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The Messenger

MHASC Bringing Wellness Home
Third Edition, Volume 2 OCTOBER 2011

 

 

 

October 6, 2011 is "National Depression Screening Day." In observance, the staff of Mental Health America of South Carolina invites you to visit our website www.mha-sc.org and complete an anonymous mental health screening that tests for depression, generalized anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder. Just go to www.mha-sc.org and click on Mental Health Screenings. Please refer this option to friends and family who may be struggling with a mental illness. 

 

In this newsletter, you will also find information on the upcoming Out of the Darkness walks sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and a listing of Survivor of Suicide groups across the state.

 

Also, learn more about Mental Health America'a "Live Your Life Well" program with information for good mental health that we all need, especially as we approach the holiday season.

 

If you have further questions about this newsletter or any programs offered by Mental Health America of South Carolina please contact us by phone at 866-929-6145 or by email to [email protected].



Out of the Darkness logo

The Columbia Out of the Darkness walk is this Sunday!     

Columbia, South Carolina
Starts: 10/16/2011 at 2:00 pm
Ends: 4:00 pm
Check-in time: 1:00 pm to 2:00
Online Registration Cutoff: 10/15/2011 12:00 pm

Registrations and Donations may be made at the Registration Table on Walk Day
Donation Cut-off: 12/31/2011 12:00 am

Contact: Yoma Edwin [email protected]
803-586-3271
or Helen Pridgen [email protected]
803-552-9318


Where: Columbia Riverfront Park

In the United States, a person dies by suicide every 15 minutes, claiming more than 34,000 lives each year. It is estimated that an attempt is made every minute; with close to one million people attempting suicide annually. With your participation, you will not just be walking, and your donors will not just be writing a check- you will be helping to save lives!

 
The Out of the Darkness Community Walks are 3-5 mile walks taking place in over 250 communities across the country this year, with the proceeds benefitting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). By walking in the Out of the Darkness Community Walks, you will be walking with thousands of other walkers nationwide to raise money for AFSP's vital research and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national awareness about depression and suicide and provide support for survivors of suicide loss. In deciding to walk you are taking us a step closer to making suicide prevention a national priority.


 

 

Participate in the Out of the Darkness Walk Nearest You! 

10/09/2011 Bluffton- HIlton Head Community Walk, University of South Carolina- Beaufort- Bluffton, South Carolina

10/09/2011 Spartanburg, Sc Walk, Cleveland Park, Spartanburg, South Carolina

10/22/2011 Myrtle Beach SC Walk, Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

11/06/2011 Charleston Walk, Hampton Park, Downtown Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina


Survivors of Suicide Groups in South Carolina
Aiken
Group Name & Mailing Address:
Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group
PO Box 51
Gilbert, SC 29054
Contact: Keith Asbill, 803-730-8562, [email protected]
Meeting Place: First Prebyterian Church, 224 Barnwell Ave NW, Aiken, SC 29801
Meeting Date & Time: 2nd Tuesday of every month
Counties served: Aiken and surrounding counties

Bluffton
Group Name & Mailing Address:
Survivors of Suicide Support Group
c/o Pat John
102 Island West Drive
Bluffton, SC 29910
Contact: Pat John, 843-540-1841 [email protected]
Meeting Place:
University of South Carolina Beaufort) Bluffton Campus, 1 University Blvd., Room 238 Hargray Building, Bluffton, SC 29909
Counties: Beaufort County

Columbia
Group Name & Mailing Address:
Survivors of Suicide Columbia
c/v Judy Kletter
108 Sundance Point 
Chapin, SC 29036
Contact: Judy Raphael Kletter 803-345-1236, [email protected]
Meeting Place:
Westminster Presbyterian Church
1715 Broad River Rd.
Columbia, SC 29210
Meeting Date & Time:
1st Tuesday of every month 7:00 pm- 8:30 pm
Counties Served: Lexington, Richland, Newberry, Sumter, Orangeburg, Florence

Fairforest
Group Name: Survivors of Suicide Loss Group
Contact: Renee Hammett, 864-612-3853, [email protected]
Meeting Place:
Firaforest Baptist Church- Prayer Room
117 Church Street, Fairforest, SC 29336
Meeting Date & Time:
3rd Wednesday of every month, 7:00 pm- 8:00 pm
Counties Served: Spartanburg

Florence
Group Name: Survivors of Suicide
Meeting Location: 
McLeod Hospice House
1203 East Cheves Street
Florence, SC 29506
Contact: David Atklinson [email protected]
Meeting Day & Time: 3rd Monday of every month 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Greenville
Group Name: Survivors of Suicide (S.O.S.)
7:30 pm
COunti
429 N. Main Street
Greenville, SC 29601

Contact:
24- hour Crisis Line 864-271-9999
864-222-0726 Anderson or 800-868-4878 Oconee and Pickens
Jennifer Piver 864-467-3598 [email protected]
Website: www.mhagc.org
Meeting Place:
MHA of Greenville County
429 North main Street Suite 2
Greenville, SC 29601
Meeting Day & Time: Open Groups- 1st Tuesday of every month, 7:00 pm- 8:30 pm. Closed 8 week groups are held periodically. Contact for details
Counties Served: Greenville, Anderson, Oconee, Pickens and surrounding counties

Greenwood
Group Name & Mailing Address:
Crossroads
300 Lowell St.
Greenwood, SC 29646
Contact: Cathy Smith 864-229-2704 [email protected]
Meeting Place:
Lowell Street United Methodist Church
300 Lowell St.
Greenwood, SC 29646
Meeting Day & Time:
2nd Monday of every month 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Counties Served: Greenwood

Hilton Head Island
Group Name & Mailing Address
Survivors of Suicide Support Group
8 Broomshedge Ct.
Hilton Head, Sc 29926
Contact: Vanessa Riley 864-384-2901 [email protected]
Meeting Place: St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 50 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head, SC 20028
Meeting Day & Time:
4th Thursday of every month, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Counties Served: Beaufort County

Murrell's Inlet Mall/Meeting Hall
Group Name: Survivors of Suicide
Mailing and Meeting Address:
12125 Highway 17 Bypass
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
Contact: Ms. Pat Dofer 843-357-6848 [email protected]
Meeting Day & Time: 1st Wednesday of every month, 6:00 pm

North Charleston
Group Name & Mailing Address:
Survivors of Suicide
2-1-1 Hotline
PO Box 63305
North Charleston, SC 29419
Contact: Charlotte Anderson (843) 566-7183, 843-744-4357, 1- 800-922-2283
Meeting Place: Heartland of West Ashley
Meeting Day & Time:
1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Counties serves: Any

Pawleys Island
Group Name & Mailing Address:
Recovery From Suicide Loss Group
10126 Ocean Highway, Suite 2
Pawley Island, SC 29585
Contact: Johnny DeLoache 843-324-3578 [email protected]
Meeting Place: Christian Counseling Clinic LLC 10126 Ocean Highway, Suite 2, Pawleys Island, SC 29585
Meeting Day & Time: 3rd Thursday of every month, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Counties Served: Georgetown and Horry

Spartanburg
Group Name & Mailing Address:
Survivors of Suicide of Spartanburg County
167 Alabama Street
Spartanburg, SC 29302
Contact: Wayne Hyatt 864-583-1010   [email protected]
Meeting Place: Morningside Baptist Church
Room 422, 2nd floor of the Educational Building
897 S. Pine St.
Spartanburg, SC 29302
Meeting Day & Time: 2nd Monday of every month at 7:00 pm
2nd Meeting Place:
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church 
101 St. Matthew's Lane
Spartanburg, SC 29301
Room 109 in the new building
Meeting Day(s) & Time: 4th Monday of every month at 7:00 pm.
Counties Served: Spartanburg, Union, Cherokee, and surrounding counties

Sumter
Group Name & Mailing Address:
Survivors of Suicide
PO Box 3842
Sumter, SC 29151
Contact: Kaye Harmon 803-905-5620 [email protected]
Meeting Place:
St. John's United Methodist Church
136 Poinsett Drive
Sumter, SC
Meeting Day(s) & Meeting Time: 1st Thursday of every month 7:00 pm
Counties Served: Sumter and surrounding areas


MHASC logo

 

1823 Gadsden Street
Columbia, South Carolina  29201
(803) 779-5363

 

and follow us on Twitter and Facebook 
In This Issue
Columbia Out of the Darkness walk
Out of the Darkness Walks
Survivors of Suicide Groups
Calendar of Events
Bridges Clubhouse Special Event
Live Your Life Well
Issues in Mental Health
  Calendar of Events

 

 

October 6, 2011

National Depression Screening Day

Visit www.mha-sc.org to complete your personal, anonymous mental health screening

  

 October 9, 2011

Hilton Head Out of the Darkenss Walk

University of South Carolin- Beaufort Campus

Bluffton, SC

 

October 9, 2011

Spartanburg Out of the Darkness Walk

Cleveland Park

Spartanburg, SC

 

October 16, 2011

1:00pm - 4:00pm

Columbia Out of the Darkness Walk

Riverfront Park

Columbia, SC

 

October 20, 2011

12:00 pm- 1:00 pm

Planning Committee Meeting for 2012 Helping the Hurting Conference

MHA of South Carolina

Conference Room

1823 Gasden Street

Columbia, SC

 

October 28, 2011

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

IC HOPE training for Vital Connections Early Head Start Program

 Southeast Branch Library

Garners Ferry Rd.

Columbia, SC

 

October 28-29, 2011

NAMI- SC

Annual Conference

"Winning Anyway"

Embassy Suites

Columbia, SC

 

November 6, 2011

Charleston Out of the Darkness Walk

Hampton Park

Charleston, SC

 

October 22, 2011

Myrtle Beach Out of the Darkness Walk

Broadway at the Beach

Myrtle Beach, Sc

 

 

  

 

 

Join Our Mailing List
Bridges Clubhouse Brings Art, Music and Poetry to
Artsy-Fartsy Coffee Shop in Cayce, SC

Join members of Bridges Clubhouse for a special evening of music, art, refreshments,and poetry.

Event Date: (NOTE CHANGE IN DATE)
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
6pm-8pm 

Event Times:
Drop in: 6:00pm - 8:00 pm
Poetry Reading: 6:30 pm

Event Location:
Artsy-Fartsy Coffee Shop
906 Knox Abbott Dr.
Cayce, SC 29033

Please call Jean Ann Lambert at Bridges Clubhouse with any questions
803-796-6179

Mental Health America's
Live Your Life Well

Live Your Life Well


Are You Too Stressed?
Your stress reaction can boost your performance and get you through a crisis. But too much stress can lead to serious problems.

If you are concerned about your well-being, take a look at the following symptoms of stress overload.

1.Fatigue
2. Headaches
3. Loss of Concentration
4. Difficulty in Making Decision
5. Inability to Contol Anger
6. Increased Use of Alcohol, Caffeine, Cigarettes, or Drugs
7. Increased or Decreased Eating
8. Feeling Overwhelmed
9. Thinking Often About What You Need to Do.


Here are 10 Steps to Handle Stress and to "Live Your Life Well"

1. Connect with Others
2. Stay Positive
3. Get Physically Active
4. Help Others
5. Get Enough Sleep
6. Create Joy & Satisfaction
7. Eat Well
8. Take Care of your Spirit
9. Deal Better with Hard Times
10. Get Professional Help if You need It

For more information, visit
.

Issues in Mental Health!
Stigma: Building Awareness and Understanding
Mental Illness can strike anyone! It knows no age limits, economic status, race, creed or color. During the course of a year, more than 57 million Americans are affected by one or more mental disorders.
People with mental illnesses often exhibit many types of behaviors, such as extreme sadness and irritability. In severe cases, they may also suffer from hallucinations and total withdrawal. Insteaf of receiving compassion and acceptence, people with mental illnesses may experience hostility, discrimination and stigma.
 
There are common misconceptions about mental illnesses.
MYTH: "Young people and children don't suffer from mental health problems."
FACT: It is estimated that one in 10 young people in America may suffer from a mental health disorder that severely disrupts their ability to function at home, in school or in their community.
MYTH: "People who need psychiatric care should be locked away in institutions."
FACT: Today, most people who have mental illnesses can lead productive lives withint their communities thanks to a variety of supports, program and/or medications.
MYTH: "A person who has a mental illness can never be normal"
FACT: People with mental illnesses can receover and resume normal activities.
MYTH: "People with mental illnesses are dangerous."
FACT: The vast majority of people with mental illnesses are not violent. I
MYTH: "People with mental illnesses, like everyone else, have the potential to work at any level depending on their own abilities, experience and motivation."
How you can combat stigma!
1. Share your experience with mental illness. Your story can convey to others that having a mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of.
2. Help people with mental illnesses re-enter society. Support their effors to obtain housing and jobs.
3. Respond to false statements about or images of people with mental illnesses. Many people have wrong and damaging ideas about mental illnesses. Providing accurate facts and information may help change their ideas and actions.