As of July 1, 2018, the 24-hr Bay Cove Crisis Line will be changed to:
833 BAY-COVE (229-2683)
From the desk of Jackie Lane, Executive Director NAMI CC&I
In 2008, the US House of Representatives declared July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in an effort to enhance public awareness of mental illness and especially mental illness among minorities.
Bebe Moore Campbell, co-founder of NAMI Urban Los Angeles, advocated for mental health education and support among individuals of diverse communities until her death in 2006. When Campbell lost her battle with cancer, her friends, family, and allied advocates continued the cause, inspired by the passion of the life of an extraordinary woman.
Our Cape Cod and Island community is the home to many minority individuals, a valuable part of our work force, our everyday life, as well as our culture. The Cape has one of the largest Brazilian populations in New England, Nantucket has a large Spanish population, and the Vineyard also has significant numbers of Brazilians. The goal of NAMI CC&I is to bring education and support to and to advocate for all equally and we feel that it is important to address the needs of this important demographic. All our programming and services are offered free of charge.
In the past two years, we have made strides to serve the needs of our minority populations in several ways. We have trained Spanish speaking individuals to be Family 2 Family facilitators on Nantucket, and we will be holding a Family-to-Family class in Spanish this winter. In addition, since NAMI National has not translated programming into Brazilian Portuguese, we, with the help of a bi-lingual therapist, have developed a series of programs in Portuguese. These multi week classes include a course on the basics of mental health and mental illness, a course for parents addressing the signs of mental health/social/emotional issues for which to look, as well as the dangers of addictions to which their children are exposed, and finally a 10-week Q and A opportunity. This highly successful, well attended programming was made possible through the cooperation of the Brazilian churches in Hyannis. These programs were partially funded by Cape Cod Health Care Community Needs and by the David McGraw Family Fund.
During the next 12 months, we plan to expand the number of programs and to move into other communities with minority populations. We are also working with the Brazilian Consulate in Boston to have our Primer translated into Portuguese to be distributed free of charge at these classes and to this community. We are also hoping to do a Spanish translation of the Primer especially for Nantucket. Social service workers from the Wampanog Tribe have been included in our Community Crisis Intervention Team training programs and there are plans to have Family-to-Family classes available for that minority community.
We feel that by bringing mental health awareness to communities who have traditionally been resistant to the concept of mental illness, we are taking a proactive approach and hopefully preventing full blown issues to arise. Education is also a powerful force in the fight against stigma. We are committed to offering services to our minority community.
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health:
Poverty level affects mental health status. Hispanics living below the poverty level, as compared to Hispanics over twice the poverty level, are over twice as likely to report psychological distress.
The death rate from suicide for Hispanic men was four times the rate for Hispanic women, in 2014.
However, the suicide rate for Hispanics is half that of the non-Hispanic white population.
Suicide attempts for Hispanic girls, grades 9-12, were 50% higher than for White girls in the same age group, in 2015.
Non-Hispanic whites received mental health treatment 2 times more often than Hispanics, in 2014.
ADVOCACY NEWS...
From the desk of Mary Zdanowicz, Esq.
Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT)
Why Massachusetts Should Adopt It
Book Review
Change-able
How Collaborative Problem Solving Changes Lives
at Home, at School and at Work
By J. Stuart Ablon, PhD
Many of you have had the good fortune to hear Dr. Ablon, Director of Think:Kids, the Massachusetts General Hospital's Collaborative Problem Solving program, in person as NAMI CC&I has sponsored his 6 hour introductory lecture three times on the Cape. The third presentation was for the staff of the Barnstable Public Schools with guests from other districts as the first step in NAMI CC&I's continuing effort to offer the program free of charge to all the Cape Cod schools.
Think:Kids embraces the concept that "kids will do well if they can" and those who are not doing well "lack the skills, not the will." Implementing the CPS (Collaborative Problem Solving) method rather than the "carrot and stick" approach changes the paradigm when addressing the needs of the almost 20% of school children who exhibit social/emotional/behavioral problems in our schools.
In this book, Dr. Ablon applies the CPS approach or, Plan B, as it has been named, in solving problems and changing behavioral patterns not only in school, but at home and at work. CPS can be utilized not only by teachers and educators, but also by parents in the home and supervisors in the work place. One of the benefits of the Collaborative Problem Solving approach is that during the CPS process, the lacking or weak skill sets are being developed and re-enforced in real life time as issues are worked out through the collaboration of the parties involved.
Although academic, the book is very readable and easily understood. Dr. Ablon has the gift of being able to present complicated concepts in a very simple and logical way, making the text enjoyable and often amusing. His examples are realistic and relatable. I would encourage anyone who is dealing with an individual with social/emotional or behavioral issues to pick up the book and learn about this approach. Reading the book is almost as good as hearing Dr. Ablon, one of the top academic speakers in the country, in person.
Written by Jacqueline Lane.
Family Connections
National Education Alliance
for Borderline Personality Disorder
Family Connections is a 12-week course for families challenged by a member with Borderline Personality Disorder, often called a disorder of emotional dysregulation. The course, taught by Kim Lemmon and Arlene Hoxie, NAMI staff members who were trained at NEA-BPD, teaches specific skills to improve communication with a family member dealing with this disorder. The course also provides up-to-date information, coping skills and problem management through readings, research, videos, role-playing and sharing. The theme, "You are Not Alone" similar to Family-to-Family is a significant part of the class.
We recently completed a course offered at the YMCA in Barnstable.
Some comments following the course:
Two years ago our family was thrown into a major mental health crises. I didn't know anything about BPD or its effects on the family. Suddenly I was in a strange new world, alone and afraid of what was happening to us. Gradually we began to find help. About 3 months ago our counselor recommended NAMI and I discovered the Cape Cod & Islands office. I called the office to inquire about possible programs and discovered a whole new world of people, resources, support groups, educational videos, books, etc. Suddenly, I had people to talk to who knew what we were going through and could answer our questions. They suggested we take the Family Connections Course which we did. Through education about BPD, learning communication techniques, videos from experts in the field, and sharing our painful stories with others in the group, we have finally found hope for moving forward. I now know we are not alone and we can pick up the phone at any time and be connected to a person who can offer us advice and resources. I will be forever grateful to NAMI and NEABPD for giving us this lifeline.
The following is a moving account of a woman in recovery who wrote this for our BPD class who asked a question about what motivates recovery:
My wish above all else would be to provide an all-encompassing solution to every person's mental health struggles. I can speak from the perspective of someone who has battled with my own mental health, substance use and trauma throughout my life as well as someone on the other side who has also been a support to family members and friends who were walking their own difficult paths trying to navigate these conditions. I know from both ends we so desperately seek that tiny light at the end of the tunnel, that elusive "AHA!-moment" that will finally bring us to a place of calm and allow us that first step towards recovery. I do have to be honest and say those moments are not a one size fits all and we all walk unique paths with different dips and turn offs along the way.
Speaking as a two-time suicide attempt survivor, someone who was once told by their psychiatrist that they would NEVER be able to work, would be on disability the rest of their life, needed ECT treatment in order to begin to function and someone who spent about 10 rounds in locked psychiatric units-- I must tell you the most important thing you could hear: recovery is possible. Now I know this statement does not even begin to solve your problems or provide you the direction you seek but within those words is a start: a way to communicate with your loved ones who probably feel so hopeless and afraid and even more so: unheard. I went most of my life never being told those words and I can say with heartfelt sincerity: the moment I finally met someone who believed in me and my future, saw past my diagnoses and told me I could and WOULD get better, was the moment I began to breathe again, the moment I began to allow real change to occur...the moment I finally regained some sliver of hope for tomorrow (something I'd spent my whole life never planning for because what was the point? And oh do I know, it is so very easy to destroy every facet of your life when you're not looking forward to a tomorrow)
I can say from personal experience, one of the most damaging things that happened to me along the course of my treatment was for me to not be seen as the person I truly am (or even much of a person at all). By dehumanizing someone with labels and diagnoses and using language that is hurtful it allows the person who is already suffering to stay stuck (why work on moving forward if everyone around me seems to have no hope in my getting better?) I will forever believe that despite any diagnosis, no matter how grim it might be, the person WITHIN remains intact and though it might take years of hard work to pull that inner light back out again, it is more than possible, and every person deserves this chance.
A very wise woman once said: "The important question in psychology shouldn't be what's wrong with you, but what happened to you?" This woman is Eleanor Longden - a highly intelligent, articulate woman with her PhD who began hearing voices and was diagnosed with Schizophrenia while attending school. That quote dismisses the old medical model way of thinking in which we use harsh language and concentrate on labeling someone with mental health struggles as dangerous or scary or crazy and rather focuses on the cause of the struggle in the first place which is often trauma. Many of us who struggle are having normal reactions to abnormal situations. I would highly recommend taking 15 min. out of your day to hear (as well as share with your loved ones who need some hope) her uplifting, sensitive and highly knowledgeable explanation of her struggle and eventually her recovery. On YouTube you can find her Ted talk entitled "The Voices In My Head".
On the topic of recovery, I do want to briefly mention Peer Work. I myself have worked in the mental health field for almost 9 years now and have spent the last 3 of those years working as a Peer Specialist. A Peer in the mental health field is someone who openly identifies as being a recipient of mental health services and is currently in recovery and wanting to share hope and guidance to those who need it most. In my daily work life I use my personal story (from the darkest days to the place of stability I have now reached) to elicit hope and inspire others to change and create a better quality of life for themselves. Peer work is powerful and effective.
This now leads me to my personal "AHA!-moment" This came about as I met my 4th or 5th therapist. She was a wonderful lady who not only was an amazing clinician but took my treatment a step further by appropriately disclosing her own struggles with mental health as well as her subsequent recovery period. By telling me she was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and me, this young adult lost for hope seeing her in such a stable and inspiring career, I finally began to create my own hope that I too could move beyond what I thought would hold me back for the rest of my life (why? Because everyone else told me it would). She supported me in a genuine, down to earth, kind and NON-JUDGEMENTAL way that allowed me to truly look at myself and to foster a desire to bring my best assets back out again as they had been pushed down so far below the surface for way too long. This woman acted as my "peer" and was the first person to allow the message of hope and recovery to begin to click in my brain. I won't say everything got easy right away. In fact, it still isn't easy at times. And that's the thing about recovery-- it's ongoing. I still have days where I can't get out of bed because my depression has decided to rear its head once again. The difference now is that I have the proper supports (people who believe in me and want the best for me-professional and otherwise), I know myself well enough to know what works and what I can utilize for coping skills to pull through and most of all I have HOPE and I know I will always get better.
So what can you do to support your loved ones? Do some research about the recovery movement and equip yourself to inspire hope, pay attention to the language you (and others) use when talking to or about your loved one's struggles (language has a HUGE impact as evidenced in my case by how significantly I was held back by my first psychiatrist saying I was disabled and always would be), refer your loved ones to the proper supports (there are multiple Peer-run centers on Cape as well as warmlines (in which you receive telephone support from a Peer when you are struggling).
At Great Harbor Yacht Club, enjoy drinks & hors d'oeuvres, music by Jeff Ross, & bid at the silent auction.
Please note: Dragonfly will be held at
The Great Harbor Yacht Club
96 Washington Street, Nantucket, MA
Valet parking provided.
Net proceeds from Dragonfly will be donated to NAMI CC&I on Nantucket, an organization that serves individuals and their families who are affected by the broad spectrum of mental illnesses and neurological disorders through support, education and advocacy, and promotes wellness for all.
Thank You to the Dragonfly Committee: Kate Kling, Founder, Katie Keith, Kate Coe, Kerryann Leddy, Emme Duncan, Barbara Dale, Tamara Greenman, Cara Marquis, Amanda Wright, Candace Alexander
Suzanne Fronzuto
NAMI on Nantucket Program Coordinator
The days are flying by and it's hard to believe August is right around the corner. After the long, gray winter we went through, I promised myself I wouldn't complain about the brief periods of excessive heat and humidity which changes the mood quickly from happy to cranky; especially while stuck in what amounts to island gridlock at almost every intersection. But amidst the throngs of people visiting the island and the long lines at the checkout counter, the coming of August means the 3rd annual Dragonfly Fundraiser is right around the corner. This event on August 10th raises funds for NAMI CC&I on Nantucket to promote wellness and inspire change for those with mental illness.
I look forward to team teaching Family to Family in October and starting a support group for parents of elementary school aged children. By January, the island has put on her winter trappings which gives our instructors time to regroup, visit family and friends and is the perfect time to offer family to Family in Spanish.
Another Nantucket event:
And one more
And From NAMI on Martha's Vineyard
Even though it's summer on island and the crowds are upon us we are busy behind the scenes. We're adding a second support group held at IWYC conference room the second Tuesday of the month from 6:30-8:00 beginning this month.
Making progress on identifying the final candidate for the part time NAMI coordinator role. We are actively interviewing, so please send resume to
[email protected] if interested.
We are busy planning our first fundraiser to be held on 9/14 at 7:00 pm at the PA Club in Oak Bluffs. The committee has done an amazing job securing donations. We could use some more help with the planning, so let me know if interested.
New research indicates that nitrates --- chemicals used to cure meats such as in beef jerky, hot dogs and other processed meats --- may contribute to mania, an abnormal mood state common in patients with bipolar disorder.
Treatment Advocacy Center Board Member Robert Yolken, MD, and colleagues from Johns Hopkins University found that individuals hospitalized for mania had three and a half times higher odds of previously eating nitrated meats than individuals with no history of psychiatric disorders.
Mania is a state of elevated mood and energy that can last anywhere from a week to many months and is generally seen in people with bipolar disorder. Manic states can include delusional thinking and may lead to dangerous risk-taking behaviors.
Eating nitrate-cured meats does not necessarily cause mania, but the results indicate that certain diets and bacteria in the gut may contribute to disorders that affect the brain. The authors replicated the study in rats and found similar results - rats who had been fed nitrate-rich foods exhibited extreme hyperactivity compared to rats fed a normal diet.
The authors also analyzed ten years of patient records from more than 1,100 patients at Sheppard Pratt Health System in Baltimore, Maryland. While a history of eating cured meats was significantly more likely to result in hospitalization for those with psychiatric disorders and manic episodes, eating cured meats was not associated with greater odds of being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder.
"We looked at a number of different dietary exposures and cured meat really stood out," says Dr. Yolken. "It wasn't just that people with mania have an abnormal diet."
Nitrates have been previous linked to some cancers and neurodegenerative diseases, but evidence to the validity of the association is mixed.
Dr. Yolken expresses caution in interpreting these results, indicating more research is needed before making any sort of conclusions about dietary changes for individuals with bipolar disorder. However, the research has been gaining publicity already being publicized by national news outlets such as NBC News and The Atlantic.
Elizabeth Sinclair
Director of Research
Treatment Advocacy Center
New Program Training
NAMI Homefront
NAMI Cape & Islands is proud to be bringing Homefront to Massachusetts! Coming September 29th and 30th we are offering a free, two day training for individuals to become NAMI Homefront facilitators.
Based on the Family to Family model of education, Homefront is a six week course for family members who are coping with issues specific to military related challenges.
Registration is now open for the Homefront Facilitator training coming to Hyannis in September 2018. Requirements to participate are:
-Have a relative who is a Service Member or Veteran with symptoms of a mental illness/mental health condition (includes PTSD & TBI).
-Be a Service Member or Veteran AND have a relative with a mental health condition (the relative with a mental illness need not be a Service Member or Veteran but the NAMI Homefront teacher MUST have a personal/family connection to the military).
-Have a relative who is a Service Member or Veteran AND have a relative with a mental health condition (the relative with a mental illness need not be a Service Member or Veteran but all NAMI Homefront teachers MUST have a personal/family connection to the military).
For more information on this training, and to obtain a registration application, please contact Kim Lemmon, Director of Family Programs at 508-778-4277 or email her at [email protected]
Dance In The Rain
Dance in the Rain Whole Person Approach is a non-profit organization that supports peers who struggle with mental illness. Located in the heart of Hyannis, we provide this population with an opportunity to expand their lives, despite their condition, to grow, engage and heal. The staff, from executive director to volunteers, live with a history of mental illness as well. Our staff is well vetted to work with other peers who wish grow and seek to define themselves beyond mental illness. We are the only program in New England to have an organization that is conceived, developed and designed by peers for peers. Daily programs are offered to enhance self-esteem and positive identity.
The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority provides a daily general public demand service called Dial-A-Ride Transportation (DART) that is a door-to-door ride by appointment transportation service. It is available to all 15 Cape towns, runs from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on weekdays and more limited hours on weekends. It is easy to access and use.
For more information, call them at 800-352-7155 or visit their website at:
WE'RE PUBLISHED!! You Are Not Alone: A Primer on Mental Illness, which has been in development for the past 18 months, is now available. (Call or email the office to make arrangements for your personal copy or copies for your organization.) The Primer has been hugely popular--we published 2,000 copies
and have only 100 left!
The Primer is also online on our NAMI CC&I web site. The production and publication of this 88-page booklet was made possible by generous support from the Cape Cod Healthcare Community Benefits Fund, The Kelley Foundation, Inc. and The Cape Cod Five Foundation.
Tidbits...
Family-to-Family
NAMI Cape Cod & The Islands announces...
A free, comprehensive 12-week course designed
specifically for families of persons with major
depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia,
panic disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder
Offering
Information
Self Care
Emotional Skills
Emotional Support
Classes start in Barnstable and Falmouth in September 2018 and on Nantucket in October 2018
The 2018 Siobhan Leigh Kinlin Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, September 10, 2018 at the Oyster Harbors Club. There are opportunities to play, join us for dinner and an exciting auction, become a Sponsor or have a Tee & Green sign for your company. Visit our website for more information or to register.
This tournament supports NAMI Cape Cod & the Islands programming for the coming year.
Grandparents with questions about guardianship/options can visit the Probate Court on the 3rd Thursdayof the month between 8:30 AM-1:00 PM.
They can also call the Bar Association (508-362-2121) or Susan at the courthouse (508-375-6730) for an appointment with Kathleen Snow on Mondays between 10:00 AM-1:00 PM.
There is no fee for either of these consultations.
Lawyer For A Day--Free Legal Advice
Held daily at the Barnstable Probate Court. It is advisable to arrive promptly when it opens at 9:00 am as it is first come, first served and fills up quickly.
Inclusions in the Newsletter
We have recently been asked for last minute inclusions of events in our newsletter. We have instituted a new policy: It is at the discretion of the Executive Director to determine whether content being submitted for distribution to the membership is aligned with our mission. If the content is determined to be appropriate, it may be included in the monthly e-newsletter if it is submitted prior to the first of the month.
When shopping on Amazon, think NAMI CC&I and Amazon Smile.
Every dollar you give to NAMI CC&I goes to help support, educate and advocate for the residents of Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.
AmazonSmile is a simple way to give when you are shopping on Amazon
Amazon donates 0.5% of your eligible purchases.
It's so easy, you can still use your Amazon Prime and you still collect points. All you need to do is: When you are going to make a purchase on Amazon, first enter
