Home What's New

|  |

A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHRISTMAS

From the Opposite of Music  ...  "At first Billy's father just seemed distant, as if he had something on his mind. Then he stopped listening to music, saying it hurt his ears. After a while he stopped eating and sleeping. And after that he just stopped. Stopped being Billy's father and his friend and became someone else. Someone who was depressed and withdrawn and wouldn't respond to treatments.

Determined to help their father, Billy and his family devise a series of unconventional therapies for him. But the strain of looking after Dad begins to wear on them all. Billy stops writing songs and starts avoiding his friends. His sister wants to suicide-proof the house. And his mother worries about losing her job because she takes so much time off. Taking care of Dad is starting to sap the strength they need to keep him alive."

The Opposite of Music is a powerful and realistic debut novel about the lengths a family will go to in order to save one of their own, and the strength it takes to learn how to ask for help.

The holiday season can be particularly stressful for people with mental illness and their families. On Thursday, November 19 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Rockport Library, NAMI Cape Ann is pleased to present Gloucester author Janet Ruth Young reading from her novel "The Opposite of Music," about a family dealing with the father's depression. The reading will be followed by a discussion of holiday tips and strategies for people with mental illness and their families and care givers.

This event is free and open to the public. The Rockport Public Library is located at 17 School Street, Rockport. For more information call 978-281-1557.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Support groups for persons with mental illness and their family and friends will  meet on first Wednesdays, at the North Shore Health Project, 67 Middle Street, Gloucester (next to the "Y").   All meetings are from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

First Wednesdays, the focus is on persons dealing with a mental illness in the family and for adults dealing with a psychiatric diagnosis.

For further information, call 978-281-1557  or e-mail: namicapeann@comcast.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Emergency Response Guide

People exhibiting abnormal behavior may be exhibiting symptoms of mental illness. It is important for police departments to recognize that mental illness is a disability and, therefore, police response must comply with the conditions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Specifically, Title II of the ADA requires police departments to extend to citizens with disabilities the rights, protections, and services that are extended to all other people. If the person’s abnormal behavior is criminal activity, the officer must select the disposition appropriate to the situation, just as he or she would do in any other case.

According to a report from the U.S. Department of Justice in 2006, more than half of all prison and jail inmates had a mental health problem, including 705,600 inmates in State prisons, 78,800 in Federal prisons, and 479,900 in local jails. These estimates represented 56% of State prisoners, 45% of Federal prisoners, and 64% of jail inmates. The findings in this report were based on data

from personal interviews with State and Federal prisoners in 2004 and local jail inmates in 2002. The full report is available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/mhppji.htm

Mental health problems were defined by two measures: a recent history or symptoms of a mental health problem that occurred in the 12 months prior to the interview. A recent history of mental health problems that included a clinical diagnosis or treatment by a mental health professional. Symptoms of a mental disorder were based on criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV).

POINTS TO REMEMBER

Most people with mental illness are no longer in hospitals

With proper treatment, people with mental illness are no more prone to violence than the general population.

Failure to follow police directives during a psychotic episode is most likely not an act of defiance.

Often people with mental illness need treatment, not jail. Their illnesses often worsen when the when they are jailed.

The mentally ill are more often victims than perpetrators.

Treatment and law enforcement training can mean the difference between life and death.

WHAT TO DO

Stay calm and don’t overreact. Be helpful and professional.

Gather information from family or bystanders. Families are good sources of information to help access the person’s history and current problems.

Indicate you are trying to understand and help.

Speak simply and briefly and move slowly.

Remove distractions, upsetting influences, and disruptive people from the scene.

Understand that you may not have a rational discussion.

Recognize that the person may be overwhelmed by sensations, frightening thoughts and beliefs, sounds, "voices," or the environment.

Be friendly, patient, accepting and encouraging, but remain firm and professional.

Be aware your police uniform, gun, handcuffs, and nightstick may frighten the person. Reassure him or her.

Recognize and acknowledge that the person’s delusional hallucinatory experience is real to him or her.

Announce your actions before initiating them.

WHAT NOT TO DO

Do not move suddenly, give orders rapidly, or shout. Do not force discussion.

Avoid direct, continuous eye contact

If possible, do not touch the person

Do not "crowd" the person or move into his "buffer zone."

Do not express anger, impatience, or irritation.

Do not assume that a person who is unresponsive cannot hear you.

Do not use inflammatory language, such as "whacko," "psycho," or "loony."

Do not argue with delusional or hallucinatory statements or mislead the person into thinking you think or feel the same way.

In those situations where a person is behaving in a manner that poses a serious danger to him or herself or others and must be removed from the scene, the officer will need to decide whether to arrest the person, if a crime has been committed, or transport him or her to a local authorized mental health facility for evaluation

To help determine the appropriate disposition, evaluate the following about the individual:

Past and present behavior

Dangerousness to others

Dangerousness to self

Ability to take care of him or her self

Availability of family member or care giver

Community support network

Whether or not he or she has committed a crime

The seriousness of the crime, if one was committed

OPTIONS FOR DISPOSITION

Unconditional release of person

Release to family or care giver

Release and refer to a specific local program, agency, or mental health provider

Release with individual’s agreement to seek examination voluntarily

Turn individual over to a mental health professional

Detain for involuntary examination

Arrest, only if a serious crime has been committed

The decision about the disposition of an incident involving a person with mental illness should be appropriate to the situation and his or her condition. People who are confused, incoherent, or unable to interact with others are vulnerable and should not be left on their own.

MASS. LAW CHAPTER 123: SECTION 12. Emergency restraint of dangerous person, application for hospitalization examination.

" In an emergency situation, if a physician, qualified psychologist or qualified psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialist is not available, a police officer, who believes that failure to hospitalize a person would create a likelihood of serious harm by reason of mental illness may restrain such person and apply for the hospitalization of such person for a three day period at a public facility or a private facility authorized for such purpose by the department. An application for hospitalization shall state the reasons for the restraint of such person and any other relevant information which may assist the admitting physician or physicians. Whenever practicable, prior to transporting such person, the applicant shall telephone or otherwise communicate with a facility to describe the circumstances and known clinical history and to determine whether the facility is the proper facility to receive such person and also to give notice of any restraint to be used and to determine whether such restraint is necessary."

Department of Mental Health Area Site:

180 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915

Phone: (978) 232-7300

Fax: (978) 927-4469 TTY: (978) 232-0020

Towns Served: Beverly, Danvers, Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester, Marblehead, Middleton, Peabody, Rockport, Salem, Topsfield, Wenham

Emergency/Crisis 24-hr:

131 Rantoul Street, Beverly, MA 01915

Phone: (978) 524-7107 Fax: (978) 927-4057

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WOMEN AND DEPRESSION

One in eight -  twice the rate of men

Self-help brochure discusses causes, symptoms, life stages, treatment

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has released a new brochure, Women and Depression, about the many dimensions of major depression in women. It can be downloaded at www.nami.org/womendepression.

1 in 8 women experiences depression in their lifetime; twice the rate as men, regardless of race or ethnic background.

Middle-aged Hispanic women have the highest rate of symptoms, followed by middle-aged African American women.

Young Asian American women have the highest rate of younger groups and the 2nd highest rate of suicide among 15 to 24 year olds. American Indians and Alaska Native adolescents are the most likely to attempt suicide and die from it.

“Nearly 18 million Americans experience depression every year,” said NAMI medical director Ken Duckworth, M.D. “Some experiences are unique to women, including post-partum changes, infertility, and hormonal fluctuations throughout their lives.”

“Information in the brochure will help women help themselves, as well as other women in their lives. All family members benefit by learning more.”

“The good news is that with correct diagnosis, most people can be treated effectively. The bad news is that two-thirds of people living with depression don’t get the help they need.”

Major depression is a medical illness that affects a person’s mind, mood, body, and behavior. It is more than “feeling down” because of a recent loss or family, work or financial stresses. It occurs when these feelings become more intense and persist to the point that they affect daily functioning.

The 13-page brochure highlights symptoms, causes, women of color, life stages, and treatment, with additional sections on seeking professional help, self-help, preventing recurrent depression, and helping other women. Bulk copies for community education can be purchased on-line at www.nami.org/womendepression.

Publication of the brochure is supported by an educational grant from Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. NAMI does not endorse or promote any specific medication or treatment.    Individuals should consult their doctors.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WANTED: A FEW GOOD PEOPLE

If you are interested in being trained to be a facilitator for our support groups, please let us know. It’s a wonderful way to learn, to support others and to make lasting friendships. 

Committee Chairs or members keep us growing. If you have a lot of time on your hands, or just an hour or two a month, we need your help. Whatever your strong suit, there is a place for you. Right now there are openings on our Children’s Issues, Consumer Outreach, Education, Employment, Finance (yearly audit), Fund Raising, Grant Writing, Hospitality, Publicity, Public Policy, Support Group Facilitation, Veterans, and WALK committees - or tell us what you’d like to do. Work at your own pace. No long, boring meetings, we promise!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our NAMI Cape Ann Artists have a larger space in which to display their goods for sale at Joncien on Bearskin Neck, Rockport. Stop buy to see their great array of cards, prints, jewelry, knitted goods, and original music CDs. The make wonderful one - of - a - kind gifts. If you have any arts or crafts you would like to sell, contact us via our voice mail or e-mail for more information.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NAMI Cape Ann has received its official letter from the IRS designating it as a 501 c (3) public charity, retroactive to March 1, 2006. That means any donations made after that date are tax deductible. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is with great pleasure that we announce that, once again, the Board of Directors of the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation, Inc., a supporting organization of the Boston Foundation, has voted to award NAMI Cape Ann a grant.

Informed by intelligence, sensitivity, and the knowledge of many countries and cultures, Bruce J. Anderson was a serious and idealistic young man who cared deeply about the problems he saw around him. The Bruce J. Anderson Foundation was established by Bruce’s brothers and sisters to honor him and support the causes he championed.

We are very grateful to the Anderson family for their generous support of our mission and pledge to continue to honor the memory of their brother, Bruce, by encouraging our consumers’ creativity through our Arts Project and by continuing to offer education and support to NAMI families on Cape Ann.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Through the generosity of a gift from the Ansara Family Foundation, our supply of literature has been expanded to include several books which we are happy to lend. New titles available include A Sourcebook for Families Coping with Mental Illness, edited by Michael Berren, PhD.; I’m Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help, by Xavier Amadour; Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid, by sisters Gina Gallagher and Patricia Konjoian; Skywriting, by Jane Pauley; Shock: the Healing Power of Electroconvulsive Therapy, by Kitty Dukakis and Larry Tye, who were honored for their work at the NAMI National Convention in San Diego. Books are available to borrow at support groups. If you have a favorite book that has helped, please recommend it for our library. Our own NAMI MA Handbook and pamphlets on a variety of subjects are also available at every meeting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Research Sheds Light on Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia

New gene study finds link between immune system and schizophrenia

Scientists have scanned the entire human genome for evidence of genes that play a role in schizophrenia and discovered a hot spot near two genes that regulate the immune system.

They found that markers within these genes were more common in people living with schizophrenia than in those without a history of the mental illness. Their study appeared this week in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

Details of the study also are reported in the Los Angeles Times.

Resources from NAMI

• Schizophrenia Facts

• Living With Schizophrenia Community

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 HHS Unveils New Health Care Transparency Website
 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently launched a new health care transparency website available at:

http://www.hhs.gov/transparency/

Here is a brief description from the website:

Health Care Transparency Consumers deserve to know the quality and cost of their health care.  Health care transparency provides consumers with the information necessary, and the incentive, to choose health care providers based on value.

Providing reliable cost and quality information empowers consumer choice. Consumer choice creates incentives at all levels, and motivates the entire system to provide better care for less money. Improvements will come as providers can see how their practice compares to others.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The NAMI CHILD & ADOLESCENT ACTION CENTER (CAAC) Announces New Website

The NAMI Child & Adolescent Action Center (CAAC) is pleased to announce a completely redesigned CAAC section of the NAMI national web site: www.nami.org/CAAC. By the end of the year, you will find a section on Evidence-based Practices for Children’s Mental Health.

As part of the web site redesign, the CAAC developed an on-line discussion group exclusively for NAMI state and affiliate leaders to allow you to share ideas, resources and information on issues related to child and adolescent mental health. In order to become a part of this discussion group, please email Dana Crudo (danac@nami.org) directly and include your email address and full name.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Website Resource for Adolescents!

An Australian-based company shared with us their interactive website that provides valuable information for teenagers to help improve their mental health and wellbeing during the transition-age years. The website can be accessed here: www.reachout.com.au

Although it is an Australian-based website, we found the materials it provides useful to any teenager. The site includes coping tips, forums, fact sheets, personal stories as well as resources regarding mental illness, school, employment, stress and relationships. The website was created after the developers conducted research with youth focus groups and determined what appeals to teenagers most when learning about mental health issues.

The company has plans to develop a similar website in America and will be conducting research here to determine what is best for American teenagers. Therefore, please feel free to send any feedback regarding the website to Dana Crudo, Child & Adolescent Center Program Associate, at danac@nami.org.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NAMI Launches New Legislative Action Center 

Since 2003, NAMI's Web site has featured online information and tools to help you understand current legislation affecting people with mental illness and to take action by contacting your representatives.

Now we've made it even easier for you to affect change with the launch of our new and improved Legislative Action Center, which features:

Improved reliability: Over the past few years, Congress has taken steps to manage the volume of e-mails it receives, which in some cases has made it more difficult for you to contact your senators and representatives. NAMI is now partnered with CapWiz, an industry leader, to ensure that your online messages get through. Congressional voting records: Find out how your legislators voted on issues important to you. Elections and voting: Learn more about the candidates in your area, and in some cases, even register to vote online. No sign-in required: Just click and go!

All of these tools and more are available when you visit NAMI's new Legislative Action Center. And with just a few clicks of your mouse you can contact your representatives by customizing a form letter from NAMI or composing a message of your own.

Visit NAMI's Legislative Action Center now at: www.nami.org/advocacy. We hope you will take it for a spin and let us know what you think.

And as a way to get started, use the current "Action Alert" to urge your representatives to force a vote on parity by the end of the year, so that mental illnesses will receive the same treatment as other medical illnesses. If you have never tried online advocacy before, or if you are a seasoned advocate, this timely and critical issue gives you the opportunity to make your voice heard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NAMI Cape Ann Voice Mail:  978-281-1557         

E-mail:  namicapeann@comcast.net

|  |