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THE MESSENGER 
Mental Health America of South Carolina
September is Suicide Awareness Month
Did you know?

 There were 36,909 suicide deaths reported in the US in 2009.
This number places suicide as the tenth leading cause of death in the US.
The rate of suicide has been increasing since 2000. This is the highest rate of suicide in fifteen years. (Data provided by AFSP, September 2012)
 
Suicide was the 11th leading cause of death among SC residents during the years 2003 to 2005. 
Suicides accounted for 1.3 % of all deaths in SC. 
A total of 1,507 suicides occurred in SC from year 2003 to 2005. This represents an average of 1.4 suicides per day.
(Data provided by SC DHEC, May 2008)
 
 What can you do to help?
Know the signs!
 Warning signs of suicide include:
Observable signs of serious depression
Unrelenting low mood, pessimism, hopelessness, desperation, anxiety, psychic pain and inner tension, withdrawal and sleep problems
Increased alcohol or other drug use
Recent impulsiveness and taking unnecessary risks
Threatening suicide or expressing a strong wish to die
Making a plan
Giving away prized possessions
Sudden or impulsive purchase of a firearm
Obtaining other means of killing oneself such as poisons or medications
Unexpected rage or anger
 
Know What Resources Are Available!
The Mental Health America of South Carolina website has several links on its homepage 
for suicide prevention services
Check out: Stop Suicide Now
Veterans and Suicide
and QPR links on our homepage

Or call 1-866-273-TALK for the nationwide Suicide Prevention call center. A counselor is available 24 hours a day to provide counseling and assist those struggling with this issue.

Get involved in Suicide Prevention!
Participate in the 2012 Out of the Darkness Walks
The Out of the Darkness Walks are 3-5 mile community walks taking place in over 250 communities this year with the proceeds benefittng the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
 
Columbia Walk
Riverfront Park
2:00 - 4:00 pm
October 14, 2012
 
Spartanburg Walk
Cleveland Park
October 14, 2012
 
Myrtle Beach Walk
Broadway at the Beach
October 20, 2012
 
Hilton Head Community Walk
Javis Creek Park
October 21, 2012
 
Charleston Walk
Hampton Park
October 28, 2012
 
Sign up for the walk nearest you today at www.afsp.org.


Mental Health America of South Carolina's 
Joy Jay will present MHASC's Housing Program
 Mental Health America's National Conference 
 September 19-20, 2012 
 Tulsa, Oklahoma  

The conference theme is "From Housing to Recovery: Building Community, Building Lives" Joy will provide a conference presentation on MHASC's Housing Program, one of the largest in the nation.

Congratulations MHASC for this national recognition! 
 
For more information about the 2012 National Zarrow Mental Health Symposium & Mental Health America Annual Conference 


 Mental Health Historical Exhibit to Open September at South Carolina State Museum!!!
State Hospital

Two new exhibitions at the South Carolina State Museum highlight the conditions that people with mental illness faced in large, state psychiatric hospitals across the nation.

 

The first, "The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic," looks at the moving personal histories of some patients at the Willard Psychiatric Hospital in New York. Historians were able to reconstruct the individuals' lives from suitcases found when the facility closed. Created by The Community Consortium to honor the unique stories of these people, it is being circulated by The Exhibition Alliance, Inc., Hamilton, NY.

 

"Bull Street: Life Behind the Wall," provides a South Carolina perspective. The exhibit examines the almost 200 year history and operation of the South Carolina institution from the perspective of the patients who lived, worked, were treated and died there.

Both exhibits will be on display September 1- October 14, 2012.

 
Contact Us
Mental Health America of South Carolina
1823 Gadsden St.
Columbia, SC 29201
803-779-5363
866-929-6145
mha@mha-sc.org

Mental Health America of South Carolina
accepts your credit card payments for
conference registration
and all other donations on its website
Click on DONATE to use the Paypal system.

Call the MHASC office at 803-779-5363 for further information.

New Webpage about Veterans and Suicide on MHASC Website
 
Check out our new link on the MHASC webpage:
"Suicide and Veterans" 
 
Calendar of Events
September 13, 2012
MHASC Board of Directors Meeting
1823 Gadsden St.
Columbia, SC

September 19-21, 2012
MHA National Conference
Tulsa, Oklahoma

September 28-29, 2012
NAMI-SC Annual Conference
Embassy Suites
Columbia, SC

September 1- October 14, 2012
"Lives They Left Behind" Exhibit at SC State Museum
Columbia, SC

October 14, 2012
Out of the Darkness Walk
RiverFront Park
Columbia, SC

Visit www.mha-sc.org

MHASClogo
 
 MHASC Welcomes Lawanda Gilmore to our staff
 
Lawanda Gilmore of Columbia is our new MHASC Office Administrator and Activities Director for William's Place.
 
Lawanda is a recent graduate of Midlands Technical College Human Services Program. She will be responsible for office management at the MHASC state office in Columbia and will also plan and lead social and other group activities for the resident's at William's Place in Cayce, SC. She can be contacted at frontdesk@mha-sc.org.
  
Also, Anita T. Baker has changed roles for MHASC and now will serve as the Director of Shelter Plus Housing. She can be contacted at atbaker@mha-sc.org. 

Sponsors for "The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Mental Hospital"
This project is made possible by generous financial contributions from the following:
Mental Health America of South Carolina
Eli Lilly
NAMI Mid-Carolina
SC Protection and Advocacy
Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina
Three Rivers Behavioral Health
Pfizer
NAMI South Carolina
USC College of Social Work
SC SHARE
and
Special thanks for assistance in developing this exhibition to:
South Carolina State Museum
South Carolina Department of Mental Health
Historic Columbia Foundation
South Carolina Archives and History Center