Commissioner Leadholm Meets with former First Lady Rosalynn Carter

Commissioner Leadholm recently attended a forum sponsored by the Kennedy Library, "Rosalynn Carter on the Mental Health Crisis," and joined the former First Lady as her guest at a dinner following the presentation.

Through The Carter Center (www.cartercenter.org), Rosalynn Carter champions greater awareness and understanding of the importance of early identification and treatment of mental illness.

"Her personal commitment to telling people's stories and discussing openly the toll of untreated illness on individuals with mental illness and their families is vital to recovery," said Commissioner Leadholm. "In confronting the silence of many, she brings hope to people in recovery, encouraging others to seek treatment--treatment that we know is effective."

Mrs. Carter's advocacy stems back nearly 40 years since the day she met a weary and stooped woman leaving her night shift job at a cotton mill in Georgia. The woman told Mrs. Carter that she was heading home to care for her mentally ill daughter. This struck Mrs. Carter and she has since focused her attention on mental health services and treatment.

At the recent forum in Boston, Mrs. Carter, now age 83, explained how we can improve our mental health system as she unveiled in her new book, "Within Our Reach: Ending the Mental Health Crisis," written with Dr. Peter Kramer, professor of psychiatry at Brown University and author of "Listening to Prozac." She chairs the Carter Center's Mental Health Task Force, an advisory body of experts, consumers and advocates promoting positive change in the mental health field. Mrs. Carter emerged as the driving force for mental health when during the Carter Administration she became the active honorary chair of the President's Commission on Mental Health, which resulted in the passage of the Mental Health Systems act of 1980. A recipient of numerous awards, she is also the author of five books.

Tobacco Free Initiative Marks One Year at DMH

December marks the one year anniversary of DMH's implementation of the Tobacco Free Campus Initiative 

developed by EOHHS. Throughout the last year, DMH has been providing increased education and support for those trying to quit tobacco products.

Last month our facilities joined the nation for the Great American Smokeout (GASO). Many DMH Site Offices participated by setting up tables and providing pamphlets and information to consumers and staff throughout the day. 

Lemuel Shattuck Hospital pulled out all the stops to encourage all to go tobacco free. Throughout the day, Shattuck Hospital staff participated in an interagency collaboration among the Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Mental Health Center and the Metro Boston Mental Health Units (MBMHU). GASO committee members and volunteer staff provided information, education and counseling to all who stopped by. Anyone who agreed to commit to quitting smoking for a self-determined amount of time were given survival kits to help with their efforts as well as piggy banks to save money not spent on cigarettes. Healthy snacks and coupons for coffee were provided by Aramark and the Shattuck Hospital dental clinic provided sugarless gum and helped purchase the toothbrushes and toothpaste in the survival kits.

Jenny Murphy, an expressive art therapist; David Hirschberg, music therapy intern; and several patients from the MBMHU Rehabilitation Department provided music and arts and crafts for entertainment. Sixty-seven people who attended this event committed themselves to quitting tobacco use anywhere from one hour to forever. Of this group, 16 had recently quit and intended to stay tobacco free. This year was Shattuck Hospital's most successful GASO event ever and the many ideas for a smoke-free campus keep coming.

Overall, smoking cessation groups have increased in number throughout DMH facilities and programs. Below we share some positive feedback from consumers who have used those services.

Michael D. said that being in tobacco-free facilities has been the biggest help to quit along with his motivation. He has not smoked for a year and four months. He also says he noticed benefits very quickly, tasting food more, breathing easier and having access to fresh air. He can now take a deep breath each morning when he first goes outside and notices his improved breathing. He said, "Being in a non-smoking facility made it easier to get through the physical addiction." He said that the Coping Without Smoking group at the rehabilitation center is a tremendous help as he prepares to move to the community where smoking will take place around him. He states he is discovering his triggers to smoking and that he gave up coffee because he always smoked and drank coffee. This eliminated the trigger of coffee.

Chris O. said that the Coping Without Smoking Group has been the most help for him in his efforts to quit smoking since he came to Shattuck Hospital six months ago. He has not smoked for 18 months. He said, "The Coping Without Smoking Group makes me feel proud not to smoke." Chris said the second most helpful thing is being in a facility and campus that is smoke free where the pressure to smoke is so much less.

Express Yourself Celebrates 15 Years!

How do you recognize and celebrate 15 years of outstanding service to more than 2,500 DMH youth who have experienced pride, joy and have been taken on excellent educational and experiential creative arts adventures? How do you recognize and celebrate receiving the highest recognition possible from the President of the United States? 

Recently Commissioner Barbara Leadholm acknowledged these achievements and more as she presented Express Yourself co-directors Paula Conrad and Stan Strickland with a Special Recognition at a reception held at Endicott College last month. The event was organized by Endicott College to feature the Express Yourself youth drummers of DMH, live painting from acclaimed performance artist Nancy Ostrovsky, and DMH's Special Recognition. The award itself was an artistic compilation of the themes of each of the 15 annual performances held every May at the Citi Wang Theatre in Boston.  

"I cannot be more proud and excited for these remarkably talented young performers," said Commissioner Leadholm. "This is a true collaboration that focuses on the strengths of these amazing young people who work hard all year to put on a fantastic show and these young stars show us that recovery is more than possible -- they really shine!"

Express Yourself immerses young DMH consumers into the creative world of music, dance and visual arts and empowers them with life changing results. Express Yourself celebrates cultural diversity and collaboration with youth from 17 DMH residential and inpatient facilities. Since 1989, more than 2,500 DMH youth have worked collaboratively with artists and celebrities such as Blue Man Group, STOMP, Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart and Broadway dancers in a culminating performance at the Wang Citi Performing Arts Center in Boston. Youth and artists become inspired during a full year program creating set designs, visual art and performance pieces for their grand celebration followed by an exhibition at Endicott College's Center for the Arts.

Congratulations to Express Yourself for their outstanding achievement and contribution to the youth of DMH!