DMH Connections A publication of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Office of Communications & Community Engagement December 2009 In This Issue It's Clear: Facilities Are Ready to Check Out the Department of Public Help Staff and Clients Implement Health Blog a Tobacco Free Culture Multicultural Corner: Faith, Spirituality and Natural Supports in Today December 7, Recovery 2009, DMH begins the EOHHS Tobacco Free New Research Center Supports Youth Campus Initiative. All Employment DMH hospitals and facilities located on state property Commissioner Leadholm and DMH are now smoke free inside Staff Serve Up Thanksgiving for and out. The DMH Tobacco Hundreds of DMH Clients Free Policy is designed to provide a safe and healthy environment and Music Thearpy: Opportunities in model healthy behaviors. Sound Treatment For smokers, this culture change may be a Assistant Commissioner Claritza difficult adjustment. EOHHS and DMH recognize Abreu Awarded for her Leadership in that both patients and clients will struggle with the Latino Community the transition. Each facility has composed a Tobacco Free Planning Committee and is Conferences and Events working towards implementation of ongoing It's Clear: Facilities Are Ready to supports for staff and clients as they adapt to Help Staff and Clients Implement a this new policy and make the transition to a smoke free campus. Tobacco Free Culture Congratulations to the DMH These supports include assignment of cultural Performance Recognition Award champions who participated in a series of Winners trainings. There has also been communication through letters, meetings, discussions, and Voter Registration is Available to All open forums with managers and their staff. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is also DMH Metro Boston Area Celebrates available to staff for resources and referrals. Diversity and Recovery Contact the EAP at 1-800-451-1834. Center Club Celebrates 50 Years Many areas began outreach on November 19 which marked the 33rd anniversary of the Southeast Area Staff Honored for "Great American Smokeout" Learning Support Efforts DMH Central Office and the Lindemann In Taunton, Local Corporation Has Community Mental Health Center in Boston Heart featured information tables in the lobby and the planning committee provided staff and patients A Day in the Life with smoking cessation information, carbon monoxide testing, healthy snacks and samples DMH Office of Communications and of donated body products. Massachusetts Community Engagement General Hospital also hosted a table featuring community resources they offer. Solomon Anna Chinappi, Director Carter Fuller Mental Health Center in Boston also hosted similar events and provided goody bags which folks could trade their cigarettes for. Questions or suggestions? Contact Anna Five clients were willing to trade in their at cigarettes for the bags which included herbals 617-626-8124 teas, sugarless gum and candy, and sugar free chocolate too! Tewksbury Hospital held its day-long "Second Annual Employee Wellness Day" in conjunction Please contribute to the next with "The Great American Smokeout." The fair featured an ongoing power point, handouts, edition of DMH Connections cessation information, CO2 monitoring, pulmonary testing, employee immunizations, Deadlines for upcoming issues: nutritional information, stress management and healthy snacks. The new Tewksbury Hospital Gym marked its grand opening that day. The December 14 for the January Tewksbury Hospital Tobacco Free Environment 4 newsletter Work Plan includes implementation of an Adopt a Smoker Campaign, power washing of the Gazebo, and the distribution of maps for January 15 for the February 1 campus walking paths that outlines two areas newsletter where staff can walk, get fresh air and exercise. Please send all materials to At Westborough State Hospital, the Great American Smokeout was celebrated with a Michelle Cormier variety of activities and much discussion of plans for quitting and resources available to Department of Public Health help. Tables were set up for both morning and Blog afternoon sessions in the Hennessy Lobby with informational materials and healthy snacks. A homemade "Tar Jar" was on display to demonstrate how much tar a smoker has in their lungs, if they smoke a pack a day for one year. A cost calculator was available to show how much money a smoker can save if they quit. Hospital staff used a carbon monoxide meter to test patients and staff who wanted to find out how much carbon monoxide gas is in their body. Patients and staff were given the opportunity to sign a quit contract, and lunch at a local restaurant was offered as an incentive Click here to view the DPH blog which for anyone who remained smoke-free for five features expert tips on nutrition and days. Seven people signed the contract; five physical activity as well as a roundup remained smoke-free for at least five days. of health and wellness events. Stress balls were given out and former smokers signed an "I Quit" poster. As always, the Multicultural highlight of the day was "Odo," the resident therapy dog. Corner Worcester State Hospital held an informational Faith, event in the hospital lobby with members of Spirituality and their Health and Wellness Committee Natural distributing brochures, lapel stickers,and Supports in Recovery providing brief motivational counseling on how to cut down or quit smoking. Music and healthy Faith matters. And it may particularly snacks were also provided. Prior to the matter to people who are African Smokeout, Worcester staff held three outreach American, Black or Latino. That was events at the hospital, providing free carbon the consensus of a panel of experts monoxide monitoring, handouts about going convened at Springfield Technical tobacco-free, informational brochures and brief Community College (STCC) recently interventions to help staff and clients through a collaboration of STCC, the understand the reasons to consider quitting DMH Western Massachusetts Area tobacco use on the day of the Smokeout. As an Office and the Area's Community added incentive, a drawing was held for all Mental Health Advisory Board. patients and staff who participated in previous carbon monoxide monitoring events for local The experts included Reverend Greg department store gift cards. Dyson, Church in the Acres and Project Homeless Connect, In the upcoming months, DMH Connections will Springfield; Henry East-Trou, Gandara include articles that track the progress of our Mental Health Center; Amanda facilities and the services and supports they are Martinez, Western Massachusetts offering. We will also provide advice to difficult Youth Council; Suzette Pena, The situations that arise and highlight successes of Sacred Realm; Dora Robinson, United those who are trying to quit. Please email Way of Pioneer Valley; and John Paul Michelle Cormier if you would like to make a Whiting, Resource Connection Center, submission. Holyoke. The DMH Office of Multicultural Affairs Congratulations to the DMH provided language translators to allow Performance Recognition Award access for Spanish speaking audience members. Dr. Arlene Rodriguez, Winners dean of the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at STCC, and member of the DMH Western Mass. Area Board, served as We salute this year's recipients of the moderator. Commonwealth's Performance Recognition Awards. The DMH citation winners all play a One of the premises discussed was major role in the success of consumers' that faith and faith communities are recovery from serious mental illness. often very powerful supports for Commissioner Leadholm recently presented the people who are African American, annual Performance Recognition Awards to the Black or Latino. These supports are following DMH employees for their outstanding often overlooked. In his introduction, service and dedication to the Department and Mike Nagy, a DMH Human Rights to the adults, children, adolescents and families Coordinator and chairman of the we serve. Area's Cultural Competence and Diversity Committee said, "This panel NORTH EAST AREA is an attempt to expand the vision of DMH. We want to expand the range Psychiatric Emergency Response Team of natural supports available to people (PERT), Tewksbury State Hospital, a to aid in their recovery. What is the multidisciplinary group that serves as an role of faith communities and inpatient crisis intervention response spirituality in their lives?" team.Team members are Victoria Buckley, Linda Burnett, Joe Caliri, Candace Casey, Ann Ms. Robinson was the first speaker. Fisher, Dorothy Georgopolous, Laura "A connection to a faith community Hitchmoth, Ibraham Kabba, Rick Kellerman, can provide a sense of hope and well Diane Kritz, Valerie Levitre, Susan Landis, Jim being that things can be different." Martin, Felix Martinez, Beth Mulholland, Jennifer She later added that "as an African Navarro, Barbara Nicholas, Martha Patch, Andy American woman, I bring my faith to Patterson, Dawn Regan, Arlene Robinson, work with me every day." She doesn't Richard Roper, Jeff Stromberg, Claire Curley- flaunt it, but her convictions carry Swift, Mona Tye, Jefferson Tucker, Ralph meaning to the people she works Williams with. Speaking of the Latino community, Dr. East-Trou pointed out that North East Area Recovery Action Team, a families' first contact with the mental group of hospital, site office and provider health system was often through the staff and persons in recovery established in police or emergency rooms. People 2007