough spot.  Anything that makes the Tea Party mad faces great obstacles in Tennessee and few things make them angrier than health care reform.  Perhaps what I am asking you is impossible for you to politically do.  Several people have told me it is.

As I said my situation is desparate.  Let me take a minute to describe it.

I have been “free” of health care insurance for many years.  It is a freedom I would gladly lose.  I have been told that I need surgery.  The surgery is a minor one that thousands of people undergo every year.  No insurance means no surgery.  The doctor tells me the lack of surgery though may not be a minor thing though, that in fact if my condition should become an emergency my life may be in danger.  I pray every day not to die a preventable death.  Many people have far more dangerous situations than me and face far more immediate risk.  Being poor should never, at least not in Tennessee be the cause of anyone’s death.  And without action on your part it will be though.

My desperation though is not based purely on issues of my health.  It goes far deeper than that.

My wife is disabled and has been on TennCare for a while.  She is a TennCare miracle.  Without it she would have died long ago.  Even with all her progress without it she would no live a month.  In order to save her insurance and in a very real sense her life after 32 years of marriage we have had to separate.  I dont know, without TennCare expansion we can ever live together again.

The situation is very complex, but let me share it with you as briefly as I can.  My wife receives SSI for disabilities.  Recently I took retirement from Social Security.  It was the worst decision I have ever made.

We found out that in Social Security’s eyes, even though our combined checks left us below poverty, we made far too much money.  Linda lost over $700 and her check was reduced to $20 a month.  I told Social Security that I would have to get a job in order for us to survive.  We figured without her check we had about $40 to live on for the month of January and we just cant live like that.  Who could??

Social Security told us that since her TennCare was disability based and not income based (like it would be if TennCare was expanded) that if I made over $85 a month her TennCare would be lost.

I love my wife and wont let her die.  The day after Christmas we separated.  The hope is that with a separate address she can regain her SSI check.  My hope is to move as close to her as possible.  Right now I do not see how we can ever live together again.

You do not make the rules for Social Security and none of that is your fault.  The law is what it is and despite its cruelty and hurtfulness we have no choice but to do our best to live with it.  A law that supports the break up of thousands of marriages seems so evil, but I dont right now see how I can affect it.

I am asking for your help though.  Maybe I dont have the right but I have no where else to turn.  I know you deeply love and care for your wife.  What would you say to me if our situations were reversed??

Please act.  Whatever the resolution please act.  My wife will keep her TennCare.  I will never do anything to put that in jeopardy.  Without your help though my marriage will not survive and for Linda and I that is a death of a different sort.

 

 

 

 

 

.


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mental illness and stigma reside everywhere

2/17/2014

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Mental health stigma resides everywhereStigma resides everywhere, especially mental health stigma.  The urge to quiet the voices of those who live with challenges, those who are different or those whose choices don’t mirror the “norm,” seems to be overwhelming as of late. “Don’t air your dirty laundry.”  How many of us heard that admonition as children? When we talk about mental illness, too often there are only two approaches discussed: sick or well, right or wrong. We talk about strong people and the weak people, those who feed their depression and mental illness and those who stoically rise above. When we talk about mental health in such limited parameters, we strip it of the crippling humanity that makes it possible: agony, loneliness, shame, trauma and stigma. We just tell people to think the right way, get the right amount of sleep and exercise, take the right meds, and when they don’t, we tell them to go away. In our current society, the mentally ill are considered the disease as much as the illness itself.

Here’s the rub:  Change and recovery occur when things are faced.  An acquaintance asked me recently why I speak openly about mental health recovery and surviving domestic violence and sexual assault. This well-meaning person felt that by airing my “dirty laundry,” I would cause myself more pain. Actually the opposite is true. When the mentally ill speak openly, others know they are not alone. Others learn what worked and what didn’t. By speaking – at first a whisper, then a roar – we lessen pain’s power. We learn to cope, we change the norm and we affect the changes we want to see.

Be part of the conversationThere is a well-known saying in mental health and social work circles:

“Nothing about us, without us.”

Only by being part of the conversation can we affect legislation, self-advocate for better care and show society that those with mental health conditions can live healthy, productive lives.

Why should we stand up and “air our dirty laundry?”  To help those unaffected by mental illness but whom are the gatekeepers of the systems we need access to, to understand our reality. Because it reflects one-in-four person’s realities. Because stigma born from misconceptions can only be corrected by those who are affected. Because society needs to see us living lives and being productive with the proper treatment. Because we learn the most from those whose voices society tries the most to silence.

Mental Health Stigma: Airing our “Dirty Laundry” Posted on February 8, 2014 by Paulissa Kipp
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Gently advocate for mental health

2/17/2014

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Ways to Gently Advocate for Mental Health
  1. Wear a mental health awareness ribbon. The color for mental health awareness is lime green, representative of bring mental health into the limelight and out of the shadows.
  2. Tell your truth. Stand up and share your journey. Yes, people listen when a celebrity talks about it but everyday people are courageous today. Any day that you get up and face the dragon and decide to live joyfully and with the superpower of ANYWAY, is courageous.
  3. Be part of the conversation when mental health legislation and approaches are being discussed.
  4. Remind people that it isn’t dirty laundry. For many of us, it is our reality.
  5. Download some facts from the National Institutes of Mental Health and share those facts when confronted with stigma.
The most important thing that a person with a mental health condition can do to combat stigma is to practice passionate self-care and know that asking for help is not weak.  It is the act of a phoenix rising.Mental Health Stigma: Airing our “Dirty Laundry”
Posted on February 8, 2014 by Paulissa Kipp
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