ADVOCACY SPOTLIGHT
Support our NAMI Walk on October 13th as part of Mental Health Awareness Week!    

If you haven't already done so, mark your calendars for this year's walk to be held on October 13th at 10:00 AM. Our NAMI Walk is the biggest public mental health awareness event in Butler County allowing us to offer free educational programs such as Family-to-Family and NAMI Basics. Please make a commitment to ask your friends, family and coworkers to either join our walk or sponsor a walker on walk day. Help us educate others through your participation and financial support.   

Register online at  www.namiwalks.org/butlercounty or call (513) 860-8386 to register. Let's work together to make the statement that we believe mental illness deserves the same attention, compassion and respect as other forms of illness. Help us fight stigma with your participation and dollars.  

IT'S ALL GOOD
by Kathleen Stevens, Associate Director

NAMI Butler County recently had the opportunity to exhibit at a conference sponsored by the Ohio Empowerment Coalition (Ohio's Statewide Consumer-Run Advocacy Coalition - www.ohioempowerment.org) held at the Voice of America Reagan Lodge in West Chester. The conference, attended by both consumers and providers, featured speaker Paul Jones, a comedian who has bipolar disorder and calls himself "Bipolar Boy." Jones reminded us all about the importance of taking charge of our mental health.

   States Jones: "You can be mentally ill but still be mentally healthy; it all comes down to taking charge of your brain." Eight out of 10 of those with mental illness, he says, don't take charge of their health when it comes to doing all they can to feel their best. What does this entail? First, says Jones, take a look at your diet. More likely than not, it needs revamping. "If you're eating only garbage you're going to feel like garbage," stresses Jones. Want to get started? Eliminate soda (regular and diet), white bread, white rice, potatoes (including French fries), and fast food from your diet and limit your fat, sugar and salt intake.

   If you smoke, says Jones, you need to stop. "Your brain is sick and you're sucking on the tailpipe of a car which is going to make you sicker," says Jones. "Forty-five percent of smoking-related deaths are people with mental illness," he states.

   Don't live in the past, advises Jones. "You don't drive your car by looking out your back window; keep looking forward because the past is behind you." Jones also recommends doing a daily attitude check. It's possible, he says to live a good life if you're willing to work at it. "Don't say 'I can't do that; I'm bipolar," he says. "Take the good with the bad. Learn coping skills and stop passing the buck." Finally, remember that it's okay to fail, says Jones. After all, failure is inevitably going to be a part of your journey to success. For more see facebook.com/BipolarBoy.   

Upcoming Education Meeting Speakers:

October 18th:  Robert Kramer, author of Taming the Black Dog of Depression: A guide  for those who are suffering and their families (2012). Kramer's book is the story of how he has dealt with the pain and despair he endured in his journey of living with bipolar disorder. The book is also, he states, "My whack at chipping away at the stigma of mental illness" and gets its title from Winston Churchill, who referred to his depression as his "black dog". 

November 15th: Jackie Brown, RN, of West Chester Hospital will discuss ways to enjoy the holidays without adding inches to our waistlines. She will also discuss the importance of diet when it comes to treating mental illness. Which foods are considered tops when it comes to the brain's ability to function at its optimum? Come to the November meeting and find out.  

December:   No education meeting.  Happy holidays! 

September Meeting Featured Recovery International Volunteer 

On September 20th Barb Lewis discussed how Recovery International taught her to live with depression and anxiety. Recovery International is based on a system of cognitive-behavioral, self-help techniques for controlling behavior and changing attitudes. People who practice the living skills detailed in the Recovery International Method learn how to change thoughts and behaviors that interfere with the ability to live a peaceful and meaningful life. Neuropsychiatrist Abraham Low, MD, developed these self-help techniques and mantras which are detailed in his book Mental Health through Will-Training. Some examples:

*           Humor is our best friend, temper is our worst enemy.

*           Have the courage to make a mistake.

*           People do things that annoy us, not necessarily to annoy us.

*           Tempers are frequently uncontrolled, but not uncontrollable.

*           Every act of self-control leads to a sense of self-respect.

*           Temper is an intellectual blindness to the other side of the story.

For more information about Recovery International see lowselfhelpsystems.org. Meetings are held locally on Monday nights at 7:30 PM at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 5071 Winton Road in Fairfield. Contact Carol at (513) 379-6233 for more information.

August Meeting Discussed Fort Hamilton Hospital Partial Hospitalization Program    

William Nordyke, RN of Fort Hamilton Hospital spoke at our August meeting about the Partial Hospitalization program. This program, for ages 18 and older, provides comprehensive multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment for those challenged by mental health issues. Its goal is to provide an alternative for those patients who would otherwise require inpatient hospitalization. The program runs daily, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM and is recommended for those who are not an imminent danger to themselves or others. Most insurance carriers cover all or part of the program. For more information call (513) 867-2436.     

NAMI Education Meeting August 15, 2012

 Some thoughts from Bill Nordyke:  

• There are medications to treat mental illness and they do a much better job than substance abuse.
• It's our job to know what our medications do and their side effects.
• Chemical imbalances are not just related to mental health. I have a chemical imbalance in my pancreas and that's why I am a diabetic.
• Healthy people set goals. 
• Assertive means not being passive but also not being aggressive. 
• The way you talk to yourself relates to how you see yourself; it determines what you get out of life. Think of a cat looking in a mirror and seeing a lion.
• Wanting everything quickly creates stress.
• Leisure is critical to our well-being.  
• We isolate ourselves because we think we will feel better but it actually makes us feel worse.
• Stress causes illness and makes it worse. We need to do a better job of handling stress. We all have healthy and unhealthy ways to deal with stress and we need to throw the unhealthy ways in the waste can. 
• Just because you have an illness doesn't mean you have to be sick. People can and do get better all the time.     

Announcements:

New Family-to-Family Classes Underway

We recently started t­­wo new Family-to-Family classes. Classes in Fairfield are being taught by Sally Fiehrer and Cathy McMonigle. Classes in Springdale are being taught by Gwen Reynolds and Duane Gehring. We've had great response to our Family-to-Family classes this year and many of our participants continue to be involved with NAMI. Call (513) 860-8386 to sign up for future classes.

NAMI Basics to Begin in October

NAMI Basics is being taught this fall at the Vineyard Church, beginning on October 8th (from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM) in conjunction with Hamilton County. Maxine Ape will be the instructor from Butler County. This class runs six weeks and is for parents of children under 16. Some babysitting is available but call our office to arrange in advance. Visit www.nami-bc.org to register online or call (513) 860-8386.  

Attention Kroger Shoppers: We Need You!

In case you haven't heard, you can now earn dollars for NAMI every time you shop at Kroger simply by signing up online. The program has changed because you no longer have to take the time to purchase and reload gift cards. All you have to do is go the Kroger Community Rewards website:  www.krogercommunityrewards.com and link your Kroger Plus Card to NAMI Butler County - our Organization Code number is 82609. Rewards are based on your usage of your Kroger Plus Card for gas and groceries. Follow the steps on the website and make sure your card is tied to NAMI Butler County. Please also send this information along to your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers who may shop at Kroger.  You do not need to be a member of NAMI to link your card to us.  Thanks for helping us earn much needed dollars for NAMI!  Call us at (513) 860-8386 if you need any assistance. 

Book Club Spring Readings Announced

Here are our autumn titles.  For more information about our book club, visit our website at nami-bc.org.

Book selections for coming months:

October:The Hidden Lives: Coming Out on Mental Illness by Andrew Boden. This book is a collection of works by writers who either live with a mental illness or have a family member diagnosed with one. The writers detail their experiences with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, excessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociative identity disorder. Their stories include what it feels like to be psychotic, the thoughts that enter your mind while you are attempting suicide and how family members go on after suicide. One book reviewer called it a great stigma fighting tool. Let us know what you think. 

November: Left of the Dial: A Memoir of Illness and Recovery by Christina Bruni. Bruni was working as a disc jockey when she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. This memoir chronicles her early life, her struggles with diagnosis, and her emergence as a mental health activist and freelance writer.      

December: Born Round by Frank Bruin. I thought for December (traditionally a month of over indulging) I'd choose a book that discusses emotional and addictive eating. It's a particular challenge when you're the restaurant critic for The New York Times. Heartbreaking and hilarious all at once, you learn how the author learned to love food without it wrecking his health and livelihood­­. Another recommendation for reigning in your appetite over the holidays is The Bipolar Diet: Managing Mood, Food and Weight by Sarah Freeman.

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Breaking the Silence by actress Mariette Hartley

Child actress, Mariette Harley starred in numerous plays, movies and TV Shows. Most recognized for her Kodak commericals with actor James Garner Hartley, she struggled her whole life with her father's alcoholism and depression. She was raised with unconventional parenting in which she was rarely hugged due to her grandfather, John Watson's ideas on parenting. Breaking the Silence was a national bestseller and an interesting and heartfelt read about one woman's journey to overcome her demons and come to terms with her past.

Climbing out of Depression: A practical guide to real and immediate help by Sue Atkinson

This reader-friendly, thin paperback has proven very helpful to those who suffer from bipolar disorder, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder. The chapters are broken down to easy reads. The book is not overly clinical or frightening to read; no horror stories or violent mentions. Some spiritual quotes and references are given. This book is a comfort to those living with mental illness. It's a book that is sure to become a favorite and one you can refer to again and again.  

New Psychiatric Hospital to Open in Butler County in 2012   

A 48-bed psychiatric hospital "Beckett Springs" will open in West Chester Township. The hospital will be built by Louisville-based, health care company Springstone, Inc. The $10 million, 37,000 square-foot facility will be located at 8614 Shepherd Farm Drive and is expected to generate more than 100 jobs. Springstone hospitals treat adults with mental health and addiction disorders as well as geriatric-related mental health issues.

Great Miami Services offers Residential Treatment  

NAMI has recently begun presenting to residents at Great Miami Services, a co-ed, residential treatment facility for adults. The facility, which is operated by Community Behavioral Health, is located at 630 Eaton Avenue in Hamilton.  Great Miami Services includes 24-hour supervision by certified nursing staff as well as mental health support services, mediation monitoring, dietary services, minor medical intervention, daily living skills development and coordinated community support services. For more information contact JoAnne Sessions, RN at (513) 867-3162.    

Transition Year:  How is your College Student Doing?   

The college freshman is understandably going to be nervous, particularly if he or she is going away from home for the first time but it can be particularly difficult for a child living with mental illness. How can you help your children without enabling them? What should you look for to be certain they are doing well?  

The Jed Foundation was created to prevent suicide in college-age students. They've partnered with the American Psychiatric Association to launch "Transition Year." Transition Year's mission is to help educate parents about college-age mental health concerns and give parents the tools to assist their children when it comes to monitoring their child's emotional health.

One piece of advice they offer is to be sure to research and share the resources that are available to your child on campus. Many schools offer free counseling sessions for students (it's typically built into your tuition so why not use it?!). You should also encourage your child to get to know their college guidance counselor who can help them fine tune their goals and aspirations.  If your child is approaching his or her college years remember that when choosing a school, the biggest and best might not be the ideal choice. Encourage them to find the school that works best for them.

For more information see The Jed Foundation at jedfoundation.org. Other helpful links: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention afsp.org, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline suicidepreventionlifeline.org (which offers an online individual chat line if you prefer not to call), and American Association of Suicidology suicidology.org and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry aacap.org.   

If you or a loved one is in crisis in Butler County call the 24/7 Crisis Hotline.  Talk to someone - you are not alone.

According the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, parents should be aware of the following signs of adolescents who may try to kill themselves:

• Change in eating and sleeping habits
• Withdrawal from friends, family, and regular activities
• Violent actions, rebellious behavior, or running away
• Drug and alcohol use
• Unusual neglect of personal appearance
• Marked personality change
• Persistent boredom, difficulty concentrating, or a decline in the quality of schoolwork
• Frequent complaints about physical symptoms, often related to emotions, such as stomachaches, headaches, fatigue, etc.
• Loss of interest in pleasurable activities
• Not tolerating praise or rewards

A teenager who is planning to commit suicide may also:

• Complain of being a bad person or feeling rotten inside
• Give verbal hints with statements such as: I won't be a problem for you much longer, Nothing matters, It's no use, and I won't see you again
• Put his or her affairs in order, for example, give away favorite possessions, clean his or her room, throw away important belongings, etc.
• Become suddenly cheerful after a period of depression
• Have signs of psychosis (hallucinations or bizarre thoughts)

If a child or adolescent says, I want to kill myself, or I'm going to commit suicide, always take the statement seriously and immediately seek assistance from a qualified mental health professional. People often feel uncomfortable talking about death. However, asking the child or adolescent whether he or she is depressed or thinking about suicide can be helpful. Rather than putting thoughts in the child's head, such a question will provide assurance that somebody cares and will give the young person the chance to talk about problems.

If one or more of these signs occurs, parents need to talk to their child about their concerns and seek professional help from a physician or a qualified mental health professional. With support from family and appropriate treatment, children and teenagers who are suicidal can heal and return to a more healthy path of development.