We are out numbered, not defeated!

My friend Brad works for Tennessee Health Care Campaign, THCC, to help improve the lives of individuals suffering with mental illness in our state. Recently, he sent me this email that reveals how consumer protection group's lobbyist are outnumbered on Capital Hill. This fact is stunning.

I wish Brad much success and happiness in his decision to continue his education. I greatly appreciate all of his hard work in his years with THCC. He will be sorely missed.


Dear Steve,

I was listening to NPR's Fresh Air yesterday morning as Dave Davies interviewed an author who mentioned that the top five consumer protection groups sent 20 lobbyists to Capitol Hill during the financial reform debate while the top five finance industry groups sent 406 lobbyists during the same time. In other words, consumers were outnumbered 20 to 1.

This is a story we know too well as the voice for Tennessee's health care consumers. During the implementation of health reform, we are constantly out numbered. Fortunately, THCC has a long history of working on your behalf and our success stories are many and varied. From the beginning days of TennCare to the passage and implementation of national health reform, we've been privileged to represent your interest during challenging times.

Through the years, THCC has had fantastic leadership to help make all of this possible, and I'm so lucky to have been able to follow in such tremendous footsteps. However, my time as THCC's interim executive director has come to an end. I'll continue with THCC and will be focused mostly on policy and communications as we move forward with enrolling hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans later this year. I will eventually be leaving THCC in August to pursue a Masters of Social Work at the University of Michigan's School of Social Work.

Until then, I'm happy to provide the transition and introduce you to THCC's new director - Walter Davis. Walter comes with much experience in organizing and building community partnerships, which is just what we need as we start planning for open enrollment, and I'm thrilled to be by his side as we move forward.

With gratitude,
Brad A. Palmertree, BSW
Sent from my iPad

Fwd: TMHCA 25th Anniversary & Annual Conference

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: Dan Hamer <DHamer@tmhca-tn.org>
Date: May 5, 2013, 12:44:14 PM CDT
To: "brandnewday1@eplus.net" <brandnewday1@eplus.net>
Subject: FW: TMHCA 25th Anniversary & Annual Conference

 

 

From: Anthony Fox
Sent: Friday, April 19, 2013 11:41 AM
To: Staff
Subject: FW: TMHCA 25th Anniversary & Annual Conference

 

Please Distribute

 

From: TN Mental Health Consumers' Association [mailto:news=tmhca-tn.org@mail170.us4.mcsv.net] On Behalf Of TN Mental Health Consumers' Association
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2013 11:04 PM
To: Anthony Fox
Subject: TMHCA 25th Anniversary & Annual Conference

 

The latest news and happenings from TMHCA. Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.   Celebrate 25th Anniversary of TMHCA Come Join TMHCA as it celebrates 25 years of "Honoring our Past, Building our Present, and Shaping our Future." TMHCA's 25th year celebration will be at the world renowned Jim Oliver's Smoke House Lodge. Where much of the planning for what is now one of the nation's largest consumers/survivor groups began – Monteagle, TN. Date:  May 16, 2013 Time: Registration begins at 8am Central, Conference 8am-4pm Central Registration Deadline: May 8th, 2013 (register here and apply for scholarship if applicable) Location: Jim Oliver's Smoke House Lodge in Monteagle, TN Paolo del Vecchio, MSW, is the Director of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)'s Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS).  SAMHSA is the lead Federal agency designed to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. A self-identified mental health consumer, trauma survivor, and person in recovery from addictions, Paolo has been involved for over 40 years in behavioral health as a consumer, family member, provider, advocate, and policy maker. Dr. Fisher obtained a PhD in biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin and carried out neurochemical research at NIMH. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia, was hospitalized on three occasions, and recovered. He co-founded the National Empowerment Center and was a Commissioner on the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. He helped organize the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery, a national voice for consumers and Interrelate, an international voice. Plus a panel of well-known speakers from Tennessee including: Lisa Ragan, LMSW; Daniel Grooms MS, MBA;, Carolina George, MSSW; and Jennifer Jones, MSSW. For conference questions contact Tory Vaughn at tvaughn@tmhca-tn.org To register visit: http://tmhca2013.eventbrite.com/ To register and apply for a scholarship (covers cost of an overnight stay): http://tmhca2013.eventbrite.com Copyright © 2013 TN Mental Health Consumers' Association, All rights reserved. Subscribers to the TMHCA Enews previously received our Listserve alerts or signed up for mailings on our website or at events. Our mailing address is: TN Mental Health Consumers' Association 3931 Gallatin Pike Nashville, TN 37216 Add us to your address book  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

MY TAKE : HOW CHURCHES CAN RESPOND TO MENTAL ILLNESS

Editor's Note: Ed Stetzer is president of LifeWay Research, an evangelical research organization. He blogs atedstetzer.com and his most recent book is "Subversive Kingdom."

By Ed Stetzer, Special to CNN

(CNN) - The first time I dealt with mental illness in church was with a man named Jim. I was young and idealistic - a new pastor serving in upstate New York. Jim was a godsend to us. He wanted to help, and his energy was immeasurable. He'd visit with me, sing spontaneously, pray regularly and was always ready to help.

Until he was gone.

For days and sometimes weeks at a time, he would struggle with darkness and depression. During this time, he would withdraw from societal interaction and do practically nothing but read Psalms and pray for hours on end. I later learned that this behavior is symptomatic of what is often called bipolar disorder or, in years before, manic depression.

I prayed with Jim. We talked often about the need for him to take his medicine, but he kept asking God to fix him. Eventually, at his lowest point and filled with despair, he took his own life.

As a young pastor unacquainted with how to deal with these events, I found myself searching for answers. I realized two things:

First, people with mental illness are often attracted to religion and the church, either to receive help in a safe environment or to live out the worst impulses of their mental illness.

Second, most congregations, sadly, have few resources for help.

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This weekend, we learned of the death of Rick and Kay Warren's son Matthew.Those of us who know the Warrens know how they have anguished over their son's illness, seeking to keep a low profile even as Rick penned the best-selling devotional, "The Purpose Driven Life." This weekend, Matthew took his own life - putting the issue of mental illness front and center again.

Matthew had the best medical care available, a loving church that cared for him and his family, and parents who loved and prayed for him. Yet, that could not keep Matthew with us.

Mental illness is incredibly destructive, and the end result is not always ours to determine.

Matthew's life was not a waste and, yes, every day had a purpose. His pain is over now, but perhaps his life and death will remind us all of the reality of mental illness and inspire people of faith to greater awareness and action.

So, what can we do as people of faith to address issues of mental illness?

1. Churches need to stop hiding mental illness.

So often in a congregation, we like to pretend this is not a real issue because we have such a difficult time understanding it. We stick our heads in the sand, add the person to the prayer list and continue on ministering to the "normal" people. But it's real, and it isn't going away. In 2009, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index showed 17% of respondents as having been diagnosed with depression. There are people in the pews every week - ministers, too - struggling with mental illness or depression, and we need to recognize this.

2. The congregation should be a safe place for those who struggle.

We are often afraid of mental illness and the symptoms that come with it. As a result, we don't know what to do with our own level of discomfort and our fears for safety, or we just don't want to be inconvenienced.

A study from Baylor University indicates "that while help from the church with depression and mental illness was the second priority of families with mental illness, it ranked 42nd on the list of requests from families that did not have a family member with mental illness." This is a real need among our congregations, one that we absolutely cannot ignore or expect to go away. People of faith know that God has freed them to love others, and that love extends to everyone, even (and sometimes especially) those we don't understand.

3. We should not be afraid of medicine.

I realize this can be a heated debate. I also recognize that medication must be handled with care - as it should with any condition. But many mental health issues are physiological. Counseling will naturally be a part of treatment. But if we are not afraid to put a cast on a broken bone, then why are we ashamed of a balanced plan to treat mental illness that might include medication to stabilize possible chemical imbalances? Christians get cancer, and they deal with mental illness.

We've long seen the value in the medical treatment of cancer. It's time for Christians to affirm the value of medical treatment for mental illness as well.

4. We need to end the shame.

I saw it in my own family. Suicide has struck our family more than once, making the news where we wished it did not. When my aunt was arrested for gun smuggling to Ireland, our family did not think of this as an issue of Irish revolution. She was brilliant, a lawyer and a doctor, but mentally ill. Her involvement in the Irish "revolution" was one in a long line of bad choices driven by her illness and eventually led to her suicide.

Yet, it was hard to talk of these things. They had to be "handled in the dark" because "no one could know." I love my family. But shame was something that was difficult to avoid in every case.

Let's be honest. These are typically delicate situations. And we want to protect the privacy and dignity of the people we love, particularly when they are behaving in ways that might draw negative attention. But compassion and care can go a long way in helping people know they don't have to hide.

CNN's Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories

Why should this be of concern to people of faith? Simply put, there is no place where Americans are more connected and no place where grace is more expected than the church.

Mental illness has nothing to do with you or your family's beliefs, but the greater community that holds those beliefs can be key to the lifelong process of dealing with mental illness. Most research points to the fact that more religious people tend to be healthier, both physically and mentally, but religious activities do not remove people of faith from sickness of either kind.

Christians believe the church is the body of Christ—the hands and feet of Jesus—and that means going into the darkest places and the toughest situations to bring light. It means walking with those who are suffering, no matter what the suffering looks like.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ed Stetze.

Sent from my iPad

Stigma in the church?

Clearly, more education and advocacy is needed in the faith communities, and beyond. I have been very disheartened that faith communities are not actively wanting to learn more. For example: effective ways to address the multitude of needs facing church members who have a brain based illness and their family members, how to reach out to folks in the community so that they feel welcomed and valued, and how to push back against stigma by educating the whole church body. The attitude of: Ignorance is bliss, -really isn't so. It still feels like we haven't advanced nearly enough in research, treatment, and understanding. I pray for the day that no one suffers alone and that the chains of stigma are broken. Disorders of the brain are not character flaws, failures in faith, or by choice.
God bless Mark, may he finally rest in peace. Let this tragedy be used to open doors to truth, understanding, and compassion.              Jennifer Dochod

Suicide of star pastor Rick Warren’s son sparks debate about mental illness

By Michelle Boorstein,

Apr 11, 2013 12:54 AM EDT

The Washington Post

In the days after the suicide of California megachurch pastor Rick Warren’s son, evangelical Christian leaders have begun a national conversation about how their beliefs might sometimes stigmatize those who struggle with mental illness.

Well-known evangelical figures called for an end to the shame and secrecy that still surrounds mental illness throughout U.S. society and a greater embrace of medical treatment, particularly among evangelicals.

“Part of our belief system is that God ­changes everything, and that because Christ lives in us, everything in our hearts and minds should be fixed,” said Ed Stetzer, a prominent pastor and writer who advises evangelical ­churches. “But that doesn’t mean we don’t sometimes need medical help and community help to do those things.”

The death of Matthew Warren, 27, who shot himself Friday, stunned evangelical Christians. Most were unaware that Rick Warren, the best-selling author of “The Purpose Driven Life” and a pastor known for frank talk on subjects including politics, marriage and sex, was struggling with such a serious family problem. Rick Warren wrote to his congregation at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., that “only those closest” knew that his son had long been suicidal, despite receiving the best of spiritual and medical care.

Rebekah Lyons, a blogger and wife of the popular pastor Gabe Lyons, wrote this week that “anxiety and panic are my nemesis” and urged Christians not to link mental illness with spiritual weakness.

“As Christians, we believe this side of heaven all disease, sickness and pain is rooted in a world broken by sin. But there are real consequences to living amidst the mess. To oversimplify these complexities would be naive at best, negligent at worst,” she wrote.

The revelation has spurred discussion within church communities about how a fervent belief among evangelicals in the power of prayer and dependence on God and Jesus for healing might stifle congregants from talking about mental illness or seeking help for themselves or family members.

For Christians who believe in turning to a divine source for emotional help, even defining a prayerful request can be fraught, some leaders and congregants pointed out. For example, is depression the result of sinful behavior for which one should seek forgiveness? And if prayer does not bring relief, what might God be saying?

When people suffer despite prayer and consider therapy, “people think: ‘Is this a knock against my faith? Am I not believing in God enough? Now I have to resort to this?’ ”said Henry Davis, leader of the evangelical First Baptist Church of Highland Park. “I believe God is in therapy. I believe God can be in medicine. If someone says, ‘I’m just going to pray,’ you have to do more.”

Calling suicide “a dark secret people don’t want to talk about,” Davis decided to raise the issue of Matthew Warren’s suicide on Sunday, encouraging his Landover congregation to pray for the Warren family. In private conversations after the service, one congregant confided in Davis that he had nearly killed himself a year or two before. Then Davis learned that another congregant who died a few days earlier had hanged himself.

DBSA Jackson -- Link to the recording of interview on The Stigma of Mental Illness

 

 

 

I enjoyed my interview by Lillian Brummet.  The topic was The Stigma of Mental Illness, the link to the archived recording is below. We attempted to cover several aspects of the topic but time did not permit. Hopefully, she and I can pick up on our conversation in the near future.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/consciousdiscussions/2013/01/17/the-stigma-of-mental-illness

 

 

Live radio interview on The Stigma of Mental Illness

Conscious Discussions Talk Radio 

 

This Thursday, January 17th at noon, I am the quest on a radio program available online. Award-winning authors Dave and Lillian Brummet: owners of the Brummet Media Group (http://brummet.ca), will have me on their Conscious Discussions Talk Radio: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/consciousdiscussions and the Brummet's Conscious Blog: http://www.consciousdiscussions.blogspot.com 

 

Description of the hour-long show airing at noon on Thursday, January 17th - -

    The Stigma of Mental Illness  -- an interview with Steve Brannon,

    Author of: The Two Agreements
    President/Founder of: Depression Bipolar Support Alliance of Jackson and the

    State Director of Depression Bipolar Support Alliance Tennessee

    Find our featured guest @: http://dbsajackson.blogspot.com …& you can find the                     Brummets @ http://Brummet.ca

You will find the announcement of the show on their web site at the following link -- http://www.blogtalkradio.com/consciousdiscussions/2013/01/17/the-stigma-of-mental-illness

You can listen in on the show by being online at the show's URL:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/consciousdiscussions

 

Hey, I hope some of you can listen in and pull for me as I work to educate others and push back against stigma. Thanks.

 

Routine is Good!!!

We need routine in our lives.  In fact, it is our daily routine that is first distroyed at the time of an episode or relapse in our mental illness. And it is one of the most difficult parts of our life to reclaim and maintain, especially in the first days of recovery. 

 

The following blog made a great case for the merits of routine. I knew, immediately, I wanted to share these words with as many people as possible.

 

Routine

Jerry Malugeon

Sometimes routine gets a bad rap…one that it doesn't always deserve. Oh, I can think of a few drawbacks it might have, but only a few. By far the pluses outweigh any negatives by what could be a wide margin. Just think of these few activities most of us are regularly involved in which require a number of routine actions: meal preparation, bathing, brushing teeth, rest, sleep, exercise, grocery shopping, laundry, house cleaning, bill paying, leisure, doctor and dentist visits, automobile maintenance, income tax filing.

If we lack a routine to accomplish these tasks, we can run into difficulties that we may come to regret later. Some will be simple, of course, like running out of milk for our cereal or not having any clean socks. Other problems could prove more costly in consequences like when the car stops for lack of oil or we get an eviction notice for not paying the rent or mortgage. Even more serious circumstances may arise, unfortunately, when we've failed to take proper care of ourselves and our doctor has just given us some bad news. These situations, as varied in scope and severity as they are, might all have been moderated to some degree and others even prevented if routine had been implemented and in place earlier on. So how does routine help us out…how does it work?

Activities that must be done regularly (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly or at specified times or intervals) usually are easier to accomplish and more thoroughly and accurately completed when a routine procedure is in place. People busy in an emergency room are all expected to follow established procedures to maximize proficiency and eliminate error. Successful teachers following well-developed guidelines use proven techniques and equipment that train young minds to think and learn. Bus, taxicab and truck drivers--along with airline pilots and ship captains--all follow maintenance procedures and operating routes and patterns to reach each destination safely. World class dancers practice particular routines that require specific movements in hopes of having acceptable if not perfect performances.

As dedicated caregivers, family members and companions to loved ones who have mood disorders, we might want to take a closer look at routine as an even more valuable tool than we might presently realize. To get started, here are a few routines we and our loved ones just might want to give additional thought to:

• Give our diet greater attention: regular nutritious meals with smaller portions; include fruit, vegetables, home prepared meals (not fast food), restrict sugar and fat, avoid caffeine.
• Exercise routines daily (Sunday visit the park, Monday an hour stroll, Tuesday softball, etc.)
• Treatment program compliance. Take medication at regular times, plan for refills, no changes without a call to the doctor first and keep your doctor informed about the ups and downs of your medication. Regular visits to the therapist and your support group are important, too.
• Healthy leisure including reading, playing and visiting (in person or on the phone) supportive friends; stay away from known button pushers; avoid trying to change others, you really can't.
• Stay out of the past; limit time each day for thinking about past challenges to 15 minutes; limit time absorbed in future thoughts also to 15 minutes; spend your quality time in the present where you can make some pleasant choices, enjoy good fun and experience a lot of love.
• Rest and sleep are very important. Make bedtime the same each day to form a positive sleeping routine. No TV an hour before lights out, minimum. For some, a glass of milk helps to fall asleep. A dark, quiet bedroom works best. The better the routine, the better the sleep.
• Get up at the same time each day. Begin the daily routine.

There are times to "think outside of the box" and there are times that established procedures and routines are best to follow. Knowing when to do which is of vital importance

  Jerry Malugeon  http://support.surfcitypress.org