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May 2013 Colin Lacey
In This Issue
Through the Looking Glass
A Bigger & Better Wellness and Recovery Center
Time for NAMIWalk!

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Upcoming Events
Open Eye Gallery Committee Meeting
Fri., May 3 
11:00 a.m.
At Arundel Lodge.
All are welcome. This month, we will be planning for our June show at the Pascal Gallery at Anne Arundel Community College. The show will be up throughout June; date of opening reception TBA.
Email Katerina Evans or call her at (443) 433-5914 with any questions.
 

"Through the Looking Glass: Reflections on Life with Mental Illness"
Wed., May 8
1:00-5:00 p.m. 
at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore.
Arundel Lodge presents this one-day show in partnership with Community Behavioral Health and On Our Own Affiliates.
Please email Katerina Evans or call her at (443) 433-5914 with any questions about this exciting event.
 
NAMI Family

Support Group
Thurs., May 9 
7:00-8:30 p.m.
at Arundel Lodge.
For more information, email NAMI Anne Arundel 

NAMIWalk

Sat., May 18
Rash Field, Inner Harbor,
Baltimore
Check-in at 10:00 a.m.
Walk starts at 11:00 a.m.
A two-mile walk to benefit NAMI Maryland. Walk with the Arundel Lodge team or contribute online to our team's fundraising effort! Please email LaShandra Oliver or call her at (443) 433-5934 if you'd like to walk with our team.

NAMI Family
Support Group
Thurs., May 23 
7:00-8:30 p.m.
at Arundel Lodge.
For more information, email NAMI Anne Arundel. 
  

Mental Health Links

Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency

NAMI Anne Arundel County 

 

On Our Own of Maryland 

 

SAMHSA 

Greetings! 

 

May is Mental Health Month! This month, we bring you news from two of Arundel Lodge's key local partners: On Our Own of Anne Arundel County and NAMI Anne Arundel County. On Our Own's Patrice O'Toole shares the many exciting changes that have happened there in the past year, from a new location to new services.

In her article this month, NAMI Anne Arundel President Rosamond Dove asks for your participation in this month's NAMIWalk in Baltimore. Arundel Lodge will be there--please email LaShandra Oliver or call her at (443) 433-5934 if you'd like to walk with us on May 18 or sponsor our team.

We also hope to see you at the American Visionary Art Museum on May 8 for a very exciting art show. All the details are below!

Through the Looking Glass:

American Visionary Art Museum Show on May 8 

 

Consumer artwork from across Maryland's mental health and peer support programs will be featured at Through the Looking Glass: Reflections on Life with Mental Illness. The free event, featuring over 150 pieces, will take place at the American Visionary Art Museum, on May 8, 2013, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.   

 

The Maryland mental health community has come together to orchestrate this hallmark exhibit devoted to showcasing the artwork of individuals in their recovery of mental illness. Dimitri Cavathas, co-chair of the Coalition for Mental Health Awareness, says, "The creativity presented in this exhibit contributes to the public's awareness and will hopefully help to break down stigma surrounding mental illness."

One in five people are living with mental illness and art therapy has been proven to be very effective in a person's treatment plan. This exhibit demonstrates that people with mental illness have something to contribute to society--just like everyone one. They are creative, thoughtful members of our community and benefit from the opportunity for self-expression.

 

The exhibit will include a display of artwork, discussions with the artists, recognition of the creative talents of Rebecca Hoffberger, the American Visionary Art Museum's founder and director, and the Children's Mental Health Matters! Campaign poster reception.

 

The event is sponsored by Terrapin Pharmacy, the Mental Health Association of Maryland, and Alliance, Inc, with support from Arundel Lodge, Baltimore Mental Health Systems, Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland, Go-Getters, Inc., Harford-Belair CMHC, Inc., Humanim, Inc., Locum Tenums.com, Maryland Association of Core Service Agencies, Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health, Mosaic Community Services, Inc., NAMI Maryland, On Our Own of Maryland, People Encouraging People, St. Luke's House - Threshhold Services United, Therapeutic Living for Families, Way Station, Inc, and ValueOptions.

 

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A Bigger & Better Wellness and Recovery Center

at On Our Own of Anne Arundel County

by Patrice O'Toole 

   

Greetings from On Our Own of Anne Arundel County's Wellness and Recovery Center! This time last year we were experiencing a lot of changes in our services, staffing, and location. We are pleased to announce a successful transition in each of these areas. As part of the local effort to integrate services, On Our Own of Anne Arundel County now serves both mental health consumers and those challenged by a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder: that is, persons with both a chemical/alcohol addiction and a mental illness.

 

A new staff member, peer support addictions specialist Brian DeGraw, will specifically provide peer support to people dealing with a co-occurring disorder. Brian has easily fit in and has been enthusiastically welcomed by our family of supportive peers. Brian leads the bi-weekly Dual-Diagnosis meetings with a passionate and engaging energy. Brian is an avid sailor and has promised to host a sailing trip for our staff and consumers this summer.

 

Entrance to On Our Own's new Wellness and Recovery Center

As mentioned above, the center's location has changed, although it isn't far from the previous site. Our new address is 132 Holiday Court, Suite 210, Annapolis, MD 21401. The new center is much larger, with a spacious front area for support groups, a computer lab, and a smaller meeting room designated for individual peer support sessions. Future plans include opening a small thrift store, "Quin's Closet," which will be dedicated to one of On Our Own's greatest supporters and co-founders, Jane Quin. Jane, who died suddenly last August, has been dearly missed, but her enthusiasm, ideas, and great sense of hope still carry on.

 

Throughout all the changes On Our Own of Anne Arundel County has experienced during the last year, however, our mission has remained the same. On Our Own provides a safe and comfortable place for consumers and offers one-on-one peer support and assistance in moving forward in recovery. We advocate for the rights of those living with mental illness and addiction. We hold weekly support group meetings that encourage consumers to talk in a group setting about recovery-related topics.

 

Celebrating Easter at On Our Own
Patrice, Angela, Suzanne, and Maura during Easter crafts day

We believe it helps consumers to make connections with others experiencing similar problems and to see that they are not alone in their recovery process. We continue our tradition of sponsoring educational workshops and weekly social activities, such as crafts, nature walks, and pizza and movie nights. We often take trips outside the center for bowling, attending movies, thrift store shopping, occasional visits to art museums, and other special events. Our WRAP (Wellness and Recovery Action Plan) group, held every Wednesday afternoon, provides support in helping to manage and organize uncomfortable and distressing symptoms. We offer a variety of assistance to consumers, including finding housing, job hunting, locating medical providers, locating treatment programs, and any other support needed. We have a computer lab and offer a weekly basic computing class for beginners. The lab also offers more opportunities to help consumers write resumes and complete online job applications.

 

As many of you probably know, May is "Mental Health Month," and the Wellness and Recovery Center is celebrating in a variety of ways. On Our Own has scheduled some special activities, such as a trip to the Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore to see "Through the Looking Glass: Reflections on Life with Mental Illness" (also featured in this newsletter). Staff member Sarah Rondeau, a peer support specialist and WRAP facilitator, has entered her art work, which will be displayed as part of the exhibit. In addition, we are holding a 'Celebrate Recovery Dinner' sponsored by the center's bi-monthly "Wise-Women Group". A special thanks goes to Maria Violette, Susie Forman, Alex Pantelides, and Sheryl Perez for their organizing efforts. An outing to see an Orioles baseball game is scheduled, and later in the month, a hot dog and karaoke contest is planned.

 

For more information, or to sign up for any of these or other activities, please call 410-224-0116. We at On Our Own continue our efforts to serve the recovery community and are always happy to hear from you! From Patrice O'Toole, Sarah Rondeau, Brian DeGraw, and Billy Weddingtion, we wish everyone another successful year in recovery.

 

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Time for NAMIWalk!

A message from
Rosamond Dove, President, NAMI Anne Arundel County:

 

NAMIWalk 2012

We hope everyone is excited about the NAMIWalk on May 18 at the Inner Harbor! Registration begins at 10:00! We count on the support of each and every person to make this day a success! You can come and walk, or you can come and cheer the walkers on! Our strength is in numbers, so your presence means the world to everyone that is affected directly or indirectly by mental illness....and that would be everyone that we all know.

  

Our goal this year is to have over 100 "walkers" from Anne Arundel County. Please do your (very important part) to help us reach our goal. Each person counts... I look forward to seeing you at the Inner Harbor. I know we will have a spectacular showing and a wonderful day! See you then...

  

********************* 

 

Please visit the NAMIWalks page of LaShandra Oliver, Arundel Lodge Community Day Program Manager, to sponsor the Arundel Lodge team. And please join us at the NAMIWalk in Baltimore on Saturday, May 18. You can register for the Walk via LaShandra's page or let her know by email or by phone (443-433-5934) that you'll be joining us.   


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