November e-Newsletter

NAMI Madison County
* SUPPORT * EDUCATION * ADVOCACY * RESEARCH *
Website: http://madisoncty.nami.org
November 2008
Board of Directors
Diane Pisko, President
Rob Roennigke, Vice President
Ann Dirks Linhorst, Secretary
Lynn Glauber Treasurer
Pat Rudloff, Immediate Past President
Mary Rottmann, NAMI IL Board Member
Kelly Gable
Keith Gauen
Jim Giger
Fred Laswell
Margaret Merrell
Donna Sheard
Janice Stephens
************
Table of Contents
Page 1 - 2008 Walk Sponsors
Page 2 - President’s Corner
- Office Information
- Join NAMI
Page 3 - Vote Mental Health in 2008
- Victory on Parity!
- Mental Health America Says “Thank
You!”
- “You Can Work While Having a
Diagnosis of Mental Illness”
Page 4 - Mark Your Calendar!
- NAMI Project Leaders
- Other Local Meetings
- Newsletter Deadline
- Message from NAMI LLAMA
- Have you Moved?
Page 5 - Advertisers
Page 6 - Walk for Mental Health & Picnic
- Congratulations, Mary Rottmann!!
- New Support Group
Page 7 - Strategies for People Living with
Mental Illness
- Jerseyville NAMI Group News
Page 8 - Crisis Intervention Team
Page 9 - 2008 Walk Pictures
Page 10 - Christmas Party - Dec 9, 2008
- No Business Meeting in December
- AVON on MAIN Presents…
Page 11 - News from Congressman Shimkus
- Stuck on the Rage Road!
- NAMI LLAMA Message
Page 12 - Meeting Times & Locations
NAMI Office Phone: 618-798-9788
MAJOR SPONSORS FOR 2008 WALK FOR MENTAL HEALTH
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
Gateway Regional Medical Center
Chestnut Health Systems
The Bank of Edwardsville
Community Counseling Center
Alton Memorial BJC
Ameren UE
708 Mental Health Board
Country Companies (Lea Sommers)
MORE SPONSORS
Olin Brass
Cooper B-Line
Olin
State Bank of St. Jacob
Home Telephone Company
Schnucks
Shop N Save
Wal-Marts at Granite City , Glen
Carbon, Collinsville & Highland
Tru-Buy
Korte Meats
Grantfork Meats
Troy Foods
Edwardsville Frozen Meats
Florist Mutual
Special thanks to all our
sponsors and to Llamas
of Wier World and the
Tri-Township Park.
PRINTING SERVICES
Metro Document Center of Illinois
MEDIA SPONSORS
The Telegraph
Troy Times
Belleville News Democrat
CRISIS HOTLINE NUMBERS IN MADISON COUNTY
Northern Madison County--Community Counseling Center Hotline--(618) 465-4388
Southern Madison County--Chestnut Health Systems Hotline--(618) 877-0316
awarded to a consumer that shows exemplary service in
the community. Mary was the perfect award recipient.
Congratulations to Mary.
We have great news that the Mental Health Parity law
finally passed on October 3rd, 2008. Now anyone with a
mental illness can get the same services as those with any
other illness. This was a hard long battle – BUT WE DID
IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyone that called or wrote a state representative, congressmen, major, governor, give yourself a
round of applause. You helped us win. We CAN make a
difference. We have always asked our members and advocates to call their representative & senators at various
and multiple times. I can't tell you how many times I
called them.. It did pay off.
We will be filling our two vacant seats on the Board of
Directors at our next business meeting to be held November 11th, 2008. We’d love to see more members taking an
active role in the organization. The board meetings are
open to all NAMI members and concerned advocates.
Maybe you have an idea that will help NAMI grow, a
fundraiser, or any type of suggestion that you have for the
board of NAMI? Call President Diane Pisko with your
idea to get it on the agenda for the next business meeting. Please call her at 618-667-8781 at least one week
prior to the business meeting so it can be added to the
agenda. The business meetings are held on the second
Tuesday of each month from 7-9 in Granite City Regional
Medical Center, Granite City, IL on the ground floor in
the conference next to the cafeteria. The board would
welcome new faces at the meetings.
Do you have extra time on your hands; you too can
become a member and/or just a volunteer of NAMI Madison County, please call our office at (618) 798-9788 and
speak to AJ French, our office coordinator. Our office is
open Monday through Thursday from 12:00 noon to
4:30PM. It is located on the 4th floor of Gateway Regional Medical Center in the North wing. If you have any
time available during those hours, we would love to have
you as a volunteer for our NAMI Madison County office.
….by Diane Pisko
First off I’d like to thank all our sponsors, walkers, helpers, Troy Park, and the Wier’s who brought the llamas to
this year’s 5th annual NAMI Madison County “Walk for
Mental Health” and picnic. You all helped make the walk
a success again this year. I can’t wait to see all of you
again next year.
Our NAMI Madison County Holiday Party is going to
be held December 9th, 2008 at the Baptist Church on Hwy
162 in Maryville, IL. It’s just right down the street (going
East) from Anderson Hospital. Please call the office NOW
to make your reservations (618) 798-9788. There is another article included in this newsletter that explains the
Christmas party in more detail. I’m looking forward to
seeing everyone again and joining all the fun and festivities.
The NAMI Conference in Lisle, IL was a huge success.
We had three people from our Affiliate win awards. Kudos to Pat Rudloff for winning the Family to Family
Award, Rob Roennigke for winning the NAMI Basics
Award and Pat Norris for winning the In Our Own Voice
Presenter Award. When you see them, please congratulate them on their hard earned awards.
Mary Rottmann, our past Office Coordinator and presently on our NAMI Illinois State Board and NAMI Madison County Board, won the Susan Kniffel award at the
Consumer Conference this year which was held on October 10th, 2008. This is a very prestigious award. It’s
NAMI Madison County Office
Gateway Regional Medical Center
2100 Madison Avenue, 4th floor
Granite City, IL 62040
AJ French, Office Coordinator
E-mail: [email protected]
Office Hours:
Noon to 4:30PM
Monday thru Thursday
Call the NAMI Office at 618-798-9788 to have a
membership form sent to you or download one
from our website by clicking here:
http://madisoncty.nami.org/
nami_membership_form12d.pdf
Phone: 618-798-9788
Fax: 866-332-5338
Website: http://madisoncty.nami.org
2
Vote Mental Health
in 2008
Now that the Democratic and
Republican Conventions are over, learn what the official
party platforms have to say about mental health. Visit our
newly updated Presidential Candidates web page to read
key platform passages on health care, veterans, and education, along with Senator John McCain's and Barack
Obama's prior responses to NAMI's detailed questionnaire.
Let others know about this web site. Encourage your
friends to be informed and "vote mental health."
(Source: NAMI National Friday Facts, Sep 12, 2008)
____________
Victory on Parity!
By a vote of 263-171, the House on October 3, 1008
gave final approval to the Paul Wellstone-Pete Domenici
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 as
part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (HR
1424). President Bush signed the legislation on October 3.
Triumph for Consumers and Families
This victory in the House ends a nearly 20 year effort to
require group health plans to cover treatment for mental
illness on the same terms and conditions as all other illnesses. NAMI is extremely grateful for the tireless work of
advocates from all over the nation that contacted their
Senators and House members to push for this landmark
legislation. The advocacy voice of people living with mental illness and their families made a tremendous difference
in securing this long sought victory.
NAMI also salutes the leadership of the sponsors of parity in Congress including Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM),
Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), Mike Enzi (R-WY) and
Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Representatives Patrick
Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN). NAMI also
remembers the contributions of the late Senator Paul
Wellstone (D-MN) in bringing parity forward. After nearly
20 years, their efforts have resulted in mental illness treatment no longer being subject to 2nd class status in our
health care system.
What Happens Next?
The parity law becomes effective 1-year after enactment
of the bill. This will mean that group health plans will no
longer be able to impose limits on inpatient days or outpatient visits or require higher deductibles or cost sharing for
mental illness or addiction treatment that are not also applied to all other medical-surgical coverage.
There is a special effective date rule for collective bargaining agreements that would delay imposition of the parity requirements until the next collective bargaining contract goes into effect. The law requires that the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Treasury
issue regulations within 1 year, although failure to issue
such regulations will not delay the effective date of parity.
In the coming weeks, NAMI will be developing educational materials and guidelines on how parity will impact
insurance coverage for consumers and families. For now,
NAMI advocates can celebrate a landmark achievement!
(Source: NAMI E-News, October 3, 2008)
____________
Mental Health America Says “Thank You!”
Thanks to you and the thousands who lent tireless support to our years-long effort to win enactment of legislation
to end discrimination in mental health coverage. Today we
won! With House passage of the Emergency Economic
Stabilization Act today - 263-171, Congress has at last
adopted mental health/addiction parity legislation. Congratulations! With speedy presidential approval assured,
more than 100 million Americans will gain equitable coverage and improved access to needed mental health care.
(Source: Mental Health America Take Action E-mail,
October 3, 2008)
____________
“You Can Work While Having a Diagnosis of Mental
Illness,” says NAMI Member Tracie Cummings
At our PSR (Tri County Mental Health in Jerseyville)
we have classes that help you get a job. One is called
Workplace Fundamentals and the other is called job Club.
Taking Job Club and Workplace Fundamentals helps
you learn how to go about getting a job such as filling out
applications and creating your own resume. Job Club allows you to go out in the community with other consumers
and look for a job. While I was in the group home here in
Jerseyville, I started putting applications in at various stores
and businesses here in Jerseyville. The middle of February
I was called in for an interview at McDonald’s. I started
working on Feb 28, 2002, and have been a cashier for sixand-a-half years. I love my job. [The] Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) helped me to get my job.
It helps if your boss will work with you like the way
mine has. I have a couple of support people at work who
have been with me through thick and thin.
You can hold a job while having a mental illness. My
co-workers are so nice when I need a ride and will pick me
up or bring me home.
You can live on your own.
(This article was published in the Jerseyville newspaper.)
____________
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OTHER LOCAL MEETINGS
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
NAMI GREATER BELLEVILLE: 3rd Thursday of
each month, 7:00PM at the Hilltop Emporium (rear entrance), 207 East Main St., Belleville. For more information contact Ron Szewczuk at 618-476-1771.
NAMI CUPFUL: 4th Saturday of each month, 2:004:00PM, 1505 Market Ave., East St. Louis. Call Pamela
Perry, Central Comprehensive Mental Health, at 618274-0881 (work) or 314-868-8031 (home) for more information.
Sharing & Caring, Clubhouse, Granite City……….…Nov 4, 2008
NAMI Connection Group, Clubhouse……………..…Nov 4, 2008
Sharing & Caring, St. Clare’s Hospital, Alton………..Nov 4, 2008
NAMI Special Night, Jerseyville…………………….Nov 8, 2008
Board Meeting, Gateway, Granite City…………......Nov 11, 2008
Madison County Board Mtg, Edwardsville, 5:00PM Nov 19, 2008
Continuum of Care Meeting, Woodriver..………......Nov 20, 2008
Sharing & Caring , Litchfield……………...…..........Nov 18, 2008
Sharing & Caring, Jerseyville……………..….….….Nov 22, 2008
NAMI Christmas Party………………….…………….Dec 9, 2008
PIAT……………………………………...…...March 6 & 7, 2009
NAMI National Conference, San Francisco………..July 6-9, 2009
ST. LOUIS OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE
DISORDER SUPPORT GROUP: 3rd Saturday of
each month, 10:00AM, St. John’s Mercy Medical Center,
McAuley Room South, 615 S. New Ballas Rd., Von
Gontard Conference Center. Speakers start at 10:00AM
and support groups meet from 11:00AM till noon. For
more information, call 314-842-7228, ext. 3.
DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)
MEETING: Every Monday 7:00-8:30PM, O.C. Anderson Hospital, Maryville, IL, next to the cafeteria on
Lower Level B. Contact: Diane at 618-667-8781 or by
e-mail at [email protected] for more information.
NAMI Madison County Project Leaders
AJ French………Office Coordinator & IOOV Coordinator
Mary Gauen………………..………………….. Webmaster
Matt Gauen……………………..……..NAMI Llama Artist
Sandy Giger………………..……………………….. Editor
Tom Johnson………..………………….....CIT Coordinator
Diane Pisko……………………..……….….…. Newsletter
Jane Roennigke………..… Education & PIAT Coordinator
Pat Rudloff………….…..…...Support Groups Coordinator
“With Hope in Mind” Support Group: for family
members or caregivers; meets the 4th Tuesday of each
month from 7:00-8:30PM at Christian Hospital Northeast
(CNE), 11133 Dunn Road, St. Louis, MO, Room 2100.
For more information contact Larry Daniels at 314-8304642 or 314-660-9093 (cell).
.
If you would like to help any of these members,
please call the NAMI Office at 618-798-9788.
DEADLINE for the
December 2008 issue
of newsletter is November 15th.
Please e-mail your article to Sandy at
[email protected] on or before due date.
Please...
notify us if you
are moving. Call
the NAMI office
at 618-798-9788
with your new
address and
phone number!!!
4
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR ADVERTISERS!!
Tell them you’ve seen their ad in our newsletter.
Applications are being accepted
for HUD rent-assisted apartments at Community Court,
Hempel House and Yakubian
Apartments in Alton. To
qualify, you must be between
the ages of 18-62 with a maximum income of $23,050 and
have a chronic mental illness.
Please call (618) 465-
337 E. Ferguson Ave.
Wood River, IL 62095
Phone (618) 251-4073
PICTURE YOUR
BUSINESS CARD
RIGHT HERE!!!
Behavioral Health Alternatives provides Mental
Health Case Management Services, which includes
but is not limited to: Individual Therapy; Group
Therapy; Medication Monitoring and Training; and
Representative Payee Services. Call (618)251-4073
for more information.
♦
Place your single business-card size
ad here for $50.00 per year.
♦
Get a double size ad for $100.00 per
year. Contact the NAMI Madison
County Office at (618)798-9788.
♦
♦
♦
Your ad will run monthly in the newsletter
which is received by approximately 300
people.
The e-newsletter is also e-mailed to an
approximate additional 100 recipients.
The newsletter is posted to our website
and therefore can also be seen worldwide.
Thank you to
Chestnut Health Systems in Granite City
and Community Counseling Center in Alton
who alternately each month print this newsletter as a service to NAMI.
5
5th Annual
“Walk for Mental Health”
& Picnic
Great weather, lots of fun, good food and
drinks, wonderful people, face painting,
basket raffles, Cardinal tickets raffle, several
live llama mascots, and mental health information booths were all part of our 5th annual
“Walk for Mental Health” and picnic.
I want to express my deepest appreciation to all our walkers and their sponsors, non-walker donors and all the walk
sponsors listed on page 1. This year we had approximately
200 advocates who attended in addition to the llamas and
dogs who walked for mental health awareness.
Julie Wier and her son, Ben, brought some of their wonderful llamas to lead the walk. Walkers took turns leading the
llamas on the walk trail. The Wiers also donated two great
Cardinal tickets that were raffled off. The Roennigke’s held
the winning ticket. Rob and daughter, Vanessa, attended the
game at their 1st trip to the new stadium and had fantastic
seats. Vanessa said that all sorts of food and drinks were included, AND they say a winning game. Doesn’t get much
better than that!!! She said they had a wonderful time.
NAMI Member Rusty Mathis again provided his talent of
face and arm painting.
For 2008 we had something new--a basket raffle for 25
cents a ticket. There were 15 beautiful baskets that were donated by: Margaret Merrill, Barb Gieseking, Roennigke Family, Kelly Gable, Ann Dirks-Lindhorst, Stephens Family (3),
Pat Rudloff, Kathleen Dunn & Annette Daniel, Rita Watters,
Tom & Sandy Giger, Highland Wal-Mart (2), and an anonymous friend of
NAMI.
Thanks again to
NAMI llama artist,
Matt Gauen, for the
art he provided for
the gold colored tshirts. The park
glowed with color.
I want to thank
all the helpers the
day of the walk
from setting up
early that morning
to the workers in the lunch stand, to the cooks, to the raffle
stand workers, to the registration workers, to the advocates
who manned the mental health booths, to our photographer/
webmaster right down to the people who helped cleanup afterwards.
Oh yes, and also to the ones who helped count money afterwards--our profit netted almost $15,000!!!! Was it worth
all the work involved? You bet it was!!!
To all of our walkers and supporters: YOU helped make
our 5th annual walk a success. Thank you, thank you, thank
you!
Sandy Giger, 2008 Walk Coordinator
6
Congratulations,
Mary Rottmann!!
Susan Kniffel Award
On Friday, October 10th, Mary Rottmann became the first
recipient of the Susan Kniffel award presented at the Annual
Consumer Conference at the Gateway Conference Center in
Collinsville, Illinois. Susan Kniffel, who passed away on
March 18, 2007, was a former President of NAMI Madison
County and a long time advocate for individuals with mental
illnesses.
A candidate for this award must be a consumer who has a
demonstrated a passion for assisting people in their recovery.
Rottmann who is currently on the NAMI Illinois and NAMI
Madison County Boards as well as a past Office Coordinator
for NAMI Madison County, has an impressive list of accomplishments including the following: certification in psychiatric rehabilitation from Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC)
in 2006; involvement in a variety of mental health programs
helping consumers and family member since 2008 including
the Illinois Suicide Prevention Coalition, NAMI and individual placement services; participation in stories of recovery on
a video produced by the Mental Health Association of Illinois
Valley; and treasurer and registration chairperson for the
Piecing It All Together (PIAT) Conference. In addition, she
is currently a representative on the Consumer Leadership
Council and one of the 35 trainers for NAMI Connection consumer support groups.
Susan Kniffel was well-known, admired and respected by
her fellow NAMI members and others in the mental health
field. Mary Rottmann epitomizes all that she stood for.
Congratulations, Mary Rottmann!
____________
New Support Group
Family members and caregivers who cannot make it to
NAMI support group meetings the first Tuesday of each
month in Granite City or Alton, now have another option.
“With Hope In Mind”, a support group for those who love
someone who has a mental illness, meets the 4th Tuesday of
each month from 7:00-8:30PM. This meeting is held at
Christian Hospital Northeast (CNE), 11133 Dunn Road, St.
Louis, Missouri, in Room 2100. (Christian Hospital is right
across the Clark Bridge in Alton and is located on the right
side before you come to Route 270.)
This support group is hosted by the Center for Mental
Health CNE and is not sponsored by NAMI; however, it is led
by Larry Daniels, a long-time NAMI St. Louis member and
NAMI support group facilitator so the meeting follows
closely to the NAMI “Principles of Support”.
For more information call Larry Daniels, 314-830-4642 or
314-660-9093 (cell).
Strategies for People Living
with Mental Illness:
Ten Tips for Managing Stress
Strategies for People Living with Mental Illness: Ten Tips
for Managing Stress
Whether measured by the unemployment rate, reaction to
the economic bailout debates, rationing money to pay for
medications or food, or the effects of the high home foreclosure rate, the current economic situation has Americans experiencing more psychological distress than ever before.
In the face of these realities, reports from all over the
country offer a gloomy picture: people are straining both private and public psychiatric services, and are even put in the
position of making the choice between needed psychiatric
medications and such necessities as food or gasoline.
People are stressed out. This all causes a ripple effect that may
lead to negative outcomes for many individuals and their
families.
And what of the most vulnerable populations, those who
are already dealing with serious and persistent mental illness? No one likes uncertainty, and people with mental illness are no different.
“The NAMI HelpLine has been receiving calls from individuals or families affected by mental illness who are further
stressed by the news of the struggling economy,” said Martha
Brick, manager of the NAMI National Information HelpLine.
“For individuals and families living with mental illness, it is
often the support of a HelpLine associate, a listener who can
relate to their experience, that they find the most helpful.”
In response, NAMI HelpLine associates offer the following
Ten Tips as strategies for people with mental illness who are
stressed by news of the current economic crisis.
Engage with your social networks and friends. Being with
people helps to keep you focused on the positive and gives
you opportunities to process fears, concerns, and challenges.
If you have a NAMI Connection or other recovery support
group available, plan to attend.
• Maintain your medication and treatment plan. Schedule appointments with health care providers, therapists, and others who are part of your treatment plan,
if needed to assist during a challenging time.
• Be mindful of your diet. Caffeine, alcohol, and sugar
all contribute to increased anxiety.
• Avoid short-term “self-medication” that involves using drugs or alcohol. Alcohol, in particular, is a depressant and compounds suffering over time.
• Play with your pet. Research shows that pets help
combat loneliness, reduce blood pressure, organize
your day, and are a source of solace.
• Maintain a structured routine. Many people with
mental illness report that structure is motivational and
supports a feeling of accomplishment, which can help
offset feelings of worry or anxiety that may accompany the news of the day.
•
Participate in spiritual and relaxation practices. Many
report that yoga, faith-based practices, breathing,
meditation, and visualization contribute to reduced
anxiety and promote a sense of wellness.
• Exercise. Positive feelings enhanced by the release of
endorphins are only part of the benefits of exercise.
Improved self-esteem and enhanced self-worth are
other advantages.
• Laugh. Watch an old movie, cartoon, or comedy
sketch on TV to elevate your spirits. Laughter often
helps people overcome feelings of depression and
worry.
• Avoid negative media, including television and radio
news, if it proves to be agitating.
• Listen to music, or sing. Many people with mental
illness report that listening to music and singing familiar songs can help them through difficult times by
temporarily replacing worry and anxiety with moments of pleasure and joy.
“Borrowing from cognitive-behavioral therapy, it can be
helpful to remember that the economic problems are not your
fault--and you can control how you choose to respond to
them,” said Ken Duckworth, MD, NAMI medical director.
People with mental illness working on their recovery know
that it is a step-at-a-time process. The economic situation is
likely to be a similar journey. Things will get better over time.
“Of course we remind people that coping strategies are not
intended to replace the components of their individual treatment plan. As with any serious medical illness, however, successfully managing stress is part of the effort to achieve wellness,” Martha Brick concluded.
“We recognize that many just need someone to talk to,
someone to help them think through their worry and concern.
That is at the heart of the NAMI HelpLine and what we do.”
(Source: NAMI Advocate E-Newsletter, September
2008)
___________
Jerseyville NAMI Group News
On the 4th Saturday of each month, this group will hold
a Caring and Sharing support groups from 4:00-6:00PM.
Everyone is welcome to come to the support group meetings.
We are also doing some new things in NAMI. We are
having NAMI Special Nights. These are set on the 2nd Saturday of the month, 4:00-6:00PM. These
nights will consist of Pizza Night, Movie
Night, Game Night or A Creative Art
Night. Our last Special Night, Saturday,
October 11th, the movie: “A Beautiful
Mind” was shown.
All meetings will be held at the Jerseyville Church of the
Nazarene Fellowship Hall at 285 Maple Summit Road in Jerseyville. Come join us!
7
Crisis Intervention Team Presentation
What Is CIT?
A Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program consists of a
team of sworn officers which receives intensive specialized
training on dealing with individuals in the community who
have a mental illness or other behavioral disability. CIT
members provide an immediate response to calls involving a
mental health crisis situation. The goal is to have at least one
CIT officer available on all shifts, but these officers also perform their regular duty assignments on patrol. This is not envisioned as a call-out situation since immediacy of response is
part of what makes the program successful along with application of viable interaction techniques. The “team” concept
involves interagency mutual assistance agreements whereby
participating CIT departments agree to provide CIT coverage
for one another as circumstances may dictate and where a CIT
department may not have an available CIT officer on a shift at
the time that a situation requiring such expertise is received.
Community members can easily identify CIT officers by a
“CIT” pin worn on the breast pocket of the officer’s uniform.
These officers are also expected to find opportunities to interact with these individuals when they are not in a crisis situation. For example, CIT officers may attend community meetings at service agencies or may do “well-being” checks with
individuals with whom they have become familiar. Additionally it is expected that the CIT team will build relationships
and cultivate partnerships with area service providers over
time.
Officer Selection
Selecting the appropriate officers for the team is crucial to
the effectiveness of the CIT program. All department officers
should be given an opportunity to volunteer for the program
and then command staff should choose those officers based
on an interview process.
CIT Training
CIT training consists of a one-week/40 hour block of instruction. Topics include but are not limited to mental illness
recognition, substance abuse and dual diagnosis, child and
adolescent disorders, psychotropic medications, geriatric issues, medical conditions that mimic mental illness, autism
and mental retardation, law enforcement compliant surrender,
risk assessment and crisis intervention skills.
In addition to training presentations consisting primarily of
lecture, officers participate in a variety of valuable exercises.
In one such exercise, each officer is provided with a personal
CD player with headphones. The officers then listen to a CD
playing “voices” that simulate the auditory hallucinations that
some individuals with a mental illness may experience.
While listening to these voices, officers rotate through a series
of workstations where they are required to perform cognitive
tasks which allows officers to gain insight into what an individual who is hearing voices might be experiencing.
During the week, each officer will have a unique opportunity to participate in one or more panel discussions with individuals who have a mental illness and/or their family members. Panel members typically share their personal experiences and are able to explain to officers what their needs
8
are in a crisis situation and officers are also able to ask questions of those panel members.
An essential part of the CIT training is scenario-based
skills training. Officers are given realistic scenarios, which
may include suicide interventions, de-escalating a potentially
violent situation, responding to a call involving an individual
experiencing paranoia, and interacting with a peer in a manic
episode behaving in an inappropriate manner. All scenarios
are facilitated by and evaluated by certified CIT officers, and
successful passage of this portion of the training is required to
complete the course, and receive subsequent certification.
CIT Benefits
• Crisis response is immediate.
• Underserved consumers are identified by officers and
provided with care.
• Officers are better trained and educated in verbal deescalation techniques.
• Officer recognition and appreciation by the community increases.
• Less “victimless” crime arrests.
• Repeat calls decrease.
• Officer/consumer safety increases.
• Cost savings are realized.
National Achievements
In the last fifteen years, researchers around the country
have studied law enforcement agencies with CIT programs.
Several statistically significant findings have been noted. Researchers at The University of Tennessee attained the following results in the Memphis Police Department following implementation of a CIT program:
• Officer injuries decreased.
• Arrest rates decreased for the mentally ill.
• Use of force decreased.
• Violence and use of restraints decreased in hospital
emergency departments.
• Rate of mental illness in county jails and municipal
lockups decreased.
• Liability for health care issues consequently decreased in jails/lockups in CIT departments.
Tom Johnson, CIT Coordinator, Says “Thank You”
On Thursday, October 9th, NAMI Members Pat Norris,
Donna Sheard, and Diane Pisko participated in consumerofficer discussions of our area’s most recent CIT training.
The training was held at Grace Church in Fairview Heights
for twenty-one additional officers. By that fourth day officers
felt fairly comfortable and knowledgeable about mental illness so they were able to discuss situations with these three
members. Officers were very complimentary about the courage it took for each of these three individuals to be there and
felt the time with them was well-spent. They liked having that
informal interaction time and I would like to personally thank
Pat, Donna, and Diane for sharing your time.
Also, for your information, all CIT police officers who
complete training will be wearing a brown or blue pin on their
uniform that states “CIT Officer” in gold letters.
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NAMI LLAMA, right ,walking toward his
creator, NAMI Member Matt Gauen, and his
brother, Dan, on left. (That’s Matt’s brother, Dan,
on left, not NAMI LLAMA’s!)
b
Vanessa and Ro
Roennigke
receiving their
Cardinal tickets
from Ben and
Julie Wier.
9
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These are two young
ladies experienced with
llama handling. They
came with Julie and Ben
Wier and the llamas!
Rebecca Johnson (left)
and
Natalie Becker
Christmas Party – December 9, 2008
AVON on MAIN Presents
“Fashions That Made History”
NAMI Madison County’s Annual
Christmas Party will be held on Tuesday
evening, December 9, 2008 at the First
Baptist Church, 7110 State Route 162,
Maryville, Illinois.
Please join us for some of our more recent holiday traditions such as the NAMI Board providing their favorite desserts, singing being led by Pat Rudloff and Sandy Bonfiglio,
and also for our more long-standing holiday tradition of providing gifts for consumers at the Alton Mental Health Center
(AMHC), Chestnut Health Systems, and Community Counseling Center (CCC). Staff from each agency will pick up the
gifts the night of our party and take them back to their agency
and then select the appropriate gift for their consumers, wrap,
and distribute them the day of their agency holiday party.
Because of contraband items for AMHC, appropriate gifts
would be clothing, socks, watches or phone cards.
Gift ideas for consumers at Chestnut and CCC
could be the items listed above but also toiletries,
jewelry, afghans, etc. You don’t have to wrap the
gifts so the staff from the three agencies can see
and select the appropriate gift for their consumers, although
you can bring the presents in gift bags if you’d like.
Doors will open at 5:30PM and the buffet, catered by
Cygan-Delaney Catering from Highland, Illinois, will be
served at 6:15PM. The party will end by 8:30PM. The cost
for the dinner is $8.00 per person which includes tip, but is
free to all NAMI consumer members that are in good standings with their dues. Consumers may sign up or renew their
membership by registering the night of the party and bringing
their $3.00 membership fee along with their completed registration form.
The menu consists of ham, roast beef, tossed salad, mostaccioli, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, bread, dessert, coffee, and tea. So we can give the caterer an accurate
count you must make your reservation by December 1st.
Please call the NAMI office at 618-798-9788 or drop them an
e-mail at [email protected] with the number of
people attending.
If you attended last year’s party, you know what great food,
good friends and a fun time was had. If you didn’t come last
year, be sure to join in the festivities this year.
Any questions and to RSVP, call the NAMI Office at 618798-9788.
__________
No Business Meeting in December
The Business Meeting for December is cancelled due to
NAMI’s Christmas Party on the 2nd Tuesday of the month,
December 9th. Hope you will be there.
If you have anything you’d like to have put on the agenda
for the November meeting, please contact President Diane
Pisko at least one week prior to meeting.
____________
10
One hundred twenty-three years ago a gentleman by the
name “David H. McConell” sold books door to door while
giving samples of different fragrances as a little gift. The
women were more interested in the different perfumes rather
than the books and being the brilliant man that he was he became the founder of the “California Perfume Company” which
now is known as “AVON”.
The very first representative in the 1900s was a
woman by the name of Mrs. Albee that would go door
to door bringing her suitcase of makeup and perfume
selling AVON products, hence the phrase “Ding Dong,
AVON Calling”!
Just like AVON has changed over the years, so has fashion.
AVON on MAIN is bringing the history of fashion throughout
the 20th century with a fashion show! On Saturday, November
8th, from 5:30-830PM, AVON on MAIN will present a fundraising event “Fashions throughout the 20th Century”.
A unique program showcasing fashions of the 20th century
will be narrated by Carol Harmon. AVON’s own employees
will model different outfits as the narrator tells how significant
events in history affected the change in style each decade and
its own identifying trends. Just like AVON, from 1900 to
2000, the 20th century marches across the fashion stage.
The fashion show will be from 5:30-6:30. Refreshments
from Sweeties, raffles and a gift for each attendant will follow
the program. The cost of this event is $10.00 and all proceeds
will go to NAMI Madison County. You may pay the night of
the event.
Please RSVP by calling AVON on MAIN at 618-656-1616
to reserve your seat at the store. AVON on MAIN is located
at 235 N. Main Street in Edwardsville, Illinois.
(Editor’s Note: AVON on MAIN is independently co-owned
by NAMI Madison County Board Member Donna Sheard and
NAMI Member Eric Ahrens.)
“Bipolar patients are not angry, hostile, irritable people with
short fuses,” he emphasizes. “If people with bipolar illness
have anger issues, they have anger issues.”
It is, however, a side of bipolar disorder that has long passed
under the radar screen. Many people with bipolar say that uncontrolled anger has destroyed their marriages, families and
personal relationships, ruined their careers and left them emotionally isolated...
Mental Health Parity Bill Becomes Law
by Congressman John Shimkus
The House of Representatives approved
mental health parity legislation on September
23, and I was pleased to join my colleagues
in supporting the measure.
The bill, named after retiring Sen. Pete
Domenici (R, New Mexico) and the late Sen.
ANGER MANAGEMENT 101
Here are some suggestions from both doctors and patients to
Paul Wellstone (D, Minnesota), would prohelp you get a handle on your anger.
hibit health insurers from charging patients higher out-ofpocket costs such as co-payments and deductibles or imposing
stricter treatment limits for mental-health and addiction treat• Ask yourself these questions when you feel yourself
ments than physical medical coverage.
on the verge of anger: Is this really what I want to do?
The measure is not a mandate, applying only to insurers that
Do I want to have this conversation or explosion now?
offer mental-health benefits. It is my hope that the legislation
Maybe I should wait until I feel better. Answering “no”
will help end discrimination against the treatment of mental
could buy you a few precious seconds to consider your
illnesses.
next move,” says Roy Perlis, MD, MSc, medical direcWhile the Senate did not take up this bill, it did include
tor of the Bipolar Clinical and Research Program at
these provisions in the massive financial rescue legislation that
Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
passed both the House and Senate. President Bush signed the
• The same goes for email. Don’t let loose too soon.
bill into law October 3.
Print is forever.
____________
• If you’re prone to anger outbursts you know it by now.
“For some people, this feels like a panic attack, a rush
of adrenalin, heart pounding, skin flushed,” says Perlis.
Have a plan in place about how you intend to Respond—and keep to it.
• Remove yourself immediately from the situation.
That’s appropriate especially if you’re a parent with a
child or even a pet owner. At work, excuse yourself
and go to the restroom.
Mood specialists are careful to distinguish between occa• Explore relaxation techniques for managing anxiety,
sional hot flashes of anger and the long-simmering irritability
like visualization, listening to music, or maybe doing a
and rage—angry outbursts lasting over several days, during
task that distracts you.
both manic episodes and agitated states of depression—that is
• Exercise daily.
symptomatic of bipolar disorder. During a manic episode, ex• Communicate with your doctor, advises Sharon Lyons.
perts say, mood changes can swing from irritability to euphoria
And be creative, like Jeff McDonald, who shouts the
to depression—all within a 25-minute period of time.
odd-sounding name of Providence Bruins hockey
“Instantaneous anger that lasts a few minutes and occurs
goalie, Finnish player, “Tuukka Rask!” Why? “It
twice a week is not bipolar, it’s being angry,” says David L.
makes me laugh,” he says.
Dunner, MD, FACPsych, director of the Center for Anxiety and
(Source: Excerpt from Stuck on the rage road in the Fall
Depression in Mercer Island, Washington. “Irritability can be
2008 issue of bp Magazine)
present during highs and lows, but irritability without elated
____________
mood makes me suspect the illness may not be bipolar.”
In other words, everybody gets angry. Just because you have
a head-turning temper tantrum doesn’t mean you have bipolar
disorder. Anger is a common response to both physiological
You’ve only seen a few of the
illnesses like cancer and heart disease and mental illnesses such
pictures on page 9 from the 2008
as intermittent explosive disorder, major depressive disorder
walk. Check our website for many
and substance-induced mood disorder.
more. If you’re reading this
“As bipolar disorder receives more media attention, it’s easy
electronically, just click here:
for any type of abhorrent behavior to be attributed to it when in
http://madisoncty.nami.org.
fact, this has to do with one’s temperament,” says Ronald A.
Remick, MD, a consultant psychiatrist at St. Paul’s Hospital in
Vancouver, British Columbia.
11
NAMI Madison County Meeting Times and Locations
Alton – Sharing & Caring meeting for family members on the 1st Tuesday of each month from 7:00-8:30PM at Saint
Clare’s Hospital, 915 East 5th Street in the Heritage Room.
Granite City – Sharing & Caring meeting for family members on the 1st Tuesday of each month, 7:00-9:00PM at
Chestnut Clubhouse, 2054 Edison Street.
Granite City – NAMI Connection Meetings for Consumers on the 1st Tuesday of each month, 7:00-9:00PM at Chestnut
Clubhouse, 2054 Edison Street.
Jerseyville – Sharing & Caring meeting for family and consumers on the 4th Saturday of each month, 4:00-6:00PM at
the Church of the Nazarene, 285 Maple Summit Road. The 2nd Saturday of each month will be reserved for a social
event, same time.
Litchfield – Sharing & Caring meeting for family members and consumers on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, 7:009:00PM at the Christian Church of Litchfield, 31Yaeger Lake Trail.
Granite City - Board Meeting for all members and advocates on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7:00-8:30PM,
Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City, Lower Level Conference Room next to Cafeteria.
If you have questions about any of these meetings, call the NAMI Office at (618) 798-9788.
For actual dates, see “Mark Your Calendars” on page 4.
HAPPY
THANKSGIVING!
NAMI Madison County
Gateway Regional Medical Center
2100 Madison Ave, 4th Floor
Granite City, IL 62040
TO:
RETURN
SERVICE
REQUESTED
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