DMH Connections
 
 
A publication of the Mass. Department of Mental Health
Employee Newsletter 
Office of Communications & Consumer Affairs
February 2009
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Economic Recovery is the Goal 
On Jan. 28, Governor Patrick submitted his administration's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2010 amid a time of great challenge and economic uncertainty for the Commonwealth and the nation. The deterioration of our economy has created a rapidly changing fiscal outlook. DMH, like all state agencies, is responding to this challenge. Please read Commissioner Leadholm's message to staff about how this affects DMH and the plans in progress to meet fiscal realities, transform how we do business and continue to create hope for the adults, children, adolescents and families with serious mental illness who rely on us.  
 
To read Governor Patrick's budget message and view the budget documents, visit www.mass.gov.
In This Issue
Economic Recovery is the Goal
Show About Teen Struggles Comes to DVD
Homelessness: Interesting Findings 20 Years After McKinney Project
Progess: See Updated Photos of Work on the New DMH Hospital
Multicultural Corner
Conferences and Events
Articles of Interest
Meet the State Mental Health planning Council
SERV as an Inspiration!
$2.5 Million MGH Grant Funds Mental Health Homeless Program
Express Yourself One of Five Mass. Youth Art Programs Nationally Recognized
Join Suicide Prevention Advocates on State House Day Feb. 9
EAP Services Available to DMH Employees
Passings...
DMH Staff Development Announces New Microsoft Training Classes
Mass in Motion Gets Us Moving on a Road to Health
Hone Psychiatric Rehabilitation Skills With Certificate Program
 Commissioner's message 
 
  Barbara's headshot
Click here to view
 
Office of Communications and Consumer Affiars
Anna Chinappi, Director 

Steve Holochuck, Director of Consumer Affairs    
 
Pamela Mason, Information and Referral Specialist 
 
Sarah Spaeth, Communications Coordinator  

Please contribute to the next edition of DMH Connections 
Deadlines for upcoming issues:   
 
February 16th for the March 2nd newsletter
 
March 20th for the April 6th newsletter
 
April 21st for the May 4th newsletter
 
Please send all materials to 
Sarah Spaeth at [email protected]
.ma.us
  
Show About Teen Struggles Comes to DVD 
The critically acclaimed television/video series "Maple Ave.," which focuses on the everyday issues/struggles of teens and their parents, is now available on DVD. 
The series aired in late 2003 and has since received numerous awards and honors.  Past episodes include a haunting look at teen depression, coping with incessant bullying, cutting and dealing with the suicide of a sibling. 
 
For information about ordering the DVDs or to watch clips of the videos, click here. 
Homelessness: Interesting Findings 20 Years After McKinney Project
The Boston McKinney project began 20 years ago when a group of psychiatrists gathered to create housing opportunities for homeless persons with serious mental illness. Their research focused on consumer housing preferences between a group home and individual housing and the long term effects this decision had in a consumer's ability to remain housed.
 
Last month, Larry J. Seidman, Ph.D, director of Commonwealth of Massachusetts Harvard Medical School Research Center, and Russell K. Schutt, Ph.D, of Boston University and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, presented their findings of this project at the Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center. 
 
They reported that in the initial stages of the McKinney project, researchers interviewed 118 consumers to determine housing preferences. Two clinicians also evaluated participating consumers individually and made recommendations on whether each person would be better suited for independent living or a group home situation. The results of the interviews showed that consumers overwhelmingly preferred to live alone (with some staff assistance), but clinicians did not concur with the consumer preferences. These results determined that there is no relationship between self-assessed readiness for independent living and clinician's rating. 
 
The 118 consumers were then placed into group homes and interviewed during their stay.  During this time, 27 percent experienced an episode of homelessness during the 18 months of the project. Researchers also found that consumers who preferred group living when clinicians recommended independent living do even better in group living, and consumers who prefer independent living when clinicians recommended support are at high risk of housing loss and cognitive decline. The researchers identified some positive aspects: group living had somewhat better housing retention, improved cognition and more inter-tenant relations and liking for group living.  The negative aspects included lower housing satisfaction after six months and that the McKinney-style group homes are more expensive than independent living. 
 
In the 20 year follow-up, researchers were able to interview 28 participants. They found that 37 percent of the participants were homeless in the 20 years post-project period.  Some of the positive comments from the interviews included: "I liked having the company of other people" and "Get along well, discuss and get support from each other."  The negative comments included: "Felt safe most of the time until people were sick" and "Sometimes the drunks would have drinking friends over."
 
The Boston McKinney project found that DMH housing policies and options are successful because consumers experience minimal periods of homelessness, housing alternatives are available and peer support is recognized as a benefit.  
 
Progess: See Updated Photos of Work on the New DMH Hospital
Three photos have been added that show progress on demolition at the site of the new DMH state hospital on the Worcester State Hospital grounds. Demolition work, which began in the spring of last year, is the first phase of the multi-year project. When complete, the state-of-the-art DMH hospital will have a bed capacity of 320 including 30 adolescent beds and 30 adolescent IRTP beds. Completion date for the new hospital is scheduled for the early part of 2012.
 
Multicultural Corner
 
Barbara's headshot
 
In recognition of Black History Month, we take a look at mental health issues in the African American community:
 
Annette John-Hall from the Philadelphia Inquirer commented on the publication of Standing in the Shadows: Understanding and Overcoming Depression in Black Men, a memoir by author and journalist John Head.  Head's 20-year struggle with depression was marked by the stigma associated with mental illness.  John-Hall noted:
 
Fact is, depression favors no one. Multimillion-dollar contracts can't protect you from it. Nor can celebrity. Just ask Herschel Walker. Or Ricky Williams. Or Andrews, the two-time Pro Bowler, the happy-go-lucky guy who was supposedly always "up."
 
More power to him. Let's hope Andrews' admission will lift the veil of shame and encourage other young African Americans to confront their depression and really understand that they can actually take steps to feel better.
 
And the 25-year-old Andrews, who makes his living blocking 300-pound defensive linemen, could tell them what he's already learned: that depression doesn't make you weak, stupid or to blame. And it sure doesn't make you less of a man.
 
With this, keep in mind that despite the growth in diversity and an appreciation of the value of cultural competence in service delivery, disparities continue to exist:
 
- African Americans have historically been incorrectly diagnosed, often receiving a diagnosis of schizophrenia (and less often a diagnosis of an affective disorder).
 
- According to the American Association of Suicidology, the rate of suicide among black men ages 15-24 increased 83 percent, and rose 10 percent for young black females in the 1980s to early 1990s.
 
- Suicide remains the third leading cause of death for African American youth, after homicide and accidents. 
 
- Among African Americans who die by suicide, males are far more likely to do so than females: In 2005, 81 percent of African American suicide deaths were males.
 
- Among African American elderly, males also account for the vast majority of suicide deaths.
 
-African Americans may present symptoms of distress within a culturally-defined context that does not conform to the mainstream system.
 
- As a result, African Americans in need of mental health services may be less likely to receive treatment and if obtained, may receive care from primary care physicians rather than a mental health provider. 
 
- African Americans tend to be disproportionately represented in high-risk groups for mental illness such as homeless persons, persons who are incarcerated, persons with co-morbidities such as substance abuse or HIV, and among veterans. 
(Source: USDHHS, Office of the Surgeon General, SAMHSA, Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General)
Conferences and Events 
 
February - April Suicide Prevention Training register online
 
Wednesday mornings, Feb 4 to March 18 Mind/Body Stress Management Program for Parents of Behaviorally Challenging Children Massachusetts General Hospital, For more information call Marilyn Wilcher (617-643-6035) or Laura Malloy, LICSW (617-643-6061), or email [email protected]
 
February 5 - March 5 Back To Work Finances/ Maximize Your Income Training Thursdays 1p.m.- 4 p.m. Taunton Public Library, 12 Pleasant St., For more information or to register please call Jeff Rothman at (508) 880-8527
 
February 12 Eating Disorders: Time for Change 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Mona Villapiano, Psy.D. lectures; Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel 181 Boston Post Rd W., Marlborough, MA; register online

 March 1 - 4 22nd Annual Research Conference hosted by the Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health, Tampa, FL 
 
March 12 Why People Die by Suicide 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Thomas Joiner, Ph.D. lectures; Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel 181 Boston Post Rd W., Marlborough, MA; register online
Articles of Interest
 
 
Harvard study: Under-treatment of mental illness contributes to crime by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe
 
Panel finds vets not seeking help by John J. Monahan, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
 
Study Finds Drug Risks With Newer Antipsychotics by Benedict Carey, New York Times
 
think before you print
We will be posting DMH Connections on DMH's intranet site 
Meet the State Mental Health Planning Council 
The State Mental Health Planning Council brings together the voices of many to act as a catalyst for change within the Department of Mental Health and the broader mental health system.  Created in 1990 to fulfill an important requirement of SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) Community Mental Health Services Block Grant Program, its diverse membership of 53 is comprised of consumers, family members, providers, advocates and program staff from DMH and various other state agencies. The federal block grant infuses approximately $8 million into the public mental health system for community mental health services.
 
Federal statutes determines the role of the Council, which is to monitor and evaluate the state mental health system as well as to advocate for needed mental health services.  The Council participates in the development and evaluation of the annual State Plan and Implementation Report. (Click here to view these reports on the DMH website.)
 
The Council meets three to four times a year and is co-chaired by Bernie Carey, executive director of Massachusetts Association for Mental Health; and Judi Chamberlin of the National Empowerment Center.  Commissioner Leadholm and other members of DMH senior leadership participate in these meetings, which often sparks lively and meaningful dialogue between the Planning Council and DMH leadership.  Recent meetings included Family Options, a program providing services to families of parents with mental illness; a YouTube video prepared by the Youth Development Committee; and the SAMHSA-funded Alternatives to Restraint and Seclusion grant.
 
The Planning Council also supports several subcommittees which meet regularly to advocate for the needs of the individuals they represent, advise DMH on policy issues, and participate in the planning and implementation of new initiatives.  They are the Elder Coalition; the Professional Advisory Committee on Children's Mental Health (PAC); the Youth Development Committee (YDC); Employment, Multicultural Advisory Committee; TransCom; and the Restraint and Seclusion Advisory Committee. 
 
The Planning Council and its subcommittees lend a strong and vital voice for recovery and resiliency and make significant contributions toward the transformation of the mental health system in Massachusetts. 

SERV as an Inspiration!
We were all inspired by President Obama's inaugural address when he encouraged Americans to "find meaning in something greater than themselves" and to boldly enter a "new era of responsibility." 
 
Many answered President Obama's call to service by volunteering on the January 19 King Day of Service. More than 12,000 service projects took place across the country, double that of last year. President Obama was no exception - leading by example he volunteered as well, donning work clothes while painting a shelter for homeless teens and later visiting wounded soldiers. 
 
President Obama said that "through service, I found a community that embraced me; citizenship that was meaningful; the direction I'd been seeking. Through service, I discovered how my own improbable story fit into the larger story of America."
 
Inspired by President Obama's call to service, especially during these hard economic times when so many are struggling, Governor Patrick's SERV program is our opportunity to give to our community. SERV is great way to volunteer your time and talents in the community for a charity or cause. 
 
This month, Diane Healy, a case manager from the North County Case Management Site Office in Fitchburg, shares her experience volunteering through SERV:
 
awardMy experience with SERV has been very rewarding. I choose to volunteer at a local public school and enjoyed spending time with the children and assisting them with computer projects, field trips and library specials. It also afforded me the opportunity to collaborate with school professionals and I really do believe that community partnership is a creative way to manage more with less which is the reality we are faced with in these tough economic times.
 
I have also used this as a chance to educate where possible specific to the agency. On one occasion I was actually able to let the principal and vice principal know about a community program offered through one of our vendors that they did not know existed. There is a sense of trust and improved communication with other professionals in your community when you are able to show them that the Commonwealth really does care what happens on the local level and is willing to help out in creative ways.
 
I have also been able to donate blood through the Mass State Employees Blood bank and found this to be an easy way to make a difference.

 
Thank you, Diane! And thanks to all DMH employees who generously give their time and energy to our fellow citizens in need.
 
Please visit the SERV website to find a volunteer opportunity.
 
And we want to hear about your volunteering experience. Please e-mail your SERV volunteer stories to [email protected].  
 
$2.5 Million MGH Grant Funds Mental Health Homeless Program 
logo Massachusetts General Hospital is providing $2.5 million to Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) to create innovative teams of physicians, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and social workers to integrate medical care and mental health services for homeless patients over the next five years.
 
MGH will fund two full-time psychiatrists, one part-time psychiatrist-in-training and one full-time care coordinator who will work hand in hand with BHCHP's medical providers and DMH staff and service providers. The MGH funding creates a partnership between BHCHP and DMH and its providers; the new psychiatrists will be appointed to DMH's staff and see homeless patients at one of the DMH facilities. The initiative also contains provisions for research and evaluation, so participants can continually refine and improve their approach.
 
"The collaboration between DMH and Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program is critical in providing a serious response to the challenge of caring for homeless patients who are medically ill and have mental illness," said DMH Commissioner Barbara Leadholm. "The lifespan of an individual with chronic mental illness is 25 years shorter than someone without. Homelessness significantly increases their vulnerability and the great need of superb, well-integrated care."
 
Because many homeless patients - especially chronically homeless people - struggle with mental illness as well as medical conditions, medicine has long grappled with how to address these two interconnected aspects of patients' healthcare in a coordinated way. In traditional care models, behavioral health care and medical care operate independently. The MGH support enables the creation of care teams made up of medical professionals as well as psychiatrists who collaborate closely and see patients together in a variety of settings, including directly on the streets and in shelters, soup kitchens, hospital clinics and at BHCHP's McInnis House, a 104-bed medical respite program.
 
"Massachusetts General Hospital has been an invaluable partner in the work of BHCHP since our inception," said BHCHP Executive Director Robert Taube, PhD, MPH. "It's no exaggeration to say that this funding will help revolutionize the way we practice medicine by enabling us to create treatment teams that address our patients' mental and medical needs in a holistic way. We're very pleased that it will also enable us to closely collaborate with DMH in providing services to homeless patients." 
 
Express Yourself One of Five Mass. Youth Art Programs Nationally Recognized
Express Yourself, a DMH youth arts program, was one of five Massachusetts youth art programs cited by The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) for excellence in 2008 through its Coming Up Taller awards.  The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), along with Representatives John Keenan of Salem and Marie St. Fleur of Boston, other members of the Massachusetts Legislature and PCAH member James E. Farmer, will salute the honored programs at a State House celebration in Boston on Feb. 5, at 1:15 p.m.
 
express yourselfExpress Yourself immerses young people into the creative world of music, dance and visual arts and empowers DMH youth with life-changing results. Express Yourself, under the direction of Paula Conrad and Stan Strickland, celebrates cultural diversity and collaboration with isolated youth from 17 DMH residential and inpatient facilities.
 
The 2008 Massachusetts "Coming Up Taller" winner and honorees are:
 
Express Yourself, Peabody (Honoree)
City Music Program, Berklee College of Music, Boston (Winner)
Project STEP, Boston (Honoree)
Museum Action Corps Internship Program, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem (Honoree)
Art a la Carte, Federated Dorchester Neighborhood Houses, Boston (Honoree)
 
The Coming Up Taller Awards were established in 1998 to recognize and support outstanding community arts and humanities programs that celebrate the creativity of America's young people, and provide them learning opportunities and chances to contribute to their communities. Along with a cash award, the Coming Up Taller Awards lend these projects significant recognition and support to their continued work.
 
In the eleven-year history of the Coming Up Taller awards, 28 Massachusetts youth programs have received citations. 
 
Join Suicide Prevention Advocates on State House Day Feb. 9 
award The Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention (MCSP) will hold its 10th annual State House Day on Monday, Feb. 9, from 9:30 to noon at the Great Hall.  This annual awareness event highlights the Coalition's Leadership in Suicide Prevention Awards, which are presented to individuals and organizations from across the state.
 
The MCSP, a broad-based statewide group of individuals, organizations and state agencies, works to raise awareness of suicide and through advocacy and public education helps to reduce the rate of suicide and rates of suicidal behavior in Massachusetts by mobilizing individuals, organizations and communities across the Commonwealth to take action.
 
DMH Deputy Commissioner Elaine Hill is scheduled to give welcome remarks at the event. Watch for details about the award ceremony and recipients in the next issue of DMH Connections.  
 
EAP Services Available to DMH Employees
health resources DMH employees and their families now have access to a new Employee Assistance Program (EAP) service through AllOne Health Resources.
 
The goal of an EAP is to offer help to employees and/or their family members who might be experiencing problems related to life changes, personal stress or other concerns. These might be marital and family concerns, emotional upsets, substance abuse, workplace concerns and stress or other issues that interfere with healthy growth, development, and adaptation.
 
The personal problems of employees are private matters but when work is affected, EAP is available to prevent personal problems from affecting work performance. All employees are encouraged to seek assistance at the earliest sign of a problem.  EAP services will address those issues that could interfere with an employees' ability perform their jobs or interfere with personal and workplace health, safety and relationships. Because employees often worry about the well being of family members, services are also extended to them.
 
The Department assures employees and their family members that EAP services are completely confidential.  No identifying information about who uses the service is given to DMH.  The EAP is staffed by professional, licensed counselors and consultants who assess problems, identify resources, make referrals as needed, provide short-term counseling and follow the progress of EAP participants. Using the EAP will not jeopardize an employee's career or employment with DMH.
 
This FREE, confidential service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. DMH employees and family members can also have free consultations with a professional financial planner and an attorney, as well as access to a full-range web-based resource site.  To take advantage of these services, call 1-800-451-1834, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. You will be connected immediately to an intake professional, and at all other hours, you will be able to speak to a counselor. Appointments for counseling are available both day and evening hours in convenient locations.
 
Passings...
The mental health community lost two of its most passionate advocates this month.  Gertrude O. Lawrence, who died Jan. 6, and Ruby M. Rogers who died on Jan. 12, will be remembered for their tireless dedication to the rights of people with mental illness, giving them a voice and raising awareness of stigma and discrimination.  
 
gertrudeGertrude Lawrence, "Trude" to those who knew and loved her, was cofounder of the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Dorchester, Mattapan and Roxbury. She worked diligently to improve conditions for patients at Boston State Hospital before it closed in 1979.  The Commonwealth passed legislation in 1993 establishing a Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC) to guarantee that the hospital campus would be used in a manner beneficial to the surrounding communities. Lawrence served on the CAC for more than 15 years as a champion for individuals with mental illness. Her passion to honor the history of the Boston State Hospital patients and to generate respect and empathy for all persons suffering with mental illness was a driving force in advocating for the Boston State Hospital bill.
 
Ruby Rogers was a nurse's aide for City Hospital in Boston. She was well known in Cambridge and Somerville for fighting and advocating for the rights of people with mental illness.  She was the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging conditions at Boston State Hospital and a driving force behind the result of this litigation known as Rogers Guardianship. In the 1983 court case, the state Supreme Court affirmed the rights of hospital psychiatric patients to refuse anti-psychotic medications in non-emergency situations, commonly referred to Rogers Guardianship and named after Ruby Rogers.
 
Rogers' lawsuit also resulted in the closure of Boston State Hospital and the development of community-based alternatives to treat people with serious and persistent mental illness.
 
DMH Staff Development Announces New Microsoft Training Classes 
Over 60 new course offerings for Microsoft Office training (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook) have been planned for January to June 2009.
 
You can search the PACE Course Catalog for specific offerings, or you can download a list of all the offerings from the PACE Library > Resources (keyword search 'computer'). Look for DMH MS Office Offerings Jan-Jun 2009.
Mass in Motion Gets Us Moving on a Road to Health 
mass in motion Just like millions of people making resolution to stay healthy this year, public health leaders are looking to help Commonwealth residents stay fit.  The Governor recently announced the most comprehensive effort to date to address the serious problem of overweight and obesity in the Commonwealth through the Department of Public Health Mass in Motion, a multi-faceted effort promoting a broad range of wellness activities for Massachusetts residents, businesses and communities. 
 
While Massachusetts compares well to other states with respect to overweight and obesity, our rates are increasing more quickly than the nation as a whole. The Commonwealth has seen a 47 percent increase in overweight and obesity over the past two decades compared to a national increase of 40 percent.
 
For people with mental illness, obesity is one of the high risk factors that cause death 25 percent earlier and more frequently than the general population.
 
Mass in Motion offers simple steps people can take to avoid high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease by focusing on eating better and moving more.  The website features low-cost healthy recipes, money saving tips for grocery shopping, ways to stay healthy at work as well as links to find places to be active such as a bike path, walking trail or your local YMCA. 
 
Please visit Mass in Motion today and find out how you can achieve better health for yourself and for consumers and their families.
 
And don't forget to check out the new DPH blog on getting healthy. DPH bloggers will use blog posts as a way to share relevant stories and information they come across. Sometimes the stories might be about Mass in Motion or from local newspapers or may be links to stories pulled from various health blogs;  here's an interesting one from the NY Times' Well blog that talks about the 11 healthy foods that you aren't eating. You'll also find tips from DPH experts in nutrition and physical activity, and post written, audio and video content from guest experts as well. Join in the blog: It's right here at http://publichealth.blog.state.ma.us/2009/01/index.html .
 
Hone Psychiatric Rehabilitation Skills With Certificate Program
The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University has developed a certificate program in psychiatric vocational rehabilitation. The program is designed to help rehabilitation counselors and vocational service providers improve their skills in building and sustaining partnerships with persons who experience psychiatric disabilities so that they can successfully choose, get and keep the vocational experiences that they prefer.
 
During the one-year program, participants attend two one-week institutes of intensive learning involving skills training, discussion, readings and practice exercises. Skill acquisition exercises are performed after each institute at the participant's home agency or organization with regular contact with trainers via teleconferences, email and through phone support.
 
"I attended a wellness training that included the Wellness Recovery Action Plan at BU in 2000," said Margo McMahon, DMH human rights coordinator/certified advanced WRAP facilitator in the Western Mass. Area. "The training literally transformed my life and my recovery, leading me to become an Advanced WRAP Facilitator. It allowed me to work directly with recipients of services through a WRAP program and recovery education implemented by the Western Mass. Area Office of Consumer Affairs. Through WRAP training and WRAP facilitator trainings, we encouraged service recipients to begin to reclaim their hopes and dreams, as well as to include education and employment within the scope of their recovery. The latter created a paradigm shift from one of 'learned helplessness' or 'passive patient-hood' to one where people become more active in their own recovery. Individuals began to make life changes based on the key concepts of WRAP (support, hope, self-advocacy, personal responsibility and education)."
 
The BU program focuses on the following topics: assisting the participant to choose the service and service direction; assess readiness for change; develop readiness to utilize services; choose a vocational goal and analyze feasibility of the goal; make decisions related to achieving access to preferred environments; and develop the skills and supports needed to be successful and satisfied in the chosen environment.
 
Applications are now being accepted!  Contact Director Debbie Nicolellis, 617-353-3549, [email protected], or visit their website.