Greater Des Moines

[email protected] www.namigdm.org Box 12174, Des Moines, 50312 (515) 277-0672 (voice mail)

AFFILIATE AND SUPPORT GROUP NEWSLETTER “Support, Education and Advocacy” Serving Polk, Dallas, Warren, and Madison counties Mission statement February 2011 Empowering individuals, families and community by providing hope and education about brain disorders

Sign up for Spring Family to Family Classes www.nami.org/JOIN - Join NAMI with a single click of your mouse become a member at the local state, and national level The Lutheran Church of Hope class, Jordan Meetings Creek Parkway, West Des Moines, will start Thursday, March 3 – 6:30 P.M. To sign up – please contact Grace There will not be a February educational at [email protected] or call 515-205-9765. meeting. Our next educational event will probably be in May. The Mercy Franklin class at 48th and Franklin, Des Moines, will start Tuesday, March 8 – 6:30 P.M. To sign up – please contact Teresa Our next Business meeting will be at 3:30 P.M. on Thursday, at [email protected] or call 515-274-6876. February 10, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4114 Allison Avenue, Des Moines. The church is located at the corner of NAMI Angels at Work Franklin and Beaver Avenue. We will be in the Seminary Center NAMI Angels provided a donation to help us implement which is the first room as you come into the building from the the ―Hearing Voices‖ program. Thank you, Dan and Barb! South Franklin Street entrance. “Next to Normal” at Civic Center in March Veterans National Recovery Center Bob Krause, President, VNRC- We are excited about a partnership we have with the Broadway [email protected] musical ―Next to Normal‖ - the Tony and Pulitzer prize winning play– coming to the Civic Center March 15-20, 2011. There is an effort underway to establish a Veterans National Recovery Center (VNRC) at the closed Knoxville VA campus for homeless and PTSD distressed veterans.

There is no national hands-on center that works with homeless veterans directly in a recovery-based program. We need one to establish a new vision for the 126,000 American veterans that sleep on the streets. In the past, nearly all treatment of homeless veterans has been considered a local, economic issue. But it is not. Much of veterans homelessness is driven by war related events and dislocations, and a significant element of the 300,000 to 400,000 new veterans with PTSD will likely end up homeless. It is a national problem and requires a national solution. What is the opportunity that presents itself to Iowans? A unique set of circumstances creates the opportunity: . A Facility Suitable for a National Program: The Knoxville, Iowa Former Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital Complex is currently closed, but has a huge 900-1400 bed capacity facility – 39 Buildings. It is expansible and contractible for program needs, well maintained, and already paid for by taxpayers. Even better, it is available now through a competitive process conducted by the VA. . Funding for a National Program: The VA offers a transitional grant program (12,000 per year per vet for a 2 year transitional program) to get homeless veterans back on their feet. While per veteran grant is relatively small, with enough veterans it can provide a base for sustainment, healing and job training. In addition, there are a number of other programs available to fund veteran’s services at the complex. . Capital grant program: $26 million was spent nationally last Coming to the Civic Center year, and unfortunately, none of it came to Iowa. We can March 15-20, 2011 change this, at a per-bed cost well below other funded http://desmoinescenter.com/ to projects. And, there are other grant programs available that purchase tickets and for information can also be used. (go to Page 13 for rest of article) Our website is: www.namigdm.org 1 See Yourself as a Person, Not an Illness NAMI Information

. NAMI Greater Des Moines Board of Directors Parents and Teachers as Allies – a 2 ½ hour in-service Effective January 1, 2011 for teachers and parents Contact: Susan Gill

[email protected] or call 243-1713. President Jim Goodrich 490-2758 E-mail: [email protected] Letters to the Editor Vice-President and Editor of Newsletter You are welcome to send letters to the editor by mail or E-mail. Teresa Bomhoff 274-6876 If you receive our newsletter by e-mail and would rather receive it E-mail: [email protected] by snail mail – or if you receive our newsletter by snail mail and Treasurer – Jim Vandeberg 360-1529 would rather receive it by e-mail – communicate your preference E-mail: [email protected] to: Teresa Bomhoff, Box 12174, Des Moines, Iowa 50312 or E-

mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Secretary – Cece Arnold 276-7871 E-mail: [email protected] NAMI Greater Des Moines 515-277-0672 – the local affiliate Board members www.nami.org/sites/NAMIGreaterDesMoines Grace Sivadge [email protected] 961-6671 NAMI Iowa Office 254-0417 or toll free 1-800-417-0417 M-F 9-4 Kathy Hoegh 255-7907 www.namiiowa.org – the state affiliate Kay Kopatich [email protected] 252-0714 NAMI National www.nami.org

Erin McNamara [email protected] 326-0432 Help Line 1-800-950-6264 Mon-Fri 10 AM-6 PM EST Glenn Hobin [email protected] 965-9799 Each level of the organization is a separate 501(c) (3). Sharon Johnson [email protected] 277-7811 Colleen MacRae [email protected] 201-5084 Please send a big THANK YOU to Mara Swanson and the

Mary Kelley [email protected] 981-6702 students at Ruby Van Meter School for their assistance in Chris Gammell [email protected] 991-2787 assembling our monthly newsletter

More details to be announced in Please send a big THANK YOU to Cindy Gross and Family to Family – a the near future. free 12 week class for Plaza Printers for their assistance in printing our family members of newsletter - 6762 Douglas Avenue, Urbandale, Iowa 50322 adults with mental illness. To sign up for spring 278-4695 www.plazaprinters.net classes, contact Teresa at 274-6876 or e-mail to [email protected]. Would you like to become a support group facilitator for a Curriculum: Brain biology, schizophrenia, major NAMI Connections support group

depression, mania and schizoaffective disorder, mood disorders, (for persons in recovery)? borderline personality disorder, anxiety disorders, dual diagnosis, Contact the NAMI Iowa office to be placed on the class list for basics about the brain, problem solving skills, medication review, NAMI Connections training. Their phone numbers are 254-0417 or empathy and understanding, communication skills, self-care, 1-800-417-0417 or send an e-mail [email protected] recovery, and advocacy

Nationally, the Family to Family program has had 200,000 If you are interested in becoming a family graduates. There are over 3500 volunteer teachers. Course support group facilitator for NAMI material has been translated into Spanish, Italian, Vietnamese, Greater Des Moines, please and Arabic. contact Grace Sivadge 205-9765 or

e-mail [email protected].

Peer to Peer – a free 9 Would you like to be a teacher for any of the NAMI signature week course for persons programs listed? Family to Family, Visions for Tomorrow, Peer to in recovery. Peer, or Provider education? Contact [email protected] or call Topics addressed are relapse prevention, stigma, symptoms of 254-0417 to sign up for training different psychiatric diagnoses, sleep, addictions, spirituality, medication, coping strategies, mindfulness, decision making, Local Assistance with Prescription Cost advance directive for mental health care decisions, Polk County residents without full health insurance empowerment and advocacy Contact: Dawn Olson 515-254- coverage can save on prescription drugs under a 0417 or 800-417-0417 [email protected] county sponsored drug discount program. Savings

can be for up to 20%. For a complete list of card locations or a list Mental Health First Aid of participating pharmacies, call 286-3895.

NAMI Greater Des Moines is now offering the 12 Possibilities for Prescription Assistance hour Mental Health First Aid Training Course. This http://www.needymeds.org/ education class can be given to any interested group http://www.rxassist.org/ in the community. The time period over which the http://www.pparx.org/ or call 1-888-477-2669 12 hours of training is given can be negotiated. Cost RXHOPE (For Healthcare Professionals) www.RxHope.com is estimated to be $25 per person. Minimum class size is 10 with ------a maximum of 20 to 25. Please contact Cece at 276-7871 or He who conceals his disease cannot expect to be cured. [email protected] or Teresa at 274-6876 or ---Ethiopian Proverb [email protected] Our website is: www.namigdm.org 2 See Yourself as a Person, Not an Illness

The Arizona Tragedy and Mental Health Here are links to articles which may be of interest:

Care Statement  C-SPAN Washington Journal, January 13 by Michael J. Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, http://www.c-span.org/Events/Washington-Journal-for- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Thursday-Jan-13/10737418896/ NAMI is an organization of individuals and families whose lives have been deeply affected by mental illness.  Newsweek, ―Our Broken Mental Health System‖ http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/14/our-broken-mental- We share the sadness of other Americans over the Tucson, health-system.html Arizona tragedy and extend our sympathy to the families of the six individuals who died. We pray for the recovery of U.S.  TIME ―If You Think Someone Is Mentally Ill: Loughner’s Six Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the 13 other persons who Warning Signs‖ were wounded. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2041733,00.htm l?xid=rss-mostpopular Representative Giffords is a NAMI friend who has served as co- chair of the NAMI Walk in Southeast Arizona and has supported  USA Today, ―Loughner Could Have Been Committed Under our missions of education, support and advocacy. Arizona Law‖

When tragedies involving mental illness occur, it is essential to http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/health/2011-01-13- arizonalaws13_st_N.htm understand the nature of mental illness—and to find out what went wrong.  The Huffington Post, ―Nearly 50% of Mental Health Recipients The U.S. Surgeon General has reported that the likelihood of in Giffords’ District Were Dropped in 2010‖ violence from people with mental illness is low. In fact, ―the http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/11/pima-county- overall contribution of mental disorders to the total level of mental-health-services_n_807522.html violence in society is exceptionally small.‖ Acts of violence are  The New Republic, Reexamining Mental Health Care exceptional. They are a sign that something has gone terribly http://www.npr.org/2011/01/11/132830484/the-new-republic- wrong, usually in the mental healthcare system. reexamining-mental-health-care Nationwide, the mental health care system is broken. Arizona, like other states, has deeply cut mental health services. Arizona  E. Fuller Torrey op-ed: A Predictable Tragedy in Arizona – Wall has a broad civil commitment law to require treatment if it is Street Journal needed; however, the law cannot work if an evaluation is never http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870377970457 conducted or mental health services are not available. 6073973345594508.html

Milt Greek From the Treatment Advocacy Center: NAMI Ohio - TREATMENT WORKS: Individuals with severe mental Like many who develop schizophrenia, Milt Greek was attending illnesses can and should be treated - just as we treat individuals college when he was first diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. suffering from other medical issues. Also like many young adults who are facing this frightening diagnosis, Milt was resistant to medical treatment. In fact, he spent - VIOLENCE IS LINKED TO UNTREATED SEVERE MENTAL five years in a state of psychosis until he realized he needed ILLNESS: Individuals with severe mental illnesses are no more medication and was willing to receive treatment to deal with his violent than the general population – provided they are being condition. He recalls his first feelings about starting treatment, ―I treated. felt embarrassed about what I did while I was psychotic, but I was - DANGEROUSNESS IS NOT THE ONLY STANDARD FOR also relieved that it wasn't me who behaved that way and did those INTERVENTION: Where dangerousness is the standard, it needs things. It was a chemical imbalance in my brain. Learning this to be broadened. Where it has been expanded already to include was, in a sense, very freeing. I could now identify myself as a ―grave disability‖ or the ―need for treatment,‖ these provisions schizophrenic. I didn't hesitate to do so because there is no stigma need to be invoked. if you are out front, unashamed and without secrets. My condition is an illness and I do not need to apologize for that.‖ This is a teachable moment. You may have opportunities to make some basic points: What makes Milt Greek different is how he has embraced his illness and views himself as being blessed with schizophrenia. He  Individuals and families should not be afraid to reach out for explains his somewhat unique view on his illness this way, ―Before I help when they need it and no one should be afraid to offer developed schizophrenia, I was arrogant and angry. I had all the help. resources and hallmarks that indicated I would be successful. If I  It’s not about political rhetoric. It’s not about guns. It’s mental hadn’t developed schizophrenia, I probably would have succeeded health care. in life but I would always have been arrogant. Schizophrenia took  Most people living with mental illness are not violent. The nearly everything I had, but I have received tremendous kindness U.S. Surgeon General has said the likelihood is throughout my illness and recovery. My illness took away my anger ―exceptionally small.‖ Acts of violence are exceptional— and arrogance and replaced it with a gift gleaned from others’ which means something has gone terribly wrong. kindness.‖

 The mental health care system is broken. We need to fix it. Milt reflected on the holiday classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. ―I never  In the last few years, budget cuts have devastated mental saw the movie as a child but when I watched it as an adult in health services in all states—not just Arizona. recovery who had received the support and prayers of others; I  We need to strengthen the system so that people can get realized how accurately it depicts what happens with good works.‖ the right help at the right time. Our website is: www.namigdm.org 3 See Yourself as a Person, Not an Illness

The kindness and support Milt has received through the years is A few years later, John was diagnosed with schizophrenia and took unequivocal. ―Kindness and caring are as real to me as the wind; his own life. I think of him this Christmas season, and the tree he I can see it move in the good works of others. Being a recipient gave to the family that year, because his daughter Lindsay just of such incredible kindness has made me focus on being kind gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Tatum June Huntington. This is and charitable in return. It is a never-ending cycle of kindness not John's first grandchild. He now has three: the oldest, Jack and charity begetting kindness and charity. So, my illness is a Joseph, is 6; Tanner is 2. gift and has made me a better person.‖ John married young and was blessed with perfect twin daughters Milt knows the diagnosis of a serious mental illness is often — Kristin and Lindsay. They don't remember their dad, but I wish to viewed as the end of one’s hopes and dreams. ―Many people God they did. He was larger than life, and full of love and laughter. living with schizophrenia and other chemical imbalances are But as I grow older, I better understand why he did what he did. living normal lives. Schizophrenia is not a dead-end; it may be a Schizophrenia and other forms of serious mental illness afflict detour but the destination may be a better place, a more fulfilling millions of Americans — 1 in 17, according to the National Alliance life. My life’s detour has definitely taken me to a much better on Mental Illness. New medications like clozapine and risperidone place. I really do not even want to imagine my life as it might have given many a second chance at life. have been without having schizophrenia. I know it would not have been as rewarding, peaceful and so filled with kindness.‖ But those who go untreated often end up in our jails and prisons. According to a 2006 study by the U.S. Justice Department, 56 Asked what advice he has for family members and loved ones, percent of state prisoners, 45 percent of federal prisoners, and 64 Milt quickly replied, ―Listen. Don’t be scared. Set good percent of local jail inmates suffer from mental illnesses. boundaries—and stick to them. And, talk to your loved one’s rational core. Don’t address the psychotic side. Accompany This April, a 24-year-old Iowan named Mark Becker was sentenced your loved one on his or her journey, but don’t do it for him. Also, to life in prison for the murder of his former high-school football you have to take care of yourself. Do what makes you feel good, coach, Ed Thomas. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and what you take solace in. If you do not take care of yourself, Becker heard voices that told him the beloved coach was a "devil you cannot take care of others. tyrant." Becker saw the murder as "an act of God."

Milt has turned his experience of schizophrenia and recovery into My brother John, who was recruited by Hayden Fry and received a his life’s mission. Although he works fulltime as a computer full scholarship to the University of Iowa in 1979, was also severely programmer at Ohio University, his passion is in helping others. delusional before his death in 1982. He believed he was chosen by Through his own illness, he has developed a clear understanding God to heal others. Once, guided by voices, he tried to run 100 of psychosis, treatment and recovery. He has recorded several miles to be nearer to our aging grandparents. When the police talks and provides consultation and seminars so that his life finally found him, running alongside the interstate, his feet were experience can benefit others (see bruised and bloodied. http://www.schizophreniablueprint.com for more information). John said goodbye to his family before he ended his life with a .22 Last September, the Ohio Criminal Justice Coordinating Center caliber bullet. He told us to tell others his story. He didn't want his of Excellence recorded his CIT (Crisis Intervention Training for girls to see him sick, or worse, hurt them or anyone else he loved. law enforcement) talk as part of its project to place free CIT He ended his life to protect us, his final act of love. training videos online at their site. His talk is called "De- In some ways, John was right: He was chosen to help heal others. Escalating Psychosis" and has been very well received by law His story has been told by my mother, June Judge, a tireless enforcement and others. This talk, along with many others, can advocate for the mentally ill, hundreds of times to thousands of be downloaded people. John's story has saved lives, and helped many get the at: http://cjccoe.neoucom.edu/index.php/crisis_intervention_team treatment they need. /training-calendar. But John's work, our work, isn't done. This Christmas, far too many During our interview with Milt, he shared that the Greek word inmates in America's jails and prisons suffer from mental illness. ―agape‖ means ―loving kindness toward all others.‖ His life since Our tax dollars are better spent treating them than incarcerating he developed schizophrenia is an example for all of us to them. Once treated, many can lead productive lives — hold down a examine our own life’s path to determine if the one we are taking job, raise a family. is the right one, or if a detour is in order. Milt’s thoughts as With the right care and treatment, we can spare them this sacrifice. presented in this issue of Stigma Buster represent the true spirit of the season. May you experience kindness and charity, and be Michael Judge is a writer and freelance journalist. rewarded as you pass it on to others. He lives and works in Iowa City, Iowa. Michael A Holiday Wish for The Mentally Ill Judge is working on a memoir about his brothers. by Michael Judge, Dec. 24, 2010 John Judge kneels in his football uniform From Cognition to Genomics: during his freshman year at the University of Progress in Schizophrenia Research Iowa in 1979. John committed suicide in 1982. Dr. Thomas Insel, Director, National Institute of Mental Health November 10, 2010 He had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. This week’s issue of Nature has a special section dedicated to In the winter of 1978, my brother John walked through the front door with a Christmas tree he said he found in the middle of the research progress on schizophrenia. There have been few such road. "It must have fallen off of somebody's car, or off the back of issues dedicated to any medical disorder, so this is a landmark for a truck," he said with a mischievous grin. He was 18, a 6-foot 4, schizophrenia research, a follow-up perhaps to an editorial in 235-pound All-State defensive tackle. The tree was big, but he Nature at the beginning of this year predicting a ―decade for was bigger — a gentle giant with kind, hazel eyes. psychiatric disorders‖. But beyond the mere fact that schizo- Our website is: www.namigdm.org 4 See Yourself as a Person, Not an Illness

phrenia has been singled out for this distinction, the contents cardio- vascular risk factors and function. We have averted millions document remarkable progress on a disorder that has been such of cardiac deaths through preventive measures such as diet, a conundrum for the past century. exercise, and medications for those at risk. For the past century, schizophrenia has been defined by psychosis and we have made For one thing, schizophrenia can now be described as a brain too little progress for too many people challenged by this disorder. disorder or, more precisely, as a disorder of brain circuits. With This issue of Nature marks new hope that we can develop a neuroimaging, several of the major nodes in the circuit have been preemptive approach to schizophrenia, as done for cardiac identified, especially within the prefrontal cortex. A major disease. advance has been linking changes in circuit function to cognition and behavior. As a result, we are increasingly focusing on the There have been many apparent breakthroughs for schizophrenia cognitive deficits of schizophrenia as the core problem, preceding over the past several decades, followed by non-replication or and perhaps leading to the more obvious positive symptoms of findings suggesting lack of treatment effectiveness. Finally, we are hallucinations and delusions. making real progress on many fronts, from cognition to genomics. As the articles in Nature note, we still have a long way to go. But Another area of unambiguous progress has been genomics. Five this is an important moment to recognize – the ―decade for years ago the field was frustrated by the lack of replicated psychiatric disorders‖ has begun. findings. With the creation of international consortia sharing data from thousands of patients, we can now see several of the major An article courtesy of the risk genes. They are not the usual suspects, such as genes Iowa Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health involved in dopamine or serotonin neurotransmission. Common Homeless Youth and Mental Illness variants in genes from the MHC complex, which is important for A staggering 98.4% of homeless youth have immune self-recognition, a gene for a transcription factor called symptoms of a mental health disorder, according to TCF4, and several genes that encode synaptic proteins have all a new Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family been found to confer increased risk. The list is probably not Services report. complete as together these explain only a fraction of the genetic risk for the disorder. Many rare variants have also been ―In fact,‖ says Empire State Coalition Executive Director Margo described in the past year, adding to the known major structural Hirsch, ―Homelessness and mental illness have long been linked lesions like DISC1 and the 22q11 deletion. These rare events together, but homeless youth are six times more likely to exhibit may explain only a small fraction of cases, but as with hyper- psychiatric disorders.‖ tension and cancer, even rare mutations that cause disease can The comprehensive report shows 66-89% of homeless youth yield important clues to the pathophysiology underlying more exhibit symptoms of one or more psychiatric disorders. common forms of disease. ―Homeless youth are suffering in far greater numbers,‖ says Ms. From genomics have come clues to the importance of Hirsch. ―For some, mental illness results in homelessness. For reconceptualizing schizophrenia as a neurodevelopmental others, homelessness results in mental illness. Either way, our disorder. Many of the genetic factors are involved with current system of care is not meeting urgent and growing needs in neurodevelopment; hardly surprising as thousands of genes must our young people and those at highest risk.‖ be expressed in a carefully choreographed sequence to develop a healthy brain. What is unexpected is that many of the genetic Report data strongly suggest which sub-populations are most at variations associated with schizophrenia appear to disrupt risk for mental health disorders: youth in state care, abused, and fragments of proteins expressed only in fetal development. And gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender homeless youth. experimental reductions of DISC1 transiently during fetal The report: “Connecting the Pieces: Homeless Youth and Mental development in mice have profound effects on physiology and Health Services – Finding a Fit That Works,” identifies gaps and behavior, emerging only in early adulthood. These kinds of barriers to mental health care, and provides recommendations for observations, along with reports of prenatal and perinatal innovative homeless youth intervention models. The report environmental factors that increase risk for schizophrenia, point characterizes how at-risk adolescents are experiencing higher rates to a model of schizophrenia that begins early in life, with subtle of suicide ideation and attempts, self-abuse, depression, mood cognitive effects through much of development, and emergence disorders, aggression, paranoia and anxiety. The report also of psychosis as a late stage in early adulthood. suggests at-risk youth may have higher rates of an underdeveloped If psychosis is a late stage of schizophrenia, analogous to brain cortex, which regulates impulse control. This may lead to myocardial infarction in coronary artery disease, then we need to further risk behaviors - including but not limited to substance abuse. develop biomarkers for early detection and treatments that can ―Runaway and homeless youth are crying out for our help,‖ says preempt psychosis. This is where the next decade of research Ms. Hirsch, ―and we are reaching out for your help in raising could lead. If the core deficits are cognitive, the ―biomarker‖ for awareness before it’s too late.‖ detection might be a working memory task or some assessment of executive function. And the treatments to preempt psychosis Copies of the report are available for download at: might not resemble anti-psychotic medications. Instead of http://www.empirestatecoalition.org/main/pages/pubs.html medication, imagine brain training to rewire the circuitry just as CONTACT: Margo Hirsch (718) 237-2722, [email protected] we use exercise to reduce cardiac risk. Continuing the coronary artery disease analogy, drugs such as marijuana might be, for Family Guide on Adolescent Depression someone at risk for psychosis, analogous to the high lipid diet for To download a copy of the new NAMI's Family Guide on What someone at risk for coronary disease: something that needs to Families Need to Know about Adolescent Depression, go to: be avoided. http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?template=/ContentManagement/ Over the past half-century, we have learned to diagnose ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=112975&lstid=275 coronary artery disease well before a heart attack using tests of Our website is: www.namigdm.org 5 See Yourself as a Person, Not an Illness

Three High-Risk Populations socioeconomic factors have conspired to stigmatize people with Targeted for National Suicide Prevention mental illness, in many cases causing them -- and their families -- Efforts to delay or avoid seeking professional help.

www.PNNOnline.org 1-4-11 Although the rates of mental illness among Latinos and whites in The National Action Alliance for Suicide the U.S. are roughly equivalent, whites are far more likely to receive Prevention today added three new task forces mental-health treatment (about 60 percent more likely, a 2008 to address suicide prevention efforts within high-risk populations: study found). According to a 2001 Surgeon General's report, only American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN); youth who identify as about 20 percent of Latinos with a psychological disorder consult a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT); and military general health-care provider about their symptoms, and just 10 service members and veterans. percent contact a mental-health specialist.

―I am heartened that we are focusing attention on communities "When Latinos think of mental illness, they just think one thing: hardest hit by suicide. By shining a light on their struggles I am loco," says Clara Morato, whose son, Rafaello, was diagnosed with optimistic we can help them identify solutions and bring hope for bipolar disorder at age 18. "[Latinos] don't want to be labeled, and a better tomorrow,‖ said Gordon H. Smith, co-chair of the Action they don't want to be labeled as the family with a relative who's Alliance. Smith, a former U.S. senator who championed passage crazy." of the 2004 Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act following the loss of his son to suicide, now serves as President and CEO of the These beliefs represent a serious public-health concern, National Association of Broadcasters. considering that the 49 million Latinos in the U.S. constitute the country's largest and fastest-growing minority group. In the U.S., suicide claims over 34,000 lives annually – the equivalent of 94 suicides per day, or one suicide every 15 The Latino population has risen by nearly 40 percent in the last minutes. State and local prevention efforts are having a positive decade and is expected to make up close to one-third of the impact as rates of suicide have been falling among teenaged and nation's inhabitants by the year 2050. And, thanks to recent health- elder males, two of the hardest hit groups. Suicides are insurance reforms, more Latinos than ever before may be seeking treatment for the first time in the coming years. increasing among other groups, however, such as AI/AN youth and military members. Delivering appropriate mental-health care to the tens of thousands

of Latinos who need it but are hesitant to accept it may not be easy. Studies from organizations such as the Suicide Prevention Resource Center report that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are "The stigma is a phenomenon that's fairly complicated," says from 1.5 to seven times more likely to report having attempted William Vega, Ph.D., a provost professor at the University of suicide than their non-LGBT peers, while transgender youth are Southern California, in Los Angeles, and a leading expert on mental believed to have higher rates of suicidal behavior as well. health among Latinos. "It's a major question in the field as to how to

manage it, because there are so many cultural nuances." For AI/AN youth and young adults ages 10-34, suicide is the second leading cause of death and is on the rise. A complex phenomenon

Research indicates that there are increased suicide rates among The stigma surrounding mental illness and the reluctance to get veterans, and suicide rates among service members recently treatment aren't unique to Latinos, of course. Less than one-third of reached historic highs within the Army and Marine Corps. the estimated 18 million American adults who have a mental illness that affects their day-to-day functioning receive treatment, In the coming months, the Action Alliance will determine how to according to a 2008 government survey. address suicide risk in other populations where data show evidence of increasing or high rates of suicides or suicide Research and anecdotal evidence suggest that stigma -- and attempts. Other high-risk groups include Latina youths, older what's known as self-stigma -- is a major factor standing in the way of mental-health care for Latinos. adults, individuals with disabilities, survivors of suicide attempts and of suicide loss, and working-aged men and women. In a recent study, Vega surveyed 200 depressed and low-income For more information, go to: Latinos in Los Angeles; more than half said that depressed people http://www.actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org/ weren't trustworthy and that they'd be unwilling to socialize with

Stigma haunts mentally ill Latinos someone who's depressed. Those self-stigmatizing respondents were less likely to take medication and keep scheduled Health.com By Sheila Dichoso appointments with primary-care physicians, the study found. Gabriela Martinez always spent a lot of time Some of the reasons behind the reluctance to seek professional in bed, and she rarely laughed, or even help are cultural. Religion is very important to the Latino spoke. For decades, her family shrugged off community, and some Latinos turn first to their church -- or even to this unusual behavior as nervios, or "nerve problems." the folk healers known as espiritualistas -- for help with mental- "We thought, 'That's how she is,'" her daughter, Martha Silva, health problems, some experts suggest. recalls. Even more so than American culture as a whole, Latino culture Finally, five years after moving to the United States from Cuba values self-reliance, which can discourage people from talking with her family in 1965, Martinez visited a psychiatrist at her about their problems, says Jane Delgado, Ph.D., a clinical daughter's urging and was diagnosed with depression. "My family psychologist and the president of the National Alliance for Hispanic never knew she had depression," Silva says. "She should've Health. been diagnosed in her 20s and not her 40s." "They feel they have to resolve issues themselves," she says. The Silva family's story is all too common in the Latino "They don't want to be a burden." community, where a deeply rooted mix of cultural and Our website is: www.namigdm.org 6 See Yourself as a Person, Not an Illness

This seems to be especially true of men, says Silva, who, "We have a system that is unprepared," Vega says. "We need to spurred by her mother's experience, started leading Spanish- prepare physicians and health-care providers of what's to come -- speaking outreach classes for the National Alliance on Mental to not stereotype patients. They need to ask the right questions, Health (NAMI) chapter in Hudson, New Jersey. "Men usually ask them how they feel about medication, and advise them on it." don't get involved," she says. "They often get scared." To bridge the gap and to ultimately squash the stigma, mental- If Latinos do seek care, more often than not it will be from a clinic health professionals and advocates have to educate Latino families or general practitioner rather than a specialist. "They won't say, and health-care providers about mental illness, Vega says. 'I'm depressed,'" Vega says. "Many Hispanics will go to the Vega has seen some encouraging developments. There are more primary health-care clinics and complain about physiological Spanish-speaking personnel in mental-health clinics now than at symptoms." any time in the past 30 years, he says. But the quality of health- Or, as Silva puts it, "They go to regular doctors so it won't make care services provided to Latinos still needs improvement: The wait them 'crazy.'" to see a mental-health specialist in a public clinic can be up to two months. Barriers to care Even for motivated people, significant barriers to mental-health "It's a massive switch [from] what we're seeing right now, and the care exist in the Latino community. demand is going to be there," Vega says. "We're just at the first stage of transition." Perhaps most important, Latinos have the highest uninsured rates of any ethnic group in the U.S. In 2007, nearly one-third of Family matters all Latinos had no health insurance, compared to 10 percent of Rafaello Morato is an example of the progress that's been made -- whites. and also the work that remains to be done.

Moreover, a 2006 American Psychological Association survey Rafaello, whose family is originally from Colombia, was diagnosed found that only 41 percent of insured Latinos had mental-health with autism at age 4 and began taking medication. His mother, benefits, compared to 65 percent of whites and 63 percent of Clara, was hopeful that his mood swings and violent outbursts African-Americans. would go away as the years went on, but as he got older, his condition only escalated. His troubles culminated during his senior Finding the time for care can also be a challenge. Latinos may year in high school, when he threatened his school principal with a have manual labor or service jobs -- nearly one-quarter work in sharp object during a dispute over a Halloween costume. the service industry -- that require them to work odd hours, long shifts, and overtime, Silva points out. After an order from the school to seek psychological evaluation, Rafaello was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Now 22, Rafaello is And if a Latino with a mental-health problem does visit a health taking medication and doing better. Though he still has violent clinic or doctor's office, the language barrier might be outbursts on occasion, he has a job at a local movie theater and insurmountable, as there is a shortage of Spanish-speaking hopes to attend college in the near future. health professionals, especially psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists. Rafaello got the treatment he needed and his condition is under control, but he still puts up with some prejudice from his own family. There are only 29 Latino mental-health professionals for every 100,000 Latinos in the U.S., compared to 173 non-Hispanic white "They don't understand what he goes through every day to stay providers per 100,000 non-Hispanic whites. stable," Clara says. "I try to ignore some of the inappropriate remarks they make. But I've learned to fight back by reminding Recent studies have suggested that specialists need to them how much progress we have made, and that always seems to comprehend different cultural views on mental illness in order to disarm them." give their patients the best possible care. "Many physicians, psychiatrists, [and] therapists are well-trained," says Delgado, Clara has taken part in the Spanish-language classes that Silva "but they aren't trained in understanding culture and how they're leads at NAMI, which are designed to teach the families and impacting someone's world." caregivers of mentally ill people about medications, communication

Help on the horizon. Bridging the gap between Latinos with strategies, and other aspects of caring for their loved ones. Silva thinks the outreach is making a difference. mental illness and treatment providers is more pressing than ever, due to the changes under way in the American health-care In her community, she says, Latinas are "speaking up about mental system. health more," and "bipolar disorder is becoming more acceptable."

The Affordable Care Act, which was passed by Congress in The change can be seen in her own family. Silva's son, who is 40 March and went into effect in September, could make health care years old, also suffers from mental illness. He has been diagnosed more accessible and affordable to the nearly 16 million Latinos in with bipolar disorder and substance-abuse problems but only the U.S. who are currently uninsured. recently started taking medication after years of being in denial.

By 2014, mental-health and substance-abuse services will be an What is the Army STARRS Study? essential component of Medicaid, as well as of the affordable The Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Service health plans found in the new state-run insurance marketplaces. members (Army STARRS) was officially launched in late 2008 In the meantime, according to Vega, so-called safety-net clinics when NIMH and the U.S. Army partnered to address the increasing that treat people without health insurance have received rate of suicide. An interdisciplinary team of four research institutions additional funding, some of which could go toward expanding will carry out the largest study of suicide and mental health among mental-health care. As a result of these changes, many Latinos military personnel ever undertaken, with $50 million in funding from could be seeking care for the first time. the U.S. Army. For more information, go to:

Our website is: www.namigdm.org 7 See Yourself as a Person, Not an Illness

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/suicide- neurological disorders afflicting so many Americans. The human prevention-studies/army-study-to-assess-risk-and-resilience-in- genome project, advances in biomedical computing, and brain servicemembers-army-starrs-a-partnership-between-nimh-and- imaging are now at the point that the confidence of the scientific the-us-army.shtml community in responding to this challenge has never been greater.

Reports Show High Number of Discharges Now is the time for emergency science. Now is the time for a for Pre-existing Conditions moonshot to the mind.

Two government reports show that military recruits Excerpts from are being discharged for pre-existing psychiatric Law Prompts Some Health Plans to Cut Mental Health Benefits conditions more than any other reason. The numbers are December 23, 2010 – Wall Street Journal particularly high for the Marines. Forty-four percent of discharges between 2004 and 2009 for pre-existing conditions were for Members of the Screen Actors Guild recently read in their health psychiatric complications. For the Army, the percentage was 24 plan's newsletter that, beginning in January, almost 12,000 of its and 18 in the Navy. It was less than 1 percent in the Air Force. participants will lose access to treatment for mental health and Lawmakers and veterans advocates have charged that the substance abuse issues. The guild's health plan represents one of Pentagon may be discharging combat troops on spurious mental a small number of unions, employers and insurers that are health grounds. Discharges for pre-existing conditions are not scrapping such benefits for their enrollees because of a 2008 law eligible to receive disability compensation or medical benefits. that requires that mental-health and substance-abuse benefits, if (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/12/16/troop-discharges- offered, be as robust as medical or surgical benefits. By dropping high-pre-existing-psychiatric-disorders/ 12/16/10) such coverage, providers can circumvent the requirements.

VA National Registry for Homeless Veterans has a National The Homeless Hotline (1-877-4AID VET or 1-877-424-3838)

The Department of Corrections (DOC) to receive Mental Health Training

1. DOC has entered into a 6-month agreement with NAMI to have a MH consumer and parent of an adult mental health consumer make presentations at Corrections sites across the state. 2. In addition to current MH training, DOC will conduct a 2-day MH training for all Corrections employees. 3. DOC is requesting that the new administration appoint a Mental Health Task Force to deal with the rising challenges posed by mental illnesses in Iowa.

Patrick Kennedy Honored Many advocacy organizations joined in honoring retiring Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I) at a Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act was signed into law Capitol Hill reception in December. Speakers in 2008. It prohibited large health plans from setting higher called Kennedy's work in winning passage of copayments or limiting doctor visits for mental-health care, among the Mental Health Parity Act "one of the legislative feats of the other things. Federal regulations on implementing the legislation century." Kennedy plans to stay involved in mental health and weren't issued until earlier this year, so the new requirements go addiction issues. into effect for many plans starting in 2011.

His first step is to organize the Next Frontier Conference, where Those decisions are hitting home now, since plans' open enrollment scientists, politicians, patients, and families can work together to periods tend to run before the end of the year. Insurers and "hasten the development of treatments and cures for neurological consultants say few plans are dropping the coverage, but many disorders." The conference will be May 23-25, 2011, in Boston. companies have expressed concerns about how to comply.

You can learn more at www.moonshot.org. The following Cigna Corp., an insurer that specializes in large corporate passage is taken from the home page of the website: accounts, has been running webinars to counsel employers on the 50 years ago, President John F. Kennedy challenged Americans changes. The National Business Group on Health surveyed large to redefine the realm of possibility by sending a man to the moon corporations and found that 89% reported having to make some and returning him home safely before the decade was out. changes to their plan to be compliant with the law, and 18% Today we face a scientific challenge of even greater magnitude. increased deductibles to cover the new costs.

Nearly 100 million Americans live with a disorder of the brain or "The big issue with employers is, 'Well, how much is this going to central nervous system. Over 300,000 American soldiers and cost?"' said Doug Nemecek, Cigna's senior medical director for veterans have suffered the combat wounds of Traumatic Brain behavioral health. They also want to know what limits they can Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. have, if any, on mental-health benefits.

The brain has often been called the last frontier of medicine. Mental-health and addiction advocates say the relatively small Though the major advances occurring in this field are numerous, number of plans opting out reinforces projections by the they still pale in comparison to the gaps that exist in our ability to Congressional Budget Office that the law would have a minimal prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure many of the common Our website is: www.namigdm.org 8 See Yourself as a Person, Not an Illness

impact on insurance premiums. The CBO estimated premiums th 4 Monday of each month – 5:30 – 7 PM – a support group for for group health insurance would increase by an average of Polk County parents and caregivers of children and adolescents 0.4%. with severe emotional disturbance (SED) or mental illness – a Steve Melek, a behavioral health-care expert for the consulting sibling support group meets separately - at Capitol Hill Lutheran and actuarial firm Milliman Inc., said there is "ample" evidence Church, 511 Des Moines St., in the basement – child care provided, suggesting that not providing benefits for mental health and can also provide free transportation and interpretation services – addiction leads to higher costs down the road. pre-register, if possible – call Angie at 558-9998.

In coming years, plans that drop coverage might pick it back up 1st Thursday of each month - 6:30 P.M. – a support group for because of the federal health overhaul. That law requires that Family members – First United Methodist Church – 307 W. plans selling insurance through online marketplaces known as Ashland, Indianola. We'll be in the first room on the right when you health exchanges meet a certain minimum level of benefits. go in the Northwest door on Ashland Ave. The room is called Regulations detailing what those are haven't been written, but Gabel Chapel. The facilitators will be Rose Weeks 480-8286 and likely will include some form of mental-health coverage. Erica Bachof at [email protected] or 515-771-4645.

To read the complete article, go to: 2nd Thursday of each month – 6:30 P.M. – a support group for http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240527487033959045760 Family members – Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek 25410628499574.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNew Parkway, West Des Moines – in Room 213. Bonnie, Randy, and sThird Phyllis are facilitators.

Free Income Tax Preparation 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month –Des Moines CURE/Voices United Way of Central Iowa to be Heard Support group – Union Park United Methodist Church If you earned $49,000 or less in 2010, you can –East 12th & Guthrie - Light meal at 5:30 P.M. Support group for receive FREE tax preparation. You also may be adults and program for children from 6 PM to 7PM. –If you have a eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). This is loved one in prison or parole system you are concerned about or if your money to keep and save. Call 2-1-1 for more information. 2- you are concerned about those in prison, please feel free to join us. 1-1 is free and available 24/7. If you have questions, please call Jean Basinger at 277-6296 or Call 2-1-1 and select a location. There are 8 locations in the Polk Melissa Nelson at 280-9027. and Dallas county areas. First Saturday of each month –Family Support Group – 10 AM What to bring with you at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1120 North 8th Avenue, Winterset.  Proof of identification Call Grace at 961-6671 or Pat at 515-462-3479 for information.  Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents Coping After a Suicide Support Group – Polk Co. Crisis and and/or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by nd the Social Security Administration Advocacy Services – Contact: Kate 286-2029 - Meeting day – 2  Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax Thursday of each month 6-7:30 P.M. and last Saturday of each return month 9-10:30 A.M. Meeting place is 2309 Euclid Avenue - park at  Current year’s tax package if you received one the west end of the building near the flags and come in the glass  Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, doors. Victim Services Phone: 515-286-3600

from all employers Narcotics Anonymous Help Line 515-244-2277  Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099) Drug and Alcohol Help Line 1-866-242-4111  A copy of last year’s Federal and State returns Alcoholics Anonymous (515) 282-8550  Bank Routing Numbers and Account Numbers for Direct Al Anon/ Alateen 1-888-425-2266 Deposit IA Substance Abuse Information Center Hotline 1-866-242-4111  Total paid for day care provider and the day care provider’s Alcohol, Tobacco, and other Drug Information Referral and tax identifying number (the provider’s Social Security Crisis Counseling – www.drugfreeinfo.org Number or the provider’s business Employer Identification Number) Would you like to receive training to become part of a Parents and  To file taxes electronically on a married filing joint tax return, Teachers as Allies panel presentation? If you are interested and both spouses must be present to sign the required forms. are a parent of a child or adolescent with severe emotional Family to Family Teacher training scheduled disorder, or an educator, or a student with a severe emotional If you are interested in becoming a teacher for disorder, please contact Susan Gill at [email protected] or call 243-1713 or 1-800-450-8667. the NAMI Family to Family educational course, please contact NAMI Iowa to sign up. A class has Do you know of other support groups we should be listing or does been scheduled for the weekend of March 25. information need to be updated in our newsletter? Please e-mail the Call 515-254-0417 or e-mail [email protected] information to [email protected]

SUPPORT GROUPS for Family Members Warning: Regular or heavy alcohol use can worsen most psychological states, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar, Third Sunday of the month - Family members, if you are schizophrenia, or eating problems. Alcohol can change interested in participating in a NAMI family support group, please the way a person feels in the short run; however, the overall contact Glenn Hobin [email protected] or call 965-9799 - or effect only worsens a disorder. Marijuana and other drugs can contact Grace Sivadge [email protected] 961-6671. have similar or more serious effects on the brain. Meetings are at Eyerly-Ball Community Mental Health Center,

1301 Center St., Des Moines – 2:30 – 4:00 P.M. Our website is: www.namigdm.org 9 See Yourself as a Person, Not an Illness

Looking for Community Resources? Polk County Jail Contacts on Mental Health Concerns Phone 211 www.211Iowa.org Medications – Sharon Chambers 323-5479 Court appearance/Jail Diversion – Tim Larson 875-5779 Contact Polk County Health Services th Veterans - will visit incarcerated veterans in need 218 6 Ave – 243-4545 Covers Central Iowa – Kimberly Neal, Social Worker – 669-3732 or http://polk.ia.networkofcare.org/mh/home/index.cfm 699-5999 Ext. 4036 – [email protected] Go to the Visiting Nurses website www.vnsdm.org Covers eastern Iowa – Sherri Koob, Veterans Justice Outreach click on ―links‖ – then click on Community Resource Directory Coordinator – cell 563-320-9887 [email protected] Veterans – will accept phone calls for assistance Polk County Community Mental Health Centers Rebecca Buch, Administrator, Polk Co Veteran Affairs Child Guidance Center – 808 5th Ave – 244-2267 286-3670 [email protected] Eyerly Ball Community MH Center 1301 Center St. – 243-5181 Broadlawns Medical Center- 1801 Hickman Road – 282-6770 SUPPORT GROUPS for Persons in Recovery Eyerly Ball Golden Circle – 945 19th St – 241-0982 Every Monday evening 7-8:30 P.M. – a support group for persons Dallas County Mental Health Center with mental illness – facilitated by persons with mental illness – at West Central Community Mental Health Center the NAMI Iowa office – 254-0417 – or 1-800-417-0417 - 5911 2111 Green, Adel – 515-993-4535 Meredith Drive, Suite E, Des Moines. Talk to Dawn Olson

Madison County Mental Health Center First Monday of each month – 7-9 P.M. –GDM CHADD Support Bridge Counseling Center Group – support for those families struggling with ADHD – Attention 300 West Hutchings St. – 515-462-3105 Deficit Disorder - West Des Moines Public Library, 4000 Mills Civic Primary Health Care & Behavioral Health th Parkway –call Julie for more info –515-223-6730. Engebretsen Clinic, 2353 SE 14 St. – 248-1400 The Outreach Project, 1200 University, Suite 105 – 248-1500 2nd & 4th Mondays of each month – 7 P.M. – depression and East Side Center, 3509 East 29th St. – 248-1600 bipolar support group., St. Boniface Catholic Church, 1200 Warrior Primary Health Care Pharmacy, 1200 University, Suite 103 Lane, Waukee. [email protected] Julie 710-1487 262-0854 Clubhouse Every Tuesday evening – 8-10 P.M. - Recovery Inc., a self-help th group for people who have nervous and mental troubles – at St. Passageways, 305 15 St., Des Moines 515-243-6929 th Mark’s Episcopal Church, 3120 E. 24 St., Des Moines – Call 266- 2346 – Marty Hulsebus. If you have a mental health crisis in your family and are in need of emergency assistance – call 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month – New Light Support Group – 911. Be clear with the dispatcher what the situation 6:30 to 7:30 P.M. -for persons experiencing depression or anxiety is, that it is a mental health crisis, and you need the disorders– at Westkirk Presbyterian Church, 2700 Colby Woods DM Mobile Mental Health Crisis Unit to assist. The goal is to Drive, Urbandale, Iowa – 515-253-0330 – Pastor Michael Mudlaff keep everyone safe and to seek the appropriate level of assistance for the ill family member or friend. If you live in a Every Thursday at 2:00 P.M. - Recovery, Inc. - a self-help group surrounding city (not Des Moines), call your dispatch center. The for people who have nervous and mental troubles – at Central Iowa non-emergency phone number for the mobile crisis team is 283- Center for Independent Living, 665 Walnut St., Des Moines – Call 4811. The police liaison to the Mobile Crisis Unit is Officer Kelly 237-0232 – Mark Grunzweig.

Drane. Her hours are 8 to 4 Mon-Fri phone number is 205-2270. Every Thursday evening – 7:45 – 9:45 P.M. – Recovery, Inc. - a The team leader for the Mobile Crisis Unit is Deb DeJong at 515- self-help group for people who have nervous and mental troubles – th 729-3221 – Deb is the primary contact and will answer any at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 1020 24 St., in West Des general questions about the Mobile Crisis Team. Moines. Call – 277-6071-Deb Rogers.

In response to your phone call, the first people to arrive to the Every Saturday afternoon – 2:00 – 3:30 P.M. – the Depression situation will be Des Moines police officers. Officers will and Bipolar Support Alliance meets at Iowa Lutheran Hospital – determine if it is a mental health related issue and maintain University at Penn Avenue – Level B – private dining room. safety at the scene. Officers make a request through dispatch if the Mobile Crisis Unit is needed. Mobile Crisis only takes Do you know of other support groups we should be listing in our referrals from law enforcement. newsletter? Please e-mail the information to [email protected]

When DM Mobile Mental Health Crisis Unit staff arrive, a mental Consumer and Family Experience Teams (CFET) project health assessment will be done, on-site counseling and problem Iowa Plan for Behavioral Health – Magellan Health solving, crisis plan development, coordination with hospitals if Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa (VNS) and Iowa Advocates for transport to a medical facility is necessary, and medication can Mental Health Recovery (IAMHR) will be conducting peer-to-peer be administered if necessary. A psychiatrist is always on call to focus groups across the state of Iowa. Magellan Health is help make those determinations and authorizations. interested to learn about Iowa Plan members’ experiences with the DM suburbs also use the mobile crisis team services – their many aspects of the behavioral health service system. The purpose officers make the decision whether or not the mobile crisis team is to learn from those with the lived experience so that they may is called. develop new services, and enhance existing services and

The Mobile Crisis Unit is available 6:30 AM to 2:30 AM – 7 days processes, with greater understanding of their impact. a week. It is staffed by licensed mental health professionals and Representatives from VNS and IAMHR will be calling persons on registered nurses. Title XIX (Medicaid) to request participation in the focus groups. If questions, please call Lisa Robin at 528-2743. Our website is: www.namigdm.org 10 See Yourself as a Person, Not an Illness

State Legislation There are 3 legislative committees who have a direct impact on the Here are 3 places on the web to access E-mail to figure out who funding and quality of mental health services. If you plan on your legislators are, to contact your legislators, get mailing advocating with legislators this year – these are the 3 legislative addresses, and phone numbers. committees and the members: http://www.infonetiowa.com/ - Has the latest on legislation. House Human Resources Committee Check out their great newsletters online. Linda Miller, Chair District 82 Scott Co. http://www.legis.iowa.gov , Vice Chair District 95 Clarke Co. http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=state_advocacy Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, Ranking District 45 Story Co. Member The Crisis Continues Polk County Waiting List Update Ako Abdul-Samad District 66 Polk Co. As of December 2010 - Richard Anderson District 97 Page Co.  715 on the waiting list for disability Mark Brandenburg District 100 Pottawattamie services District 73 Warren Co. • 405 of the 715 are receiving only non-wait David Heaton District 91 Henry Co. list services Bruce Hunter District 62 Polk Co. • 504 have mental illness District 54 Woodbury Co • 151 have intellectual disabilities District 70 Polk Co. • 60 have developmental disabilities District 80 Muscatine Co • 233 of the 715 are at risk of hospitalization and/or District 77 Johnson Co. homelessness District 74 Warren Co. .Longest on List: 917 days District 42 Polk Co. .Average Time on List: 418 days District 64 Polk Co. .Average Time for those admitted to Polk County Mental District 37 Linn Co. Health services – 752 days Mark D. Smith District 43 Marshall Co. • 101 kids on referral list (can be placed on referral list at age16). Sharon Steckman District 13 Cerro Gordo The situation District 86 Scott Co. Polk County is barred by state law (as are all other 98 counties) District 26 Clinton Co. to raise additional funds for mental health services. County

dollars are frozen at 1996 dollar levels. This inability to raise Senate Human Resources Committee additional funds results in a lengthy waiting list for services. , Chair District 7 Cerro Gordo

Mary Jo Wilhelm, Vice Chair District 8 Howard Co. There are Medicaid waiver programs Iowa offers eligible residents to allow persons to receive necessary services to remain in their James Seymour, Ranking Member District 28 Harrison Co.

Robert Bacon District 5 Story Co. home and community rather than an institutional setting. District 29 Shelby Co. Waiver Programs # slots there are # on Waiting List

$’s for Jan 11 District 39 Johnson Co.

Ill & Handicap, 3163 1707 , Jr. District 11 Blackhawk

AIDS/HIV 56 7 District 15 Johnson Co.

Elderly 12052 0 District 33 Polk Co.

Intellectual Disabilities (Child) District 14 Dubuque Co. 2851 23

Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) 572 103 David Johnson District 3 Osceola Co.

Brain Injury 1168 644 District 23 Story Co. Physical Disability 1292 1559 Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee Children's Mental Health 1117 679 Senate members 22271 4722 Jack Hatch, Chair District 33 Polk Co. Total persons on all waiver waiting lists across the state Amanda Ragan, Vice Chair District 7 Cerro Gordo 4722 – Jan 11 4918- Jan 10 3644 – Jan 09 David Johnson, Ranking Member District 3 Osceola Co. Go to: www.ime.state.ia.us Robert Bacon District 5 Story Co. Click on "Members & Consumers" Click on "Additional Services" Joe Bolkcom District 39 Johnson Co. Then choose "Home & Community Based Services." House members If you scroll further down on the page you will see a section called "HCBS Funding Slots." Click on the link for "Slot and Waiting List David Heaton, Chair District 91 Henry Co. District 100 Info rmation." Mark Brandenburg, Vice Chair Pottawattamie The first time the Surgeon General addressed mental health was , Ranking Member District 46 Story Co. in 1999 – barely 10 years ago. In his 1999 report, the Surgeon Joel Fry District 95 Clarke Co. General said: Dan Kelley District 41 Jasper Co. “Our society no longer can afford to view mental health as Linda Miller District 82 Scott Co. separate and unequal to general health. It is a misperception Tom Shaw District 8 Pocahontas that mental health or mental illness is unrelated to physical health District 81 Scott Co. or physical illness. In fact, the two are inseparable.” Beth Wessel-Kroeschell District 45 Story Co.

Our website is: www.namigdm.org 11 See Yourself as a Person, Not an Illness

NAMI Greater Des Moines supports the legislative priorities of March 2006 IDPH Mental Health Workforce report excerpt : The the MHDS Commission/Iowa Mental Health Planning Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) data ranks Iowa Council/Olmstead Task Force/Iowa Advocates for Mental Health 47th among states in psychiatrists per 100,000 population and 46th Recovery that were published in last month’s newsletter. for psychologists.

NAMI Greater Des Moines is an institutional member of AMOS – http://www.idph.state.ia.us/hpcdp/common/pdf/workforce/mentalhe a Mid Iowa Organizing Strategy. AMOS is a grassroots social alth_0306.pdf activist group of 28 institutions. For a community based services array From AMOS to legislators regarding upcoming mental health See State of Georgia settlement with Dept. of system improvements: Justice http://www.namiga.org/DOJ/index.htm

1. We expect a bipartisan effort to redesign the mental health The targeted population to be helped in Georgia system with the focus on the needs of individuals, families, are those with serious and persistent Mental and communities who seek assistance, not bureaucrats who Illness, those in state hospitals, those frequently admitted to state are protecting turf. hospitals, those frequently admitted to emergency rooms, those

2. We support the appropriation of $25 million to the risk pool to chronically homeless, those released from jail or prisons and those eliminate MH waiting lists. who have co-occurring conditions such as substance abuse or traumatic brain injury. 3. We advocate for all disability services* along with primary care be located within the same area of state government Georgia has a population of 9.8 million with area of 57,906 sq. mi. Iowa has a population of 3 million with area of 55,869 sq. mi. --utilizing the public health model --for holistic treatment For persons with mental illness, the State Of Georgia agreed to: --providing a continuum of care 1. 22 Assertive CommunityTreatment teams by 7-1-13 --a single system for funding and services to eliminate 2. 8 Community Support teams by 7-1-14 for rural areas duplication and inefficiencies 3. 14 Intensive Case management teams (10 case managers, 1

supervisor in each) by 7-2015 Including mental health, intellectual disabilities, * 4. 45 case managers by 7-1-15 developmental disabilities, brain injury and 5. 6 Crisis Service Centers with walk-in psych & counseling substance abuse because of the prevalence of services 24 hours per day 7 days per week by 7-1-15 co-occurring and chronic conditions. (to replace going to hospital emergency rooms) 4. We advocate for the redesigned disability health system to 6. 3 Crisis Stabilizations programs – 16 beds each that provide --be managed regionally psych stabilizations and detoxification --oversight and standards at the state level 7. Retain funding for 35 community hospital beds --with a robust core set of community based services 8. 24 hour/7 days per week crisis line --with adequate funding 9. Mobile crisis services in all 159 counties by 7-1-15 10. 18 Crisis apartments by 7-1-15 each serving 2 staffed by TREATMENT WORKS. Individuals with severe mental illnesses paraprofessionals and a peer specialist can and should be treated - just as we treat individuals suffering 11. Housing supports for the targeted population – 50% in from other medical issues. scattered site housing, 60% in 2 BR units, bridge funding for initially setting up a household – obtain help from HUD and Excerpts from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services other programming for housing assistance – state provided Administration (SAMHSA) Draft Description of a Modern support for up to 2000 ineligible under federal programs, bridge Addictions and Mental Health Service System funding for up to 1800 . . . Integration of primary care and behavioral health is essential. 12. Supported employment for up to 550 by 7-1-15 . . . The vision for a good and modern mental health and Peer support services for up to 835 by 7-1-14. addiction system is grounded in a public health model. . . . The integration of primary care, mental health and addiction There is a separate section for those with developmental services must be an integral part of the vision. disabilities.

. . . Providing integrated primary care and behavioral health 1. They are to cease admissions to state hospitals by 7-1-11. services will allow for cost effective management of co-morbid 2. Those in state hospitals to go to their own home or their conditions. family’s home, or to a host home (no more than 2) or . . . Coordination, communication, and linkage with primary care congregate home (no more than 4) consistent with each can no longer be optional given the prevalence of co-morbid individual’s informed choice. Each will have an individual health, mental health and substance use disorders. service plan. 3. By 7-1-12 – 6 mobile crisis teams for persons w/DD The Shortage of Public Hospital Beds for Mentally Ill 4. By 7-1-14 – 12 crisis respite homes Persons - A Report of the Treatment Advocacy Center 5. Program to educate judges and law enforcement officials Excerpt: The states with the fewest beds were Nevada (5.1) per 6. Quality improvement organization to oversee 100,000), Arizona (5.9), Arkansas (6.7), Iowa (8.1), Vermont 7. Each year from 7-1-11 through 7-1-15 – 150 moved from (8.9), and Michigan (9.9) hospitals to community w/waiver assistance and family http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/storage/tac/documents/t supports provided to 400-500 additional families each year. he_shortage_of_publichospital_beds.pdf ------Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts. --- Winston Churchill Our website is: www.namigdm.org 12 See Yourself as a Person, Not an Illness

(continued from Page 1- Veterans National Recovery Center) partners, including the courts, mental health providers and . Jobs for a National Program: Our group will initiate a substance abuse providers. They have good data and outcomes national corporate scholarship/mentor training program for showing how much money the program saved by diverting people homeless veterans. Corporations will adopt vets at the from hospital ER's and jail. The 48 page toolkit for this program

beginning of the 2 year transition program. VNRC will can be found at: provide training, counseling and follow-up. Corporation will http://www.naco.org/programs/csd/Documents/Criminal%20Justice/ get a trained productive employee at the end of the Jail%20Diversion%20Forum%20Materials/Jail%20Diversion%20To program. olkit.pdf . Healing The Homeless Within: We will develop non- Here is a link to the organization's website: hospitalization healing programs in conjunction with VA to http://www.havenforhope.org/ give emotional and psychological healing to the war scarred Massachusetts Program Increases veteran. Group counseling, job therapies such as gardening Access to Pediatric Mental Health Care and dog training, meditative techniques and spiritual exploration will complement any medically prescribed A Massachusetts program that offers free therapies. mental health consultations to pediatric primary . Help Where Little Help Exists: The national focus of the care physicians increased the proportion of pediatricians who said program allows economies of scale that allow better they were able to meet the needs of their psychiatric patients from programs for homeless vets – rural support where none 8 percent to 63 in 3.5 years. The program could be a model for how exists now, women specialty programs where none exist to at increase access to psychiatric care among children and now, family support programs where none exist now, adolescents, according to a study published in the journal focused research where little exists now, job training Pediatrics. The program divided the state of Massachusetts into six programs and long scale mentoring programs where few regions. Each region was serviced by one team of at least one child exist for homeless vets. psychiatrist, one child and family psychotherapist, and one care coordinator. (Internal Medicine News, 11/23/10) How will this benefit Iowa and Knoxville? http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/single-view/pediatric-mental- . Jobs on Campus: Jobs will be created in economically health-program-increases-access-in- depressed southern Iowa. Staffing tables for similar massachusetts/937b7587c2.html ventures calculate one staff person to every seven residents. At a floor of 400 residents, this would amount to Survey: Many Youth with Mental Health Conditions 57 local jobs. At 900 residents, this would amount to 129 Don’t Receive Care local jobs. While some of these might be filled by veterans A significant percentage of youth with severe mental disorders do as part of the learning and training process, there would still not receive mental health care, according to a new survey. be a substantial flow of money into the community. This Published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and does not count internal industrial enterprises that will have Adolescent Psychiatry, the survey found about 36 percent of youth to be set up to supply work positions for residents while they with any lifetime mental disorder received services. Only half of are training and healing. Nor does it count instructors, these youth who were severely impaired by their mental disorder trainers and mental health professionals that will be involved received professional mental health treatment. The majority of the at various points in the process, but will likely be housed at children who did receive services had fewer than six visits with a existing institutions such as area colleges, industries and provider over their lifetime. (National Institute of Mental Health, the VA system itself. 1/04/11) http://menanddepression.nimh.nih.gov/science- . Ready Resource for Iowa Vets: Although a national news/2011/majority-of-youth-with-mental-disorders-may-not-be- programs, Iowa will have ready, local access for returning receiving-sufficient-services.shtml vets and Vietnam vets that experience PTSD and other problems re-entering the civilian world a convenient place. Study: Chromosome change The numbers are significant for Iowa. A recent homeless points to autism, schizophrenia veteran event in Des Moines alone brought out several MyHealthNewsDaily hundred homeless vets in central Iowa. People who possess a specific change in one of their What will make this happen? chromosomes are nearly 14 times more likely to You: We need Iowans to want us. Iowans need to tell their develop an autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia leaders that the Veterans National Recovery Center needs to than those without this change, according to a new study. happen, and that Iowa is the right place to have it. The change, which is called a deletion, happens when a section of Let us be the first to say that the nation’s war-torn heroes have a chromosome 17 is missing. The deletion is found only in people welcome place in Iowa. who have an autism spectrum disorder, a developmental delay, or schizophrenia, said study researcher David H. Ledbetter, a Polk County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council genetics professor at Emory University. visits Texas program http://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/Supervisors/pages/cjcc.aspx ―This is just adding one more to that rapidly growing list of genetic mutations‖ associated with autism that doctors could use to Below is a link to a report about a San Antonio, Texas program measure autism and schizophrenia risk in children, Ledbetter told that the Polk County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council just MyHealthNewsDaily. visited. Not all people with autism, a developmental delay, or schizophrenia The program combines pre and post-booking jail diversion, have this deletion, but all people who have the chromosome substance abuse court, mental health court and post-jail re- change will develop some form of the disorders, whether it’s mild or entry. Texas passed a law to allow for data sharing between all strong enough for a diagnosis, he said. (cont’d page14) Our website is: www.namigdm.org 13 See Yourself as a Person, Not an Illness

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(cont’d from page 13) Schizophrenia and autism are separate 2011 NAMI National Convention to be in Chicago! disorders, but other recent research has also shown the two have genetic similarities. ―At least in a subset of autism and a subset of NAMI members who register for the NAMI 2011 National schizophrenia, the same [genetic changes] play a major role in Convention by Dec. 31 will pay just $185 for a full both,‖ Ledbetter said. ―It will be interesting in the future, because registration—which includes all sessions, networking we’ll have the ability to identify this type of deletion in young opportunities, health and wellness activities, special events and children, and follow them to figure out why some of them do social functions. The 2011 Convention is scheduled for July 6-9 at develop autism and some don’t.‖ the stunning Chicago Hilton Hotel—located across the street from

The study was published on November 4 in the American Journal Grant Park on the city’s Magnificent Mile. For more convention information and to register, go to www.nami.org/convention. of Human Genetics NAMI Greater Des Moines is investigating the possibility of uch more Membership Information chartering a bus to the Chicago convention. Stay tuned for more Please help to support our organization by becoming a information. member of NAMI Greater Des Moines. The costs of cutting the state’s mental health care system are 2011 Dues are: Send to: Jim Vandeberg devastating individuals, families, and our communities. $35 – Individual/Family Treasurer, GDM $ 5 – Limited Income 4114 Allison Ave We must protect and strengthen our state's mental health care Des Moines, Iowa system. The costs of untreated mental illness only gets shifted 50310 elsewhere to higher taxpayer costs-- to schools, police, courts, emergency departments, and overcrowded prisons. Please make the check payable to NAMI GDM.

Dues cover local, state, and national membership. The costs of cutting the state's mental health budget are high. Without treatment, more people will end up hospitalized, in

Donations are also welcome. shelters, on the street, in jail or dead.

NAMI Greater Des Moines is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible. Do The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a you want to be a NAMI Angel? time. ---Abraham Lincoln Our website is: www.namigdm.org 14 See Yourself as a Person, Not an Illness