DMH Office of Communications and Community Engagement
Anna Chinappi, Director
Questions or suggestions? Contact Anna at
617-626-8124 |
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| Please contribute to the next edition of DMH Connections |
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Deadlines for upcoming issues:
September 18 for the October 5 newsletter
October 16 for the November 2 newsletter
Please send all materials to
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| Department of Public Health Blog |
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Click here to view the DPH blog which features expert tips on nutrition and physical activity as well as a roundup of health and wellness events. |
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Healthy Changes: What It Means To Give Back
By Patrice Levesque
R.D. Nutritionist, Taunton State Hospital
Dieting is a $147 billion dollar industry in America. Everyone is an expert. Some may have read a book, or even had a course in nutrition, and they believe they are experts on the subject of weight control, nutrition, vitamins etc. There are so many scam artists selling weight loss aids on the internet. Celebrities, who by the way have an arsenal of trainers at their disposal, look fabulous within weeks of giving birth. They sell everything from diet pills to pre-portioned meals.
As we are all aware, nutritional counseling plays a significant role in the prevention and control of disease entities.
But who is the nutrition expert? A registered dietitian (R.D.) has the training and the expertise to guide you along through the myths and the realities of a healthy lifestyle.
As an R.D. who has many years of experience, and who is an active member of the Healthy Changes Task Force and the SEA Wellness Committee, I have developed a heighten awareness of the need for more education regarding lifestyle changes to help people lose weight to aid in disease prevention and premature death. In my work at Taunton State Hospital, I apply my skills as a clinical dietitian to aid in- patient people. For many people, it may be the first encounter with a dietitian.
Recently I have teamed up with the local Recovery Learning Center to help others in my community. We hold weekly meetings using the "Small Steps Program" from the National Institute of Health (NIH). That program was first introduced to me at the Healthy Changes Task Force! I have had so much fun with my new group of peers, I can't say enough how rewarding and enriching an experience such as this is. I encourage everyone to volunteer in their community.
"Be the change in the world you want to see in the world." Ghandi
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Conferences and Events
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Suicide Prevention Program Workshop Calendar is now available offering workshops from September-December and will be adding more workshops throughout the year.
When registering for a workshop, please note that each event has tabs titled with information regarding the workshop. Space is limited for each workshop and fills up quickly, so please register before the deadline.
Photography Exhibition though September 30
Crucial Waters, Photography by Brian Skerry 9am-4pm
Singh Performance Center at Alternatives Whitin Mills Complex, 60 Douglas Road, Whitinsville, MA
Showcasing photography on marine wildlife and environmental concerns for the ocean.
September 12, 2009 See A New Sun Foundation (SANS) Walk For Suicide Prevention
Registration at 8:30AM, walk starts at 9AM. Two and one-half miles starting at Fay Park in Littleton and returning to Fay Park. Registration and pledge forms are easily obtained from our website www.4sans.org
There is a $5.00 registration fee. Register now, start getting pledges. Registration and funds can be mailed to See A New Sun Foundation, PO Box 1344, Littleton, MA 01460 and/or brought the day of the walk. Make it a daylong event, after you walk attend the FAIR on Fay Park and celebrate life.
October 7, 2009 Metro Suburban Area Peer Leadership Committee and the Metro Suburban Area Clubhouses present: "Celebrating Heroes: A Community Recognition Event 1:00-4:00 p.m. Newton City Hall Auditorium
1000 Commonwealth Ave
Newton Centre, MA 02459
Individuals from the Metro Suburban Area will be recognized for improving the quality of life for people who are in recovery from mental illness.
For more information or to get involved, please contact the Metro Suburban Recovery Community 617.472.3237 x302
October 10, 2009 Run For Ricky 11th Annual Road Race 5K (3.1miles) To benefit Taunton State Hospital Scholarship Fund 10am Taunton State Hospital 60 Hodges Ave, Taunton, MA
Entry Fee: $13 for pre-registration by October 1, 2009 or $16 for registration after October 2, 2009 Entry fee includes commemorative long sleeve T-shirt to the first 100 registered runners.
October 29, 2009 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation presents: "Improving Access To Children's Behavioral Health Services" 8:00 a.m. to noon The Landmark Center 401 Park Drive Boston, MA 02215
The following fall trainings are being held by The Bridge in Worcester MA
All trainings are held at:
Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel, 181 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough, MA 01752
Information and online registration: www.thebridgetraininginstitute.org
First Response to Traumatic Events: Psychological First Aid
Robert Macy, Ph.D. & Larry Berkowitz, Ed.D. - October 15, 2009 - 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
This workshop will provide practical information to safely and efficiently respond to people who have suffered a traumatic experience and will include in-depth information on three primary intervention techniques: Psychological First Aid; The Stabilization Group and; The Coping Group that are directly relevant to clinicians and school personnel.
New Developments in Understanding and Treating Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
Barry Walsh, Ph.D. - November 5, 2009 - 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
One of the most challenging problems for clinicians and other professionals is dealing effectively with non-suicidal self-injury. Of special concern is that self-injury has recently moved from clinical populations such as those served in hospitals and group homes to the general population including middle, high school and college students.
This presentation will focus on understanding, managing and treating diverse forms of self-injury. Self-injury will be distinguished from suicidal behavior in terms of a number of key characteristics. Eight levels of care in the management and treatment of self-injury will be reviewed.
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth: Informed Clinical Practice, Risk Management & Suicide Prevention
Effie Malley, M.P.A., Leigh Powers, Patricia Lemley, M.A. & Laura Farnsworth - December 3, 2009 - 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
This training will address a range if practical issues critical to providing sensitive and informed care to gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered (GLBT) youth. The workshop will emphasize what you need to know when working with GLBT youth including terminology, recent research findings, and recommendations for schools, programs and practice. The workshop will present a new action-oriented toolkit, developed by the national Suicide Prevention Resource Center, on preventing suicide and suicidal behavior among LGBT youth. Participants will have access to the toolkit, so they can further disseminate the training throughout their own organizations. |
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We will be posting DMH Connections on DMH's intranet site | |
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 TSH Porch Project Delivers Fresh Air For All
The Taunton State Hospital (TSH) Empowerment Committee scored a big success for the hospital community with the Porch Project. With the help of Elizabeth Amaral, Certified Peer Specialist, the Empowerment Committee turned its attention to the neglected porches available to the continuing care unit of the hospital at the Cain Building.
The Cain Building, originally built at the turn of the 20th century, is one of the older buildings on the TSH campus. Remodeled in 1995, it now displays a modern interior which retains some of it architecturally unique details such as fireplaces and screened porches off of each day room. Since the redesign of the building, use of the porches have fallen under mixed reviews for a variety of reasons and became unclaimed spaces generally used for storage. The Empowerment Committee saw the porches as therapeutic spaces and at the beginning of the summer unanimously decided to "recover" the porches. Committee members learned the concerns of their use, problem-solved for solutions and assisted with the decorations to make them safe, pleasant and a well-used part of the hospital culture.
The project started with a "Decorate Your Porch" contest. The committee took on the challenge of one particular porch not attached to a day room and instead is accessible to everyone in the hospital. A good cleaning, the removal of old furniture and some help from friends resulted in a beautiful space. The furniture in the porch, pictured here, was purchased by the Friends of Taunton State Hospital. Donations from a generous artist at TSH and the hospital greenhouse were the building blocks for adding the finishing touches to the recovered porch space.
The space is now available to all individuals at the hospital for meeting with family and friends, therapy or peer support sessions, groups, meetings or just for a breath of fresh air without the inconvenience of sunscreen or bugs. Two other porches are in the final stages of redecoration with a plan to complete all the porches by the end of the year. Although it took many years to create this culture change, the Empowerment Committee truly believes that this is a living example of the fact that positive change is always possible. |
New Life for Mass Mental Health Center
Years in the making, a unique public-private partnership between the Department of Mental Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) will deliver a new and enhanced Massachusetts Mental Health Center (MMHC), which is currently temporarily located at the Shattuck Hospital.
At a kickoff event last month, Commissioner Leadholm was joined by EOHHS Secretary JudyAnn Bigby, M.D.; Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) Commissioner David Perini; Mayor Thomas Menino; and BWH president Gary Gottlieb, M.D., to announce the project.
The redevelopment of MMCH is the culmination of a series of negotiations that began in 2004 under the leadership of DMH Commissioner Marylou Sudders. The public-private partnership involves a number of agencies including BWH, DMH, DCAM and Roxbury Tenants of Harvard, a neighborhood organization. Through the efforts of Commissioner Perini and his team, an agreement was negotiated with BWH and its parent company Partners Healthcare, Inc. The agreement calls for BWH to obtain the existing vacant MMHC on the Fenwood Road parcel to build a new medical research/administration building while providing DMH a new 70,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility at no cost to the commonwealth.
"When this project is complete, the new Mass. Mental Health Center will allow DMH to resume its work on behalf of individuals with serious mental illness who rely on us," said Commissioner Leadholm. "Consumers and staff of Mass. Mental Health Center will be able to return to their community in a state-of-the-art clinical, administrative and training facility that promotes recovery and resiliency through dignified and respectful care and treatment. We are very pleased to be partners with Brigham and Women's Hospital in this endeavor."
MMHC will be returning to its home base and will be well positioned to provide both psychiatric and medical care for its clients as well as unique training opportunities for students and interns of all disciplines. A public-private project of this kind will serve as a model for psychiatric facilities for other states to follow.
"Mental Health Services are needed more than ever. When this project gets done, we'll be able to offer services to more people because a lot of folks have worked hard and cared to make a difference," said Mayor Menino at last month's project announcement event. Also participating were Girma Belay, Executive Director of the Roxbury Tenants of Harvard; and Michael McDade a MMHC client. All speakers highlighted the hard work and dedication that brought this project to fruition and the many benefits that the new MMHC will provide to DMH clients, the medical community and the neighborhood at large. |
Recovery Learning Communities: New Day, New Way
One of the most exciting consumer initiatives that DMH supports are Recovery Learning Communities (RLCs). RLCs are consumer-run networks of self help/peer support, information and referral, advocacy and training activities. Training in recovery concepts and tools, advocacy forums and social and recreational events are all part of what goes on in a Recovery Learning Community. Although RLCs have both office and meeting space, a RLC is not program centered. It supports activities that occur in the locations in which people receive services and the community at large.
What do Recovery Learning Communities do? First and foremost, it's about culture change that shifts the focus on symptom management to a focus on promoting recovery, resiliency and wellness. RLCs also support consumers to take charge of their own recovery process.
Anyone can use the services of an RLC; the doors are open to all individuals with a serious mental illness, regardless of insurance status. RLCs work collaboratively with mental health providers, other human service agencies and the community at large to forward the mission of community integration and respect for people with mental health conditions. RLC activities are designed to appeal to the range of people in the community, including people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds and people of all co-occurring disabilities. RLCs are for everyone.
RLCs operate in each of the six DMH Areas. Every month, DMH Connections will bring you news from the RLCs. Below is contact information for the six Recovery Learning Communities:
Central Mass. RLC
91 Stafford Street
Worcester, MA 01603
508-751-9600
centralmassrlc@yahoo.com
Metro Boston RLC
Solomon Carter Fuller Center
85 E. Newton Street, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02118
617-305-9974
info@bostonresourcecenter.org
North East RLC
c/o Nan Donald
Northeast Independent Living Program
20 Ballard Road
Lawrence, MA 01843
978-687-4288
ndonald@nilp.org
Metro Suburban RLC
460 Quincy Ave.
Quincy, MA 02169
617-472-3237
info@metrosubrlc.org
Western Mass. RLC
187 High Street, Suite 303
Holyoke, MA 01040
toll free 866-641-2853
info@westernmassrlc.org
www.westernmassrlc.org
Southeastern RLC
71 Main Street, Suite 100
Taunton, MA 02780
508-880-8527
ecampbell@comcounselling.org |
Prepare for Flu Season: The Time is Now
While the Commonwealth and the nation prepares for flu season, the Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued fact sheets, tool kits and other information to help us stay well or know what to do in the event you contract the virus. Visit the DPH and CDC websites for prevention tips, symptoms and other important information about immunization.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health website on influenza
http://www.mass.gov/dph/swineflu
Center for Disease Control (CDC) websites on H1N1
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
Below is some information to get you started:
What is Swine Influenza?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.
What are the symptoms of H1N1 (swine flu) in humans?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.
How does swine flu spread?
Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
How can human infections with swine influenza be diagnosed?
To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to CDC for laboratory testing. Additional guidance will likely be developed and released as this pandemic progresses into the fall.
What medications are available to treat swine flu infections in humans?
There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the U.S. for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to all four drugs, the most recent swine influenza viruses isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.
Is the H1N1 swine flu virus the same as human H1N1 viruses?
No. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are antigenically very different from human H1N1 viruses and therefore vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection from H1N1 swine flu viruses.
Is there a vaccine for H1N1 (humans)?
Vaccine is currently in development and public health has told that that it will likely be ready for distribution by early October 2009.
What can you do to prevent influenza?
Good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. Here are six things you can do:
1. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
2. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
3. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
4. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
5. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
6. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
What should I do if I have flu-like illness while recovering at home?
- Check with your health care provider(s) about any special care you might need if you are pregnant,
immunosuppressed or have a health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or emphysema..
- Check with your health care provider about whether or not you should take antiviral medications.
- Avoid close contact with others as much as possible, even at home.
- Identify a single household member as the ill person's caregiver to minimize interactions with others.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, or electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep
from getting dehydrated.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer often and especially after using
tissues and after coughing or sneezing into hands.
- Never cough or sneeze in the direction of someone else.
- Be watchful for emergency warning signs (see below) that might mean you need to seek
medical attention.
Get medical care right away if the sick person at home:
- Has difficulty breathing or chest pain
- Has purple or blue discoloration of the lips
Is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down
- Has signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, absence of urination, or in infants,
a lack of tears when they cry
- Has seizures (for example, uncontrolled convulsions), is less responsive than normal or
becomes confused
If someone in my house is sick, but I'm not, do I need to stay home?
You do not need to stay home or out of school if you are not sick. However, it is recommended that you limit unnecessary contact with other people as much as possible. If you start feeling sick, especially with fever, cough, sore throat and feeling tired, you should stay at home and minimize contact with others as much as possible. |
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A Day in the Life Every month, DMH Connections talks to one of the many DMH employees who make a difference every day in the lives of people we serve. This month, it's a day in the life of Larry Paige, Case Management Supervisor in the DMH Southeastern Area/Cape and Islands.
What are your main job responsibilities?
- Case Management Supervisor (Adult and Transitional Aged Youth)
- Mentally Ill/Problem Sexual Behavior Coordinator for the Cape and Islands Site
- Facilitator/participant of various treatment teams
What is a typical day like?
There really is no typical day. In addition to the regularly scheduled team meetings, supervisions, and Utilization Management meetings that occur, there are a variety of special projects that are often requested with little lead time. There are also various complex clinical/risk situations that arise that require immediate attention. What are your greatest challenges?
The greatest challenges are often client related. These are the crises that arise at the end of the day or end of the work week that require collaboration with staff from various other DMH services, other agencies, and quite often, the client's families. What are your greatest rewards?
Seeing positive client outcomes that occur as a result of all the planning and collaboration that occurs. Who do you interact with the most?
My interactions are with clients, families, providers, other agencies-everyone involved in the lives of clients. Do you work with other EOHHS agencies?
I've worked in the pact with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, the Department of Transitional Assistance and the Department of Children and Families (DCF). I'm actually just getting involved in a collaborative effort with DCF that will include making recommendations for aging out kids regarding the possibility of DMH services. What is your experience, background and training? How did you come to be in this profession?
I've got a bachelor's degree and at this point I've been with DMH for over 24 years. After starting out at Taunton State Hospital, I began working in the community as a case manager and eventually took on a supervisor's position. I've taken advantage of countless training opportunities during my years here at DMH. Some of the more challenging/rewarding trainings have been in relation to my current role as the coordinator for the Mentally Ill/Problematic Sexual Behavior program.
How much do you travel?
It varies. Most weeks include at least a couple of trips between Hyannis and Pocasset. At other times, there are trips to other parts of the Southeastern Area for trainings or client related meetings. There are occasional trips to the Vineyard of Nantucket (summer trips are nice, winter trips not so nice).
What advice would you give someone considering your profession?
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