• Thursday, March 23, Southeast Area Citizens Legislative Breakfast
  (Great Hall/State House)   
• Wednesday, March 29, Northeast Area Citizens Legislative Breakfast
  (Great Hall/State House)   
• Friday, March 31, Western Mass Area Citizens Legislative Breakfast
  (Springfield Technical Community College, Scibelli Hall)   
• Friday, April 7, Central Mass Area Citizens Legislative Breakfast
  (Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital, Large Conf. Room, K2-A2)

Women in Mental Health History

In honor of Women's History Month, we are highlighting a few women in history who through their work, advocacy, and /or their own lived experience, have impacted the way we treat and view mental illness.

 

During the 19^th century, local Massachusetts activist Dorothea Dix observed that people with mental illnesses were caged, incarcerated without clothes in the most inhumane conditions. Dix dedicated 40 years lobbying to establish dozens of psychiatric hospitals across the United States and in Europe.

 

Another Massachusetts native Patricia Goldman-Rakic was a neuroscientist who was credited with having detailed the structure and function of the brain's frontal lobe. Through her work, scientists were better able to understand the neurological basis of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. Her pioneering studies in the 1970s demonstrated that a loss of dopamine leads to severe disruptions in working memory, and laid the groundwork for understanding a range of mental illnesses and treatments for them.

 

Marsha M. Linehan, Ph.D. is a psychologist, author, and the creator of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). After her own personal struggles with mental illness, Linehan developed DBT as a treatment for suicidal behaviors and, later borderline personality disorder and other complex mental disorders. DBT combines behavioral science with Zen concepts like acceptance and mindfulness. The therapy model was recognized as an evidence-based practice by SAMHSA .

 

Mary Elen Copeland, Ph.D. is an author, educator, mental health advocate, and an individual with a lived experience who developed the evidence-based practice Wellness Action Recovery Plan (WRAP). In 1977, she began sharing WRAP with others who, like herself, are on their journeys to recovery from mental illness. WRAP has been used ever since in recovery programs around the world, including DMH

 

Today's celebrity women have used their fame to help eliminate the stigma that is often associated with having a mental illness. Glenn Close worked on an educational campaign, "Bring Change 2 Mind," which assisted in increasing mental health awareness across the United States. While Close worked as a political lobbyist on behalf of people living with serious mental illness, she gave a voice to those who feel stigmatized.

Model, television host, and new mom Chrissy Teigen has been reducing stigma around Postpartum Depression, sharing her personal struggle after the birth of her daughter last year. She wrote an essay published in the March 2017 issue of Glamour Magazine, and has posted freely on Twitter to her more than 4.5 million followers.

Also vocal about their own recovery from mental illness, Kristen Bell, Halle Berry, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lewis, Demi Lovato, and the late Carrie Fisher have become positive role models, shedding light on the fact that mental health issues can affect anyone. Demi Lovato has become a mentor to teens and young adults with mental health challenges and mental illness.

 

EOHHS Secretary Sudders and DMH Commissioner Joan Mikula are among the many brilliant and compassionate women are leading the way in shaping mental health policy, research, and advocacy. We appreciate the contributions made thus far, and look forward to the next generation of women leaders in the mental health community.

Challenge yourself to eat fruits and veggies that start with a different letter of the alphabet each day in March during National Nutrition Month!  Participate March 1st - 31st

• Download the Eat the Alphabet tracker and idea list.
• Use the idea list of fruits and vegetables to eat for each letter.
• Record your progress on your tracker
• *Earn points on the WellMASS Portal https://wellmass.staywell.com
• Complete and submit 23 out of 31 days to be entered into a raffle for one of 30 fruit baskets from The Fruit Guys.
• Submit your tracker - send your Wellness your completed tracker via paper copy, or scan and email on Monday April 3.
  SOUTHEAST - Kimberly Anderson   [email protected]
  METRO BOSTON - Catherine Andrews [email protected]
  NORTHEAST - Christina Baroni              [email protected]
  WESTERN MASS - Resa Brandfonbrener [email protected]
  SOUTHEAST - Valerie Comerford        [email protected]
  CENTRAL OFFICE - Michelle Cormier  [email protected]

This challenge is open to all agency employees, temps, and contract workers.
 
*WellMASS-eligible employees will earn points for completing the Eat the Alphabet challenge. For information on eligibility, visit www.mass.gov/gic/wellmass


WellMASS is holding a healthy recipe contest to celebrate National Nutrition Month!

• Create an original healthy recipe or modify one from an existing source.
• All recipes must include at least one fruit or vegetable.
• Email your recipe in the form of a Word document to [email protected] by March 31st with the subject line "Eat the Alphabet Recipe Contest".
• All recipes that meet contest criteria will be published in an eBook, which will be made available to all participants who complete the Eat the Alphabet challenge.
• WellMASS staff and Wellness Champions will select one winning recipe based on nutritional value, originality, skill level, and taste.
• The author of the winning recipe will receive a deluxe gym bag full of kitchen goodies.

A reminder that the Health Questionnaire (HQ)is still open until June 30, 2017.  The HQ $40 gift card incentive ended on January 31, 2017, but participants will still earn points for completing the HQ and other targeted activities for the remaining FitBit raffles.

Take the HQ at https://wellmass.staywell.com.