DBSA Tennessee Past President, S.L. Brannon
share
  • Home
  • About
  • FIRST BOOK: Two Agreements
  • My new book: A Brand New Day
  • Advocacy
    • Letters to our Governor
    • Advocacy Action Items for DBSA Tennessee
    • Submitted Relative Articles
  • Network Resources
  • Additional Events
  • I\\\\\'ve been there
  • Forums
  • Contacts

on the value of having a partner

4/15/2014

0 Comments

 
The power of two


Your partner can become a pillar of strength when you work together as a couple
By Barbara Boughton, BP Spring 2013



There’s no doubt that the nature of your relationship with a “significant other” has a major effect on managing bipolar. Research now shows that having a supportive partner may be just as important as medication and psychotherapy in preventing relapse, according to Sagar Parikh, MD, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto.

Likewise, the stress of high-conflict relationships or the emotions that accompany breakup and divorce can sometimes exacerbate symptoms of the disorder, Parikh says.

So what can you do to make your partner an ally in recovery?

The first step, says Parikh, is education—for both of you.

The more that both partners know about symptoms, treatments, and coping strategies, the more they can work together to address common challenges. Reading and online research, workshops presented by mental health organizations, discussions with mental health practitioners, and peer support groups are all good ways to get informed.

A partner or spouse who is up to speed on what it takes to live with bipolar will find it easier to understand when you ask for support.

The next step is learning to discuss matters relating to your illness openly and honestly.

For one thing, being able to share what’s going on in your life and your head provides your partner with a context for any irritability, sadness or high spirits you exhibit. For another, it gives you both a touchstone for recognizing early signs of a mood shift.

Elizabeth and her husband, Rory, who have been married since August 2012, have a conversation at least once a week about any symptoms Elizabeth might be experiencing.

“Regular communication is really important,” says Elizabeth, 32, of British Columbia. “We talk about what I’m feeling and things that he notices about me. Sometimes, it’s hard for me to see the forest for the trees, especially if I’m not feeling well.”

Rory’s feedback provides her with a reality check, Elizabeth says.

“Last year I had a manic episode and Rory realized something was wrong when I told him: ‘I want to go on a 5K run.’ I’m a pretty sedentary person, so for me that’s out of character. It gave Rory a clue that I might be experiencing mania,” she recalls.

In most intimate relationships, it’s important to make significant others aware of red flags, according to David Miklowitz, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and director of the Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders Program at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at the University of California–Los Angeles.

“People with bipolar disorder can make a list of symptoms and behaviors that they know indicate early signs of a manic or depressive episode. The partners can then refer back to these lists in order to spot early symptoms,” Miklowitz says.

comfort levelWith education and experience, partners often become adept at spotting subtle signs, Miklowitz notes—sometimes before the person with bipolar does. 

“Then the question becomes: If your partner spots early signs of mania or depression, what do you want them to do with that information?” Miklowitz says. 

“Do you want them to call your doctor? Do you want them to go in with you for a therapy session, or encourage you to take your medicines? Some people like that kind of active support from their partners, and some do not.”

In some cases, Miklowitz says, intervention from a spouse can be seen as “too parental or too controlling.”

The bottom line is this: In order to tell your partner how to be helpful, you first need to know what kind of help you want. That’s highly individual, so every couple will find a different fit. After a disturbing interaction with a friend or boss, one person may simply want to vent while another seeks advice on how to resolve the situation.

Bill, 67, has never looked for a lot of hands-on involvement from his wife, Telle. The couple lives in California, and has been married for 20 years. 
 
“The main way that Telle has supported me is through her acceptance of me—and that’s been very important to me and our relationship. She knows that I can stand on my own two feet, and she doesn’t judge me,” says Bill, a retired refrigeration pipe fitter.

What Bill appreciates are Telle’s understanding and compassion for his symptoms, her trust that he is working to get the best treatment he can, and her emotional support when he’s had to be hospitalized.

Still, Telle has occasionally taken an active role in Bill’s care. In May 2012, Bill became delusional while being assessed at a hospital for a blood clot in his lung. Telle spoke to his psychiatrist, who arranged for Bill to be admitted for psychiatric intervention. 

If your partner does take an active role, Miklowitz says, it’s important to understand that the person will probably make mistakes.

“It’s crucial to give your partner some leeway, especially in the beginning of a relationship, when they’re just getting to know you and the effects of your illness. They’re not trying to control you. They’re just trying to help, and they don’t always know how to best do that,” he says.

talking pointsOnce you are clear in your own mind about what role you’d like your partner to take, Miklowitz notes, it’s crucial to be direct in expressing your wishes—and also to listen to what your partner has to say.

Miklowitz recommends asking “clarifying questions” to make sure you understand your partner’s point of view. To doublecheck that you’re interpreting correctly, practice repeating back what the other person said—a technique known as reflective listening or mirroring.

Nancy Poirier, MPs, a clinical psychologist at the Douglas University Institute for Mental Health in Montreal, stresses the need to express your wants and feelings with compassion.

With mirroring, for example, first reflect your partner’s viewpoint, then express understanding and empathy to validate how the other person feels.

In addition, she says, “both partners should be careful to use ‘I statements’ rather than blaming the other person in talking about the bipolar disorder. The important thing is for both partners to feel understood.”

As far as practical approaches, Poirier recommends developing a relapse prevention plan that details early warning signs of a mood shift and how to respond. The Elizabeth and Rory’s plan includes a list of people whom Rory should call to get Elizabeth treatment and/or medication, as well as the name and contact information for the hospital where she’d like to be treated.

As a further step, Poirier notes, you and your partner can write a contract about what each of you will do when warning signs appear. A document you signed when well may be more effective against denial when you’re ill than a partner’s reminders.

There are other small but helpful ways partners can counter symptoms, she says. During a manic phase, reduce stimulation by decreasing light and loud music in the household, and keep credit and cash cards inaccessible. During a depressive phase, let more light into the house, encourage exercise, and gently urge completion of at least one pleasant activity each day.

On a day-to-day basis, agree on a system that keeps encouragement from feeling like nagging. Again, this will vary from couple to couple. Some might be comfortable with a daily check-in about medication compliance, for example, while others will prefer a more emotionally neutral chart system that both partners can refer to.

Couple’s therapy can be an effective way to develop strategies for coping with the disorder together, Miklowitz says.

“The counseling should help the couple solve problems that arise around the symptoms of bipolar disorder, and learn to communicate effectively about them,” he says.

In addressing specific issues, Miklowitz adds, it helps to realize that you may not get everything you want.

“You have to be willing to compromise,” he says. “You have to start with the assumption that everyone—you and your partner—are doing their best.”

“Doing your best” might involve taking as much responsibility as you can for your recovery and well-being, Poirier points out. For your partner, that might mean cutting you a little slack for symptomatic behavior.

Elizabeth says that when she succumbs to what she calls her “ooh, shiny!” syndrome, Rory usually accepts the impulsive action as part of her illness.

When she bought several hundred dollars’ worth of tea towels, she recalls, Rory commented that they were now stocked up for a few years. When she took their cat to the vet and came home with an extra kitten, Rory “accepted the kitten with open arms,” she reports—and they now have a rule that they only go to the vet’s together.

“He isn’t a pushover,” she says, “he just knows that in the spring, I pull a few whoppers and that is OK.”

In fact, she says, Rory took the news of her diagnosis better than she did. They were dating at the time, Elizabeth says, and Rory made it a point to find books that would be helpful.

“He never judged me for having bipolar,” she adds. “I’m very lucky to have found Rory.” 

-------
Barbara Boughton, a freelance health and medical writer, writes for
 Reader’s Digest, Medscape.com and other outlets. She lives in the San Francisco Bay area. 



Learning when a hug can helpWhen Heather and Ken first met in fall 2002, Heather certainly wasn’t in the mood for romance. She was experiencing serious depression and “very resistant to dating,” but Ken waited patiently.

“When we did start dating, I was very forthright about having bipolar disorder, and he was very understanding,” recalls Heather, 44.

Now Heather’s relationship with her husband is a rock that steadies her when symptoms crop up. In Heather’s case, that’s often behaviors that signal depression—not getting out of bed, failing to eat healthy foods, and crying a lot.

After nine years of marriage, Ken has come to understand what his wife needs when she is ill. And Heather made it a priority to communicate to her husband about what kind of support she finds the most helpful.

“Sometimes it’s just the simple things that are important,” Heather says. “A hug from Ken can be very grounding when I’m having a difficult time. He also knows when to give me space, such as when I get irritable, angry, and when I lash out.”

Perhaps more importantly, Ken and Heather have an agreement that they’ll promptly address any worrisome symptoms.

Heather admits she’s not always receptive when Ken spots signs of depression or hypomania, such as being quick to anger or spending too much on online shopping, yet she will usually agree to call her doctor.

“Couples therapy has also helped us,” she says. “We’ve learned not to blame each other when we discuss sensitive issues such as my bipolar disorder, and to respectively express our feelings. Sometimes that may mean taking a break or even going to different rooms when a discussion becomes too heated.”

She adds, “What has been most important is for both of us to realize that I’m more than the identified patient in our relationship. I’m Heather, a wife who is more than her illness, and who needs and wants hope and love from her partner.”



In sickness and in healthDan and Dolores have weathered 43 years of marriage—and Dan’s bipolar swings. 

Dan, now 73, was accurately diagnosed in his late 20s. He and Dolores were contemplating marriage, and she accepted the news along with the man.

“He was a real charmer and had a wonderful sense of humor,” Dolores remembers.

Dan was in a stable period when they met, but shortly after the wedding he slipped into depression. For the next decade, he cycled from months of mania marked by reckless spending and anger, to months of immobilizing depression, to stretches of stability that might last half a year. He went through a series of jobs, never keeping one for long.

“I was ill and non-productive and she was the provider and caretaker,” Dan says.

Dolores held down several part-time jobs, taking their two children to work with her because they couldn’t afford child care. The couple went through two bankruptcies.

“It was painful and it was devastating, but I didn’t leave because I don’t believe in divorce,” says Dolores, 75. “But even in the most difficult moments, Dan’s sense of humor would come shining through.”

They held on until Dan found the treatment he needed at Washington University. An equally important turning point was their decision to start a peer support group in 1980, which became one of the founding chapters of what is now the national Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA).

The work not only helped his wife become more educated about the disorder, Dan says, but through running meetings “she gained many skills in talking with me in a very helpful and therapeutic way.”

“We learned how to communicate even around tough topics—and not blame the other person,” Dolores adds.

Dolores admits to “mixed feelings” about their marriage over the years, but says that their life improved as their ability to address Dan’s health got better.

“He has changed in a really positive way over the years,” she says. “And our communication strategies just got better and better. We feel so blessed now.” 


Another definition of partnerPeople who are single may find a family member who becomes a partner in recovery. For Jackie that’s her dad, Larry.

“We’ve become an amazing team at managing my bipolar I,” explains the 25-year-old. “We even have a special binder that we keep on the coffee table that has copies of the most important papers about my illness and how we should handle things.”

The binder includes a list of her medications and what they’re for, contact information for her doctors, steps to take in various crisis situations, even copies of some of her homework from psychotherapy.

Jackie has found the skills she’s learning in dialectical behavior therapy especially helpful in managing her symptoms. When she comes home from group, she shares new information with her father. Also really helpful, she says, is “both of us reading everything we can get our hands on about bipolar. We test out new techniques for managing things to see what works best for us.”

For example, Jackie now keeps track of when (or whether) she’s taken her medications on a dry-erase board that hangs on the fridge. The chart not only reminds her to take the meds, but also keeps her father in the loop without having to bug her.

Jackie, who was diagnosed at 14, has seen a huge change since her father started educating himself. When she’s in a mood shift, they’re able to talk through what may have triggered it and how to get her back in balance. When her dad learned that people with mental illnesses sometimes use cigarettes to cope with stress, he stopped insisting she quit smoking. Instead, he encourages her to cut back.

“Before he started reading he didn’t understand nearly as well as he does now, which really goes without saying,” she reflects. “We fought a lot more and he really didn’t ‘get’ me. Now we fight less and he’s much more compassionate to what I’m enduring.”

READ MOREBuy a copy of the SPRING 2013 issue. Have a PRINT edition mailed to you OR read the full issue NOW by purchasing the DIGITAL edition.

Subscribe to bp Magazine (Print and Digital Subscriptions available.)


0 Comments

Larry Drain announces the next speaker in Maryville

4/15/2014

0 Comments

 
April 24. 
More on our speaker series
by hopeworkscommunity
       We recently announced the beginning of our speaker series in Blount County sponsored by Maryville Nami.  Our first speaker on March 20 will be Sita Diehl National Director of State Advocacy for Nami national.  I am very excited today to announce our second speaker today.  On April 24 Doug Varney Commissioner for Dept of Mental Health and Substance Abuse will be coming to speak in Maryville.  Tentatively his topic will be the scourge of drug abuse, particularly prescription drugs and meth, their relationship to mental health issues and efforts by the state to address these issues.  It should be a great and informative evening.  Please do all you can to spread the word about both of these presentations.

0 Comments

2013 DBSA Chapter Service Award Winners

3/21/2014

0 Comments

 
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
0 Comments

A New Speaker Series

3/17/2014

0 Comments

 

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

0 Comments

Alternative "medicine", a success story

3/9/2014

0 Comments

 
                                   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.

0 Comments

No one cares about crazy people

2/23/2014

0 Comments

 

Scott Walker Emails: Former Top Aide Wrote

'No One Cares About

Crazy People'

Chris GentilvisoThe Huffington Post02/22/14 11:31 AM ET

Wednesday's release of thousands of pages of emails from Scott Walker's tenure as Milwaukee County Executive show a former top aide wrote that "no one cares about crazy people."

Back in 2006, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on the death of Cindy Anczak. The 33-year-old woman died of starvation complications while being treated at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex for bipolar disorder.

According to the Center for Media and Democracy's PR Watch, Anczak's parents filed a legal complaint in October 2010, which was brought by Walker staffers to the attention of then-Deputy Chief of Staff Kelly Rindfleisch.

"Totally coincidental to the election," replied Walker campaign advisor RJ Johnson, about the timing of the filing.

"Corp council [the County's attorney] wants to offer 50-100k," emailed Rindfleisch.

"Ok - any time after Nov. 2nd would be the time to offer a settlement," replied Keith Gilkes, who headed Walker's campaign.

"Barrett is going to make this the center of his campaign," Rindfleisch wrote in another email.

"yep and he is still going to lose because that is his base," replied Joan Hansen, a County official.

"Yep," Rindfleisch wrote. "No one cares about crazy people."

The AP noted on Wednesday that Rindfleisch was convicted in 2012 of felony misconduct in office for doing campaign work for a GOP lieutenant governor candidate on government time. She was sentenced to six months in jail and three years of probation, and is appealing her conviction on the grounds that Fourth Amendment rights were violated.

"Most of those would be four or more years old and they've gone through a legal process ... a multi-year extensive legal process by which each and every one of those communications was reviewed by authorities," Walker told reporters in Madison on Wednesday. "I'm confident that they reviewed them and they chose to act on the ones they've already made public."

0 Comments

Who would be eligible for Medicaid?

2/17/2014

0 Comments

 
http://www.urban.org/health_policy/health_care_reform/localmedicaidexpansion.cfmS.L. Brannon on DBSA Life Unlimited web site
http://bot.ly/1kEBzlZ
0 Comments

mental illness and stigma reside everywhere

2/17/2014

0 Comments

 
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
0 Comments

JOIN US IN THE FIGHT

1/30/2014

0 Comments

 

Join Us in the Fight to Save Access to Mental Health Treatment: Act Now by Telling Congress You Care!

Posted on January 28, 2014

elderly_hands

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) wants to significantly limit access to antidepressant and immunosupressant medication for people subscribing to Medicare Part D. Read today’s post to learn why you should be concerned, and what you can do to support the mental health community by raising our voices in Washington.

Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a proposed rule that would remove antidepressants and immunosupressants from the protected class status under Medicare Part D and is considering removing antipsychotics from the same status the following year. If CMS adopts its proposal, it would reduce patient access to and the availability of mental health treatment.

Since it went into effect in 2006, Medicare Part D’s protected class structure ensures patients with mental health conditions have access to all or substantially all of the most appropriate medications, protecting them from “fail-first”1 experiences or other appeals processes. In many cases, delays caused by these processes can result in inadequate treatment and potentially tragic outcomes.

We need to ensure that all mental health patients have access to all the medications that they need. It is clear that CMS’ rule will signal a step in the wrong direction and the consequences will be detrimental. According to the World Health Organization, depression is currently the leading cause of disability worldwide. By 2030, it will be the leading global burden of disease.2 In the United States alone, the total direct and indirect cost associated with depression exceeds $83 billion annually.3

Ultimately if CMS’ rule is approved, there will be severe human, economic and societal consequences for not only mental health patients, but for all Americans. We must take action now.

Here’s How You Can Take Action Today

Now, more than ever, the mental health community of patients, families, friends and others need to join together to tell CMS and the Administration how big of a mistake implementing this rule will be for all Americans. Below you’ll find several ways in which you can make your voice heard during CMS’ open comment period, ending March 7,to protect antidepressants, immunosupressants and antipsychotics within Medicare Part D. The clock is ticking!

  1. Make Your Voice Heard by writing to your Member of Congress. Use the sample email letter to inform your member of Congress that the implementation of this proposed rule is a big mistake. Be sure to share any personal experiences and how this rule will impact you or a loved one.
  2. Share your personal stories: The Care For Your Mind blog is interested in your personal stories to help share the extent of the issue and how it will impact you or a loved one. While this rule is expected to decrease patient costs for medications, members of the mental health community understand the treatment for our conditions is far from one size fits all. Below are a few questions that may help you shape and share your story:
    a. What will happen if you lose access to your medications?
    b. Have you had a negative experience with “fail-first” experiences?
    c. How will the new rule impact you, your parents, other family members or friends?
  3. We encourage you to submit your personal story here for publication on our website. And in the meantime, join our conversation online by contributing to this blog below. Your voice counts and the time to speak up is now!
  4. Share this information with others:  Knowledge is power. The more people know about the proposed rule’s real life consequences, the more we can make our voices heard. Share this post and relevant information with your friends and family, on your social media accounts, through email and word of mouth offline.Together, we can send a powerful message and help ensure that patients have access to the medications they need and deserve.

At Care For Your Mind, we understand that your personal experience and ideas can help build a mental health care system that works.

1 Fail first refers to the practice of forcing doctors to prescribe the least costly drug in any class to patients first, even if the physician wants to begin treatment with a different medication.

2 World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs369/en/

3 Greenberg, et al.(2003).The economic burden of depression in the United States: How did it change between 1990 and 2000? Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 64, pp. 1465-1475

0 Comments

ALERT! New legislation Washington Style

12/21/2013

0 Comments

 

A big step backward into the future: mental health “reform” Washington style

by hopeworkscommunity

The new mental health reform bill introduced by Rep Murphy provides for the following according to the Treatment Advocacy Center:

" Requires states to have commitment criteria broader than “dangerousness” and to authorize assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) in order to receive Community Mental Health Service Block Grant funds.

Allocates $15 million for a federal AOT block grant program to fund to 50 grants per year for new local AOT programs.

Carves out an exemption in HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) allowing a “caregiver” to receive protected health information when a mental health care provider reasonably believes disclosure to the caregiver is necessary to protect the health, safety or welfare of the patient or the safety of another. (The definition of “caregiver” includes immediate family members.)"

TRANSLATION:

What does it mean?

1.  States will be substantially limited in their control over their own mental health policy.  This, in and of itself, represents a radical change of immense implications.  It is a wall once breached that will never be rolled back.

2.  The future direction of mental health policy will basically be in the hands of the Treatment Advocacy Center.  After years and years of failing to get states to follow their policy of coercion first to the degree they want their view would effectively become federal policy.  What they could never win by choice they will win by force.

3.  Much gains in knowledge about what really works and helps people with mental health issues would be rendered unimportant and out of fashion.  The notion of recovery would be given a death blow.

4.  States by federal statute would have to agree to commit more and more people.

5.  Failure to do so would make you ineligible for federal block grants that are the backbone of so many state mental health budgets.

6. Privacy laws would not allow so much privacy.  Confidentiality would have holes big enough to drive a hole through.

And that is only the beginning.  It is a step back into an era of mental health care that was a national disgrace and one in which a diagnosis of mental illness was a life sentence.

hopeworkscommunity | December 13, 2013

0 Comments
Forward>>

    Author - 

    S.L. Brannon D.Div..

    Editor: numerous contributors are personally invited.

    Archives

    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Categories

    All
    AARP
    Action Alert
    Action-alert
    Advocacy
    Affirmation
    Affordable Care Act
    Allen Doederlein
    Alternative Medicine
    Bad Law
    Bad-law
    Barber Bill Proposal
    Bipolar
    Borderline Personality Disorder
    Bp Magazine
    Branding
    Budget
    Caregivers
    Compassion
    Co Occurring Disorders
    Cooccurring Disorders
    Coping
    Crazy
    DBSA
    Dbsa Tennessee
    Dbsa-tennessee
    Dc
    Dc95f383fe5b
    Death
    Deaths Of Thousands
    Demi Lovato
    Democrat
    Denial
    Depression
    Dual Diagnosis
    Education
    Elected Officals
    Elected-officals
    Forced Commitment
    Grieving
    Health Care
    Health-care
    Health Care Law
    Health-care-law
    Health Reform
    Health-reform
    Help For Depression
    Homelessveterans
    Homeless Veterans
    Hopeworkscommunity
    Huffington Post
    Hurts Most Vulnerable
    Hurts-most-vulnerable
    I'm Here
    Immoral
    Jobs
    Larry Drain
    Leading Researchers And Clinicians
    Legislative Bill
    Legislative-bill
    Malpractice
    Mc Donaldsa18086f9b6
    Medicaid-expansion
    Medications
    Medicine
    Memorial
    Mental Health
    Mental Health Care
    Mental-health-care
    Mental-health-day-on-the-hill
    Mental Health In Tennessee
    Mental-health-in-tennessee
    Mental Health Services
    Mission
    Money
    Mood Disorders
    Moving Backwards
    Moving-backwards
    Murphy-bill-proposal
    National-institues-of-mental-health
    New Laws
    Outstanding-performance
    Parity
    Patient-protection
    Peer-specialist
    Peer Support
    Peer Support Centers
    Peer-support-centers
    Personal Stories
    Personal Story
    Personal-story
    Petition
    Petition-to-save-service-centers
    Politics
    Prejudice
    Proposed Legislative Bill
    Proposed-legislative-bill
    Protected Health Information
    Ptsd
    Pushing Back Against Stigma
    Recovery
    Republican
    Resilience
    Resulting In Death
    Scientific Advisory Board
    Self Advocacy
    Self Help
    Senator Murphy
    Silence
    Social-security
    State Organization
    Steve L Brannon
    Steve L Brannonf11c90eedf
    Stigma
    Suicidal Ideations
    Support Groups
    Teens
    Tennessee Department Of Mental Health And Substance Abuse
    Tennessee-department-of-mental-health-and-substance-abuse
    Tennessee Government
    Tennessee-government
    The Leading Patient Directed National Organization
    The Leading Patientdirected National Organizationf0151a2bc0
    Themighty.com
    Therapy
    U-s-congressman
    Vanderbilt-university
    Veterans
    Veterans-employment
    Victimized
    Vulnerable
    Washington
    Wrap-training
    Youth

    RSS Feed
Proudly powered by Weebly
Photo used under Creative Commons from DominusVobiscum