January 2010 Newsletter

Columbus, Georgia
The Area’s Voice on Mental Illness
The National Alliance on Mental Illness – A powerful non-profit, self-help and advocacy organization
NAMI Columbus, P.O. Box 8581, Columbus, GA 31908 ~~ (706) 320-3755
[email protected] ~~ www.namiwww.nami.org/sites/NAMIColumbusGA
Georgia Crisis & Access Line
Single Point of Entry to access mental health, addictive disease and crisis services 24/7
1-800-715-4225
Brrr….
2010
The Muscogee County
Mental Health Court
Monday, January 18, 2010
Education Meeting at 6 pm
CONTACT Training Building ~~1520 22nd Street, Columbus, Georgia
The guest speaker for our monthly education meeting is Dr. Cynthia Pattillo. Dr. Pattillo
interacts among the treatment providers, consumers, the jail and the State and Superior Courts.
Some of the areas she will cover in her talk include:
• who is eligible?
• what about people who are not eligible?
• where do referrals come from?
• what are the requirements for participation?
Please mark your calendar and attend. We want all our members to be as educated as possible
on all services that help consumers reach recovery.
We don’t want to discourage our members from making donations to NAMI National or NAMI
Georgia. However, whether it is in response to a direct mail or on either web site, we want
you to be aware that your donation will not come to NAMI Columbus and it does not
renew your dues. Donations directed for NAMI Columbus need to be mailed to our PO Box
or brought to a support or general meeting.
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What’s New at NAMI Columbus Besides a New Year?
~ A Message from Your Board of Directors
A new year can bring about a lot, or very few, changes. For NAMI Columbus, it is bringing about a lot of
changes that were voted on at our December 27, 2009 board meeting. We are seeing the retirement of our
current president and the voting in of a new president, new officers on the board of directors plus some new
directors, and a new role for the outgoing president to name a few. So here’s the scoop:
Sue Marlowe, our president for the last five years, decided in August 2009 to resign (we call it retirement) as
president of NAMI Columbus effective December 31. But she is not resigning from NAMI Columbus and
intends to continue being active with NAMI Columbus as a board member and in her new role as Community
Liaison/Public Affairs Chair. In this role she will continue:
• as the CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) Coordinator for Region 4 which includes coordinating all CIT
training classes for the region;
• to be the point of contact for the media;
• serving on the boards for West Central Georgia Regional Hospital, CONTACT Chattahoochee Valley,
and the Homeless Resource Network;
• serving on a number of committees for NAMI Georgia, and
• maintaining the membership database and interfacing with NAMI Georgia and NAMI National on
membership issues.
She feels this will help her continue to be the dedicated and passionate advocate she has been in the past as
she led NAMI Columbus to become the largest and very highly respected affiliate in Georgia.
While this may sound like a lot, be assured Sue has looked at this long and hard. She wants to be involved in
a way that not only serves NAMI Columbus, our community, and Region 4, but also helps her maintain her
health and well-being. Sue is good at so many things but the responsibilities listed above are those that are
closest to her heart. The long list of other duties/activities Sue was responsible for will just have to find a new
home.
Mimi Marlowe, who served as treasurer for the last six years, has accepted the position of President for 2010.
There are a lot of things to do such as identifying major activities that NAMI Columbus will be in involved in
(see 2010 Calendar of Events in this newsletter) and identifying volunteer positions and coordinators for those
activities. Once we accomplish that, the board has other activities to consider. But first we want to make sure
we have a good, solid structure in place to accomplish those things we’ve already made a commitment to do.
So we have a lot to do and at this time really would like for you to think about how you can help a great affiliate
(1) stay great as we lose someone who did so much for us (namely Sue) and then (2) begin to do even more
as we move forward toward 2011. There will be more information coming about volunteer opportunities but
you don’t have to wait…start thinking now about how you can give back to a great organization.
So 2010 will look and feel different for NAMI Columbus members. We, the board, just want you to understand
that we have big shoes to fill (Sue’s to be precise) and that we’re going to do everything we can to keep
providing a high level of support, education, and advocacy for our members.. Happy New Year!!!!
I n M e m o r y Of
We lost two dear NAMI members last quarter.
Lois Keene
Pat Cozzetto
A memorial gift to NAMI Columbus is a personal remembrance that honors the life
and memory of a friend or loved one, and offers the gift of hope for the future.
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2009 CIT Conference & Honors Banquet
Crisis Intervention Team officers and supporters across Georgia gathered Thursday, Oct.
15th in Stockbridge for the 2009 CIT Conference and Awards Banquet. Aimed at providing
advanced insight into current CIT issues, as well as recognizing local law enforcement and
NAMI employees, the day was filled with speakers as well as a dinner honoring those with
high achievements in CIT training
There was a terrific article about the conference and awards banquet in the NAMI Georgia
newsletter. If you are a member of NAMI Columbus you saw the article in November 2009. However, NAMI
Columbus would like to highlight two of our own who were recognized at the awards banquet:
•
•
Cindy Burr Award for Outstanding Dedication - Sue Marlowe, NAMI Columbus
Law Enforcement Coordinator of the Year - Mike Dailey, Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office
Prior to September of 2009, I knew very little about CIT and boy did I learn a lot as I helped Sue set up the two
most recent CIT trainings in October, 2009. As NAMI Coordinator and Host, Sue’s role is to set up (two small
words that represent a lot of hard work) and manage the week long training program. It requires:
• scheduling a number of very effective local professional presenters,
• setting up a tour of local facilities that help those with a diagnosis,
• managing three sessions of very intensive role plays for the law enforcement officers,
• scheduling local NAMI members, consumers as well as family members, to talk with the officers about
their experiences; as well as
• ensuring the officers receive breakfast and lunch (often homemade by NAMI members as well as
donations from some local restaurants) as they go through this 40-hour intensive training program.
Mike Dailey is the Training Coordinator for the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office. His responsibility (a small
word that represents a lot of hard work) is:
• setting a schedule of training classes for the year,
• ensuring that the primary directive of officer safety is always stressed and followed,
• registering law enforcement (from many different agencies) for each class,
• coordinating de-escalation role players and expert panelists from different agencies for each class,
• coordinating all phases of each class with NAMI (local and state)
This program has been so well-received by the Columbus Police Department and the Muscogee
County Sheriff’s Office that the number of classes more than doubled in 2009. In 2010, the following classes
are scheduled:
Columbus Police Department
January 25-29, 2010
April 12 - 16, 2010
July 12 - 16, 2010
October 4 - 8, 2010
Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office
March 8 -- 13
June 14 -- 18
August 23 -- 27
November 15 –19
Sign up with Sue to attend/help at one of the classes. See why Sue and Mike were honored in 2009.
Reports of outstanding work being done by our local CIT officers are being received
regularly now. Remember NAMI members, if you need to call for a CIT trained officer,
dial 911 and request one be sent. 911 Dispatch operators are regularly being included
in each class now.
~ Mimi Marlowe
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THE
TO RECOVERY
NAMI Columbus C.A.R.E.S.
Consumers Achieving Recovery thru Education & Support
A Letter from Your (Past) President:
It feels strange to me to be calling myself your past President. I recently found my first
“President’s Letter” to you that I wrote for the November 2004 Newsletter. In that letter I told you that it felt
strange to not call Doris Keene our current President. Time does move on and so must NAMI. For personal
reasons, which I want to “talk” with you about, I need to reduce my role with NAMI Columbus.
On September 19, 2009, at about 10:00 p.m., I forgot a fact that I frequently tell anyone who will
listen. I forgot that if people can get what they need, 70-90% of people with a mental illness can reach
recovery. I forgot, and incorrectly believed, that I would never be able to rid myself of my terrible pain that my
depression caused me. I took a massive overdose of pills.
I was in the Medical Center for eight days (four in ICU). I was told that “there was no medical
reason I should be alive”. I certainly gave it my best shot to not be alive. All I knew those eight days was that I
was mad I hadn’t succeeded. The thought of having to endure more depression was maddening. The Medical
Center was ready to release me after six days because I was “medically cleared”. I was not, however, ready to
enter The Bradley Center because I could not walk without falling or walking into a wall. If I hadn’t had some
strong advocates working for me (my sister Mimi and Michael Dehner from The Bradley Center among others)
I would have been released and I surely would have tried harder to commit suicide. I was already trying to
figure out how to buy a gun and hiding these thoughts from everyone.
Mimi drove me to The Bradley Center. The first three days there I was alternately angry and/or
crying. Then the antidepressants my doctor ordered kicked in. I was almost giddy with relief. I could not
believe how much better I felt. THAT was when I could really start working on learning how to live as well as I
could. I listened to what one of our members (Amy Z.) advised and I attended every group session I was able.
The Bradley Center has built itself during the last two years into a wonderfully caring and
recovery-oriented hospital. My Doctor (James Morris), my nurses all, my therapist (Betty Oliver), all the staff
were working in tandem to get me better and able to survive life outside of the hospital. I thought I was ready
to leave long before they did. If I had left when I thought I should, I don’t know what would have happened.
The Bradley Center made sure I was going to go home and be supported there and that my
care at New Horizons (Dr. Connelly) and The Family Counseling Center (Tina Covington) would continue
where they left off. It has.
I always wondered if I died (probably by suicide) would anyone care? Now I know they would. I
can’t even begin to tell you the kindnesses that people did. Some came every day to the Medical Center to
see how they could help Mimi or me. Cards were sent and many, many made donations to my NAMI Walk
page. One person mailed me a card every single day I was at The Bradley Center. Another sent me an angel
to remind me who saved me. After I began to feel better, someone brought me books to read—some for fun
and some for helping me learn to rebuild my life. Mimi came for every single visit and everyone else respected
my request for no visitors while I was there.
When someone tries to commit suicide, the focus is on that person and how can we help them.
Family members like Mimi tend to get a little lost in the shuffle. I guess I knew that my suicide would affect her
before I did it, but it was not until after medication began to work and I got sturdier that I was able to appreciate
all that Mimi did and had to go through. For that I’m very sorry, but I cannot un-ring that bell. I can, however,
try my best to live my life the best way I possibly can and to pay forward all the good that I got. The Bradley
Center included Mimi and her needs as well as mine. In our “NAMI-world”, whenever a consumer has a
problem, we need to also remember to be there for the family-member as well.
I know now that with just a little stress, I could be back to where I was in September (and for the
40 years before that). I never want to return there. The pain is God-awful and I don’t want it ever again in my
life. Keeping stress out of one’s life is not as easy as it might seem. My good doctor at The Bradley Center,
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Dr. Morris, likened me to Hoover Dam. He watched a show on the dam’s construction (built in the 1930’s).
During all the years since it’s construction there is still concrete in that massive structure that has not dried and
set. It still is not as sturdy as it will be some day. I spent over 40 years with deep, clinical depression. The
medicine that is on board in me now has been my construction period, now I have to slowly let my recovery
“set” and allow me to get sturdier.
If you ever saw me laughing or smiling before last September, please know that I was doing an
acting job and deserved an Oscar for Best Actress. Inside I was about as miserable as a person can me. I
always think of the Abe Lincoln quote that expressed how miserable he was with his depression. He thought if
he felt any worse, then he would be dead. He had a friend stay with him 24 hours a day for six straight months
to keep him from committing suicide. How awful that he didn’t have medicine that could have helped. I have
promised people that I will not put the “Mask of Okayness” on ever again. I will always tell people exactly how
I’m feeling. There are other things that I’m learning to do that I haven’t done for a long time, if ever. I am
attending NAMI Connection meetings as much as I can, I plan on taking the next Peer-to-Peer class (watch our
newsletter for dates) and continuing to see my doctor and counselor.
I don’t know what my future is yet – none of us do. But like NAMI, I can try as hard as I can to
fight to do the right thing – for myself – and for others. I will continue on as a NAMI Columbus Board member
and will continue to be the coordinator for CIT classes. Anything above that will depend on my stress levels
and how I’m doing. But I know one thing for sure now, it’s that I come first now. Hopefully, not in a selfish way,
but in an “I’ve got to take care of myself first in order to be there for anyone else” way.
I have gone into (probably too much) detail about what I did and my thoughts about it in order to
allow YOU to feel free to talk with me about it if you would like. When I first found NAMI I “thought” I was just a
family member. Now I know I’m a “well-rounded” NAMI member. I know life from both sides now as Joni
Mitchell would have said. While in The Bradley Center at any given point there were lots of others like me who
were suffering with depression or psychosis. Come visiting time, there were some families that were not
knowing how to help their loved one. WE all know that education and support can help. Like the Minds on the
Edge Program says “If I can talk about my mental illness, so can you”. Let’s all vow to talk more about mental
illness in 2010. Let’s find people who need to know what we know and educate them. We need to tell our
stories.
2010 welcomes in a new NAMI Columbus President. The Board has voted for Mimi Marlowe to
bring us into this new year. There are so many avenues that NAMI is using to help us improve our mental
health system. Surely there is one avenue that appeals to you to help Mimi and NAMI make more good
progress this year.
2009 was my new birth year. Celebrate with me the next time you see me! Wish me Happy 1st
year.
Sue Marlowe
We Need Your Vote
NAMI Columbus currently has six board
members, (Mimi Marlowe, Kristine Walls, Doris
Keene, Linda Peters, Steve Scott and Sue Marlowe).
Our bylaws allow us to have up to nine members.
On Monday, January 18, 2010, you will be
asked to consider and vote for the following
recommendations by the nominating committee for
NAMI Columbus board membership. They will take
office in February.
Sue Knight – NAMI member since Spring
Support
Education
2009; completed Family-to-Family education in 2009,
will be trained as Family Support group facilitator in
February, 2010; volunteer for Girl Scouts, Red
Cross and her church, and is a department manager
at Winn-Dixie
Amy Zabel – NAMI member since Fall 2008;
trained as NAMI Connections facilitator and Peer-toPeer Mentor; elementary music teacher for 24 years
in the Muscogee County school system
Nominations will also be taken from the floor.
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We’re in the Money!!!
NAMI Columbus received a check last month for our portion of money raised for the 2009 NAMI Georgia Walk.
It was…drum roll please…$1,868.80.
I want to take a moment and thank all of you who formed teams, signed up as a walker and/or collected or
donated money for the Walk. Here are the results:
Team
SueNAMI Tsunamis
Linda’s Sweethearts
The J Boyz
Mimi’s Milers
New Horizon Rockers
Acting Up
Total
Team Captain
Sue Marlowe
Linda Peters
Chris Epps
Mimi Marlowe
Benny Parker
Teresa Milam
Amt Raised
$1,820
$1,158
$ 931
$ 486
$ 434
$ 277
$5,106
# of Walkers
4
2
8
2
11
4
31
Next year I hope NAMI Columbus will at least double, no make that
triple, both the number of walkers and amount of donations. As you
might remember from our October newsletter, NAMI Columbus made
quite a hit with our green ‘NAMI Columbus Does NAMI Walks’ t-shirts.
This year let’s make a statement about how wonderful our affiliate is by raising the highest amount of money
and/or having the highest number of walkers. I know we can do it because we’ve done so many other things in
a spectacular way.
But at this point in time I am extremely grateful for all that was done in 2009. Thank you all.
~ Mimi Marlowe
Ask Not What NAMI Can Do For You -Ask What YOU Can Do For NAMI
I remember hearing former President John F. Kennedy make that statement and it had quite an impact on me.
While America can do a lot for people, he wanted us to remember that people also need to contribute back to
America to keep it strong and focused on the community of people who live within its borders. The same goes
for NAMI. So I wanted to list some things that people can do. I’d love to see 2010 become known as the Year
of the Volunteer at NAMI Columbus.
1. Renew Your Membership or Join NAMI.
• The most obvious thing you can do is renew your membership when it comes due.
• If you aren’t a member, please join. Go to www.nami.org. At the top right corner of the page is a
banner that reads BECOME A MEMBER. Just follow the instructions. Make sure you become a
member of NAMI Columbus.
• The more members we have, the stronger our voice and the more impact we can make on initiatives to
change the mental health system in Georgia. This helps us support people with a mental illness
diagnosis.
2. Use Goodsearch as your search engine
• Sue and I use it all the time and believe it works as well as Google or other search engines. When you
first sign on at www.goodsearch.com go to the box that asks “Who do you Goodsearch for?” and enter
NAMI Columbus, then verify it. I also have made it my homepage so when I go to Internet Explorer the
Goodsearch page comes up and I don’t have to remember to switch to it. NAMI Columbus makes
money every time someone does a search. (continued on page 7)
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We also make money when you buy through Goodsearch. Look at the long list of popular stores
(Target, Amazon, etc.) and then go to the site and make your purchase. We’ll then get a percentage of
the sale.
3. Make a Matching Gift Through Your Organization
• This can be done through companies that have a matching gift program. Call your HR office and ask if
your company supports this program. If they do, make a donation to NAMI Columbus and we’ll get
double the amount. This would really help us to implement additional consumer support programs.
• Did you know that you can also make a donation to NAMI when it’s time for United Way? We are on
the approved list of organizations. Again, ask your HR or United Way representative when the
campaign begins. We just received notice that someone who took a Family-to-Family class in 2009
made a $300 donation so we’ll receive a check for $600.
4. Donate to Our Semi-Annual Yard/Bake Sales (last Saturday in April & October)
• Please keep us in mind whenever you are spring (or any other season) cleaning. If you can hold on to
the items until the week before our sale that would be great. But, if you need the space, please call the
NAMI Columbus office (706-320-3755) and we’ll see if we can make arrangements to store the items.
We really need men’s clothing and furniture always sells well.
• We’re also going to increase attention on our bake sale during each yard sale. Baked goods sell well
each time but we haven’t had a big supply of items. If each member contributed a cake, or pie, or
cookies/cupcakes, fudge, etc., it wouldn’t be much work and we could really increase our profits.
5. Last, But Not Least, Volunteer
• We’re going to really focus on this during 2010. If we’re going to continue to make NAMI Columbus an
organization that really helps consumers and family members affected by mental illness, we need help.
Here are some things you could do right away:
Come to our weekly support group meetings when things are going well. You can help others
that are in crisis or struggling with how to make things better.
Come to our monthly education meeting and help by bringing a refreshment item, setting up,
greeting new members, or cleaning up. Again, a number of people, each doing a little bit, can
make a big difference.
Call the office and let us know that you’d like to explore what you can do. We usually need help
mailing out newsletters to people who don’t have email, folding and stamping other mailings,
calling people, etc. You aren’t making a commitment until you say “Yes, I’ll do this.” But you
can let us know what part of NAMI Columbus is close to your heart, and a conversation with one
of our current volunteers might just help you decide where you can contribute.
•
So that’s what you can do right now for NAMI Columbus. Please consider helping the small core of volunteers
that are currently contributing. I’d love to have other NAMI affiliates see what we are doing and ask how we
were able to get such a strong, passionate, committed group of people to make a difference. And I would
respond by saying…I asked them to help.
Call us, 706-320-3755, if you want/need more information or help.
~ Mimi Marlowe, President
NAMI National Member Database Update
During most of 2009 NAMI National has been undergoing a conversion from their old membership database
system to a new, state-of-the-art database system. National is now rolling out the new system, working out the
last of the “bugs,” and are in the process of training affiliate leaders on the new system. The conversion
process has caused some confusion and inconvenience to our members, such as obtaining your membership
number or setting up a member subscription on the NAMI National website. The wait will soon be over and we
will let you know when you can go online and set up your member accounts.
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NAMI Columbus 2010 Event Calendar
As Of January 8, 2010
January 2010
16-17 NAMI GA Leadership Seminar
26
Faithnet F2F – Week 1 (Ends 4-1)
24
P2P – Week 1 (Ends 3-21)
25
Monthly Education Program
25-29 Columbus Police Dept. CIT
28
Homeless Network Resource Fair
February 2010
8
Mental Health Court Graduation
15
Monthly Education Program
March 2010
15
Monthly Education Program
8-12 Muscogee County Sheriff’s Ofc. - CIT
15-19 Brain Awareness Week
18
F2F – Week 1 (Ends 5-27)
April 2010
12-16 Columbus Police Dept. CIT
15
Monthly Education Program
24
NAMI Cols Semi-annual Yard Sale
May 2010 – Mental Health Awareness Month
No Monthly Education Program
2-8 Children’s MH Awareness Week
6
National Children’s MH Awareness Day
10
Mental Health Court Graduation
15
NAMI GA Annual Meeting
June 2010
1-3
National CIT Conf., San Antonio
14-18 Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office CIT
14
Monthly Education Program
29-30 NAMI National Convention, Wash. DC
July 2010
TBD NAMI GA Walk Kickoff Luncheon
1-4
NAMI National Convention, Wash. DC
12-16 Columbus Police Dept. CIT
19
Monthly Education Program
August 2010
9
Mental Health Court Graduation
16
Monthly Education Program
23-27 Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office CIT
September 2010
5
P2P – Week 1 (Ends 10-31)
9
F2F – Week 1 (Ends 11-18)
20
Monthly Education Program
October 2010
2
NAMI GA Walk (Date to be confirmed)
3 -9 MIAW (MI Awareness Week)
4-8
Columbus Police Dept. CIT
18
Monthly Education Program
30
NAMI Cols Semi-annual Yard Sale
TBD Georgia CIT Awards Banquet
November 2010
8
Mental Health Court Graduation
15
Monthly Education Program
14-20 Mental Health Wellness Week
20
National Survivors of Suicide Day
15-19 Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office CIT
December 2010
No Monthly Education Program
5
NAMI Cols Holiday Celebration Party
Every Monday night, 6—7:30 pm are the Family/Friend & NAMI Connection Recovery Support Groups
Every Saturday at 1--2:30 pm is the NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group
NAMI Connection Recovery Support Groups meet at The Bradley Center’s Multipurpose Room,
(use the 22nd Street Parking Lot)
Family/Friend Support Group meets at the CONTACT Training Building, 1520 22nd Street
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A Snapshot Look at the Last Quarter of 2009
CIT Graduates October 23, 2009
CIT Graduates October 16,
2009
November 16, 2009 monthly meeting
How can we Use Minds On the Edge to educate
the Columbus community on mental illness?
On December 3, 2009 Mimi & Sue Marlowe, Linda Peters and
David Wallace from New Horizons Community Service Board
drove the “NAMI-mobile” in the Mayor’s Motorcade Parade. It
was a fun afternoon for all
Support
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On November 20, 2009 Erik Fedde and Pat Wastion
represented NAMI Columbus at Fort Benning’s
Warrior Transition Battalion’s Open House
On December 6, 2009 we closed out the year with our
annual winter celebration party. The room was decorated
so nicely by elves and the food our chefs cooked was
very tasty. We think everyone had a good time.
January 2010--Page 9
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Columbus
P.O. Box 8581, Columbus, GA 31908, (706) 320-3755
The Area’s Voice on Mental Illness
I want to support NAMI Columbus and
NAMI’s mission.
Please Cut and Mail NAMI National, NAMI Georgia and NAMI
Columbus are dedicated to eradicating stigma and
improving the lives of persons with mental
illnesses thereby also benefiting their friends,
family and community. Catch the wave and be a
part of change.
Name
Address
City
State
Zip
Phone Numbers (do not enter a number if you do not want to be
listed in the Membership Directory (members only).
E-Mail
NAMI Columbus is the largest affiliate in Georgia.
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable
organization. Dues and donations are tax
deductible. Membership includes a subscription
to our monthly newsletter, membership directory,
(501(c)(3) and access to immediate news on
advocacy, treatment and support issues from our
national, state and local organizations.
Please check type of membership desired:
Individual Membership $30 Dues
Professional Membership $50 Dues
(Individual and Professional Dues are for one year
and are tax deductible.)
$3 Open Door Membership (low income)
I am not joining at this time, but I would like to make a
contribution of $ ______________. (Thank you!!!)
Support
Education
Please make checks payable to:
NAMI Columbus
P.O. Box 8581
Columbus, Georgia 31908
You can also join safely online at www.nami.org/join
($35.00 by credit card).
January 2010--Page 10
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