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IN THE NEWSBordeline Personality and BiPolar: What'sthe Difference?

It Shouldn't Take a Crisis to AddressMental Illness. There is a Better Way.

Hill Day 2017

1-July-2017Dear NAMI Family and Friends,

Happy July everyone. This month we celebrate the start of our 21st year of volunteerismin El Dorado County! We are delighted to announce that we launched our new website: www.namieldoradocounty.org and encourage everyone to bookmark this and add to yourpersonal social media pages.

We also celebrated "Healthy Communities week" the first week of June which celebratesthe work and efforts of health professionals working hard to improve our community'shealth. Dr. Clint Purvance, CEO of Barton Health summarized improvements made inSLT these past 2+ years thanking all those that collaborated towards incrementalimprovements.

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What NOT to say with Someone withDepression

LARKR: New Tahoe Startup to Launch on-line therapy app acrossAmerica

7 Films about Depression

Heartfelt Gratitude

Important Information for Families Mental Health Kiosks - new locations

Grievance Forms Psychosis ToolkitStigmaFree Toolkit Language Matters: TipsCrisis LineLegal Services at no costIHHSDisability Benefit Info

Local News & Discoveries

Mallory 24-hour Crisis Unit

Mental Illness vs Mental Health: TheGreat Debate about Where and When toInvest Rages On.

Genetics and family history: do youknow your family history of Serious MentalIllness and Addiction?

Long-lasting Injectables - Success

Law Enforcement - t hank youSafeguarding Officer MH

Select "Key Takeaways" from MentalHealth Commission meeting

Local Mental Health Events

Brain Research & Scientific Discoveries

TMS could help improve BiPolar

Brain Activity Patterns Could Help IdentifyBest Treatment for Patients with MajorDepression

Teens and young-adults urged to waitbefore before using cannabis Psycho-Education is Core to Recovery:BookList

PsychU.org - new forums

NAMI El Dorado County: Warmlines

El Dorado County ranked 9th healthiest county in California in 2016. Health and HumanServices Agency Director, Patricia Charles-Heathers presented a plan to the BOS on 6-June that addresses and supports inter-agency collaboration on creating healthycommunities. The hour and a half presentation by multiple agencies was warmlyreceived by the Board of Supervisors for the positive direction in addressing manychallenges in our county that impact our health, including medical, social, and behavioralhealth. This is a huge project that will allow our community leadership to see anexpanded picture of the complexities, layers, duplication, and gaps that exist within oursystems of health care affecting seniors, children, and adults. Our hope is this plan willdefine what we believe a "Healthy Community" should be and provide a blueprint for thefuture.

Your NAMI affiliate continues to work hard and expand a pool of passionate volunteersworking to raise awareness and specifically working to close gaps across all systems ofcare in our county. We welcome your ideas, skills, and expertise!

Thank you to all of those working hard each and every day to make our community thehealthiest community to live, work, volunteer, learn, and play.

On behalf of our entire board of directors, instructors, and volunteers - thank you.

Sincerely,

Jan Melnicoe President NAMI El Dorado County

IN THE NEWS

Borderline Personality Disorder and BipolarDisorder: What's the Difference?By Ken Duckworth, M.D. | Jun. 12, 2017 Getting therightdiagnosisoften isn'teasy

for psychiatric conditions. In our field, we don't yet have biologic tests that can easilydefine one condition from another. If your blood pressure is 140 over 90, you havehypertension or high blood pressure. In mental health, we have to rely on a description ofpatterns or symptoms to makes diagnoses. This model is fraught with challenges.Without a clear biological model to work from, and given the complexity of the humanbrain, the field has settled upon dividing these descriptions of symptoms into syndromes.The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM) holds these symptomdescriptions in order to help professionals make reliable and consistent diagnoses. Thismeans a social worker in Detroit should make the same diagnosis as a psychiatrist inBoston and a psychologist in Santa Fe.However, the diagnostic process is more complex than just reading symptoms in a DSM.Here are a few thoughts on what I have observed in making diagnoses:

Diagnosis is best viewed as a movie, not a snapshot. In a snapshot, peoplewith different diagnoses can appear to have similar symptoms. The key is to stepback and develop a view of their history and the pattern of symptoms.People may present different symptoms over time, which can change theirdiagnosis. A person who has a depressive disorder, for example, could have amanic episode a year later. This would change that person's diagnosis to bipolar

NAMI Family Support Group Meetings

NAMI Programs in El Dorado County

Where To Find HelpFirst Episode Psychosis Program in SouthLake Tahoe

Latino Community Members: Detener elestigma con la ciencia

Tax Deductable DonationJoin NAMI El Dorado County: membershipInterested in Volunteering?

NAMI El Dorado County: Board of Director'sMeeting

OutreachAMAZON SMILEFind us on Facebook: NAMI El Dorado County

NAMINAMI is the nation's most formidable grassrootsmental health advocacy organization in thecountry. Dedication, steadfast commitment andunceasing belief in the NAMI mission haveproduced profound changes. NAMI has beenthe driving force behind a national investment inlifesaving research, parity for mental healthcare, and increased housing, treatments andservices that are available to those in needwhen they need them the most.

NAMI was founded on the Eastern US in 1979by parents of adult children living withschizophrenia. In 1974 Eva Oliphant with asmall circle of San Mateo and Oakland parentswere exasperated with the hostility directed attheir sons and the profound ignorance ofhospitals. They began meeting around theirkitchen tables to plan a coordinated response. In October of 1977 Eve Oliphant and otherscreated "Parents of Adult Schizophrenics." Ata 1979 meeting in Madison, Wisconsin familiesfrom the East Coast and Parents of AdultSchizophrenics formally unified as "NationalAlliance on Mental Illness" and Eve Oliphantbecame the organization's star and mostpersistent advocate - sort of like a 20th century"Dorothea Dix" according to "No One CaresAbout Crazy People" author Ron Powers(published in 2017.)

NAMI El Dorado County is proud to be 100%volunteer.

This is an interesting historical video on thefounding of one of the original NAMI affiliates. Note that NAMI El Dorado County celebrated

disorder. The original diagnosis wasn't a misdiagnosis-rather the movie changed itsstoryline and the diagnosis needed to change as well.It's common to have more than one diagnosis. For many people, there may notbe one simple diagnosis. For example, people can have both bipolar disorder and asubstance use disorder diagnoses.Medical problems or medications can influence or even mimic symptoms.Hypothyroidism presents with almost all symptoms of depression for example, andsteroids can add risk for mood symptoms.Get informed. Patients who know their symptoms can help in the search for adiagnosis. People have brought write-ups to their appointment as they search foranswers, and I have referred some people to the DSM-5 so they can evaluate theirexperience.

Let's focus on the sometimes-confused conditions of Bipolar Disorder and BorderlinePersonality Disorder ( BPD). In a snapshot, they can look similar-both can present withimpulsive behavior, intense emotions and suicidal thinking. But this snapshot is not thebest way to tell them apart. It's really the movie of the symptom presentation over timethat can help make the diagnosis distinct.Classic Bipolar Disorder Type 1 is easier to differentiate from BPD than Bipolar 2. Truemanic symptoms (often with hallucinations) are the hallmark of Type 1 and thesesymptoms are not seen in the same way in BPD. Bipolar Type 2 is a more challengingdiagnosis to differentiate from BPD, because the classic manic episode is absent. So, onthe surface, it can appear more like BPD. Here are a few ways to help tell the differencebetween bipolar and BPD:

How Often Do Moods Change?

People with Bipolar Type 1 have cycles that switch from a depressive state to a manicstate. Manic symptoms sometimes include flashes of deep depression within the manicepisode (called rapid cycling). Between cycles, people often have periods of truesymptom-free wellness. This period of wellness can last weeks, months or yearsdepending on the person. People diagnosed with BPD typically have more persistentday-to-day emotional symptoms which can impact everyday life. BPD mood changes aremore persistent, short-lived and reactive to environmental factors, like stress at work orhome.

Is Sleep Normal?

Sleep changes are often an early indicator of a bipolar disorder. During a bipolar episode,a person might be awake for days and not experience fatigue or they may sleep for days.Meanwhile, sleep patterns are less commonly impacted in BPD.

Is There a Family History?

Mood disorders, like bipolar disorder and depression, run in families, but aren't directlypassed on through a single, specific gene. A family history of mood disorders increasesthe chances of mood disorders appearing in relatives.

Are Relationships Often Unstable?

Intense relationships often fraught with conflict are the hallmark of borderline personalitydisorder. People with BPD often have intense relationship histories, and many of theirexperiences with emotional dysregulation (intense reactions and variabilities) are inresponse to relationship interactions.

Is Self-Harm a Symptom?

Self-harm such as cutting one's skin is more common in BPD and is thought to be a wayto help with emotional regulation. "I'm not suicidal, I was just trying to change my feelingsby cutting," I've been told by individuals with BPD. In fact, 75% of individuals with BPDhave cut, burned, hit or injured themselves.Diagnosing a mental illness isn't like diagnosing some physical illnesses-it takes a lot ofobservation and understanding to find the right diagnosis. If your diagnosis doesn't feelright or isn't clear, it's best to talk to your clinician. Ask about your diagnosis andtreatment plan and be engaged in the diagnostic process. If you and your practitioneraren't sure, ask for a second opinion. It's okay not to be sure, and it's smart to keeplearning.Both BPD and bipolar have good treatment options, but they are very different options, soputting time into getting a correct diagnosis is essential. These are serious healthconditions that need individualized support and care in order to optimize recovery. Ken Duckworth is medical director at NAMI.- See more at: https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/June-2017/Borderline-Personality-Disorder-and-Bipolar-Disord#sthash.jHTkHjx8.dpuf

our 20th year of volunteerism in 2016.

Parents helped launch NAMI video

NAMI El Dorado County provides 3 Warm-lines:Non-judgemental support to members of thecommunity that need education, support oradvocacy by volunteer NAMI El Dorado Countyleaders who share their time and passion forhelping others.

WS: NAMI El Dorado County Warm-line: (530) 306-7710

SLT: NAMI El Dorado County Warm-line: 650-740-5776

Spanish Warm-line in SLT: 775-407-0306. www.sanamente.org and La Salud Mental En La Comunidad Latina

Partners in California: on-line resources fromEachMindMatters.org

Find help in a crisis orText "NAMI" to 741741

Heartfelt Gratitude for CommunitySupport

Thank You Community Leaders

Thank you to CHP OfficerRuth Loehr for organizingCIT Training for thegeneral public. And thankyou warm-room volunteersfrom Tahoe Coalition forthe Homeless for attending!

Sgt. Yarbrough, CITLeader in SLT and theMulti-Disciplinary-Teamfor working proactivelyand collaboratively to helpindividuals andfamilies...specifically for going the extra mile inleveraging AB-1424 last month and always.

Thank you to Dr. Pervance, Barton CEO for your on-going commitment to HealthyCommunity with special focus on facilitatingimproved Mental Health services/supports.

It Shouldn't Take a Crisis to Address Mental Illness. There is aBetter Way. - Special report in Sacramento Bee. 15-Jun-2017

It shouldn't take a crisis to address mentalillness. There's a better way.

BY DARRELL STEINBERG AND DR. CAMERON S. CARTERSpecial to The Bee

As you gather with children this Father's Day weekend, consider how faryou would go to ensure their well-being: If your child had cancer ordiabetes, would you wait until the disease were critical before you calleddoctors to intervene?

Read full story here

Hill Day 2017Members of NAMI El Dorado County participated in NAMI's annual "Hill Day 2017" inWashington D.C. Personal advocacy with our government's leaders is one reason why NAMIcontinues to be our nation's most powerful influence for improved mental health policy. Theyalso enjoyed a terrific lineup of speakers sharing best practices in services and supports.

NAMI El Dorado County members advocate for "insurance reform" - why should familymembers waste hundreds of hours of our life interfacing with insurance company's and theirweak operations - simply to get medication on-time to our loved ones?. Where is the governance of insurance company's weak performance? Caregivers alreadyspend more than 30 hours per week caring for our loved ones? Why must we also spenddozens of hours per week with insurance providers just to get them to do their job effectively?Similarly, why should our precious few psychiatrists and their staff waste hundreds of hoursevery month doing the same? This is the message we brought to Congress on Thursday 29-Jun-2017 in Washington D.C. along with NAMI's 2017 policy priorities outlined below.

What is Hill Day?NAMI's Hill Day is an opportunity to stand together and speak up about the issuesthat are important to us. Together we ask Congress to take action to supportpeople with mental illness and their families. Our story is important and our passionencourages change. NAMI's 2017 policy priorities:

Thank you NAMI Peer leaders/mentors forsharing your stories in our community. Togetherwe are making a difference.

LOVE YOUR BRAIN LOVE MENTAL HEALTH

NAMI Family Support Group Meetings - 3 inEl Dorado County: These are designed for family members and/orcaregivers/friends supporting a loved one livingwith a mental health condition. The groupprovides a safe supportive environment wherefamily members and caregivers can talk franklyabout their challenges and help one anotherthrough group wisdom. These groups provideempathetic support for those dealing with crisisand the emotional overload that is so much apart of having someone you love living with amental illness. You can come, share or justlisten, get useful practical information or a hugfrom others who understand. This group is forfamilies and friend's of those living with a mentalhealth condition. No cost to attend.

South Lake Tahoe: NAMI Family SupportGroup: meets the second Tuesday monthlyfrom 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.Location: South Lake Tahoe Library located at1000 Rufus Allen Road Group co-facilitators: Alan and Jeanne(650)-740-5776 - f2fNAMI@gmail.comRemaining 2017 dates: 13-Jun, 11-Jul, 15-Aug,12-Sep, 10-Oct, 14-Nov, 12-Dec

Western Slope: NAMI Family Support group:meets the first Tuesday monthly at 7:00 p.m.Location: is The County Governmment Center,

Health Reform and Mental IllnessFunding for Mental HealthDecriminalizing Mental IllnessMilitary Service Members and Veterans Mental HealthEarly Intervention for PsychosisMental Health Research and InnovationMental Health Caregiver Support

Download- See more at: https://www.nami.org/hillday#sthash.N0rgCCeI.dpuf

New Tahoe Start-up Launching On-Demand Therapy AppNew Tahoe Startup Launching On-Demand Therapy AppAn exciting new company called LARKR , based right here inEl Dorado county, is poised to revolutionize how mentalhealth therapy is accessed across America by breaking downthe barriers that inhibit care.Through its innovative smartphone app, LARKR providesreal-time access to certified therapists via video chat foranyone with an internet connection. This private andconvenient platform is ideal for people on-the-go, and offersaffordable prices per session.All of LARKR's mental health care professionals are certifiedto practice in the states they serve and specialize in the issueat hand to provide clients with the best care possible.LARKR even offers unique features that go beyond in-officetherapy, like facilitating multi-user sessions from differentlocations, which is highly convenient for couples' therapy orparent-child sessions.Launching later this month, LARKR will be available for iOSand is coming soon to Android. For more information, visit http://larkr.com/.

Local Therapy App Onboarding Thousands TherapistsLake Tahoe-based LARKR , a groundbreaking new mentalhealth app providing on-demand video chat therapy, isseeking thousands of certified therapists to join itsnationwide network.LARKR believes that no one in need should go without mental health care due to lack ofaccess, so the app's simple model breaks down inhibiting barriers by connecting providers andclients from across the nation in a convenient and affordable online platform.With LARKR, therapists not only have the opportunity to impact a greater number of patients,but they can focus on their passion and talent for helping others rather than administrativetasks. LARKR has no overhead costs for the therapists, streamlined processes, and acompetitive earning rate per session, making it an easy and rewarding way for therapists tosupplement their traditional practices.LARKR launches later this month, but is actively taking inquiries from licensed mental healthprofessionals interested in joining the network. To begin the application process, contactLARKR at http://larkr.com/#contact.

What Not to Say to Someone With DepressionMajor Depressive Disorder is the most common mental health condition. It is a brain disorderwhere often medication is a key ingredient in maintaining recovery and fee lings of wellness. Itis merely an improper amount of neurotransmitters in our brain!

Medication helps many of us including myself and many friends! We need leaders championingbrain science and not just asking people to work harder purely on their diet/exercise. Enjoythis insightful article that appeared just a few weeks ago in HopetoCope.com.

330 Fair Lane, Conference room C, Placerville Group facilitator: Jan MelnicoeRemaining 2017 dates: 06-Jun, Holiday,Nogroup, 01-Aug, 05-Sep, 03-Oct, 07-Nov, 05-Dec

El Dorado Hills: NAMI Family Support Group Location: EDH Raleys Event Center, 3935 ParkDr., El Dorado Hills from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Remaining 2017 dates: 19-Jun, 17-Jul, 21-Aug,18-Sep, 16-Oct, 20-Nov, 18-DecGroup co-Facilitators: Jannell Clanton (530)333-5803 nell.clanton@yahoo.com andLauraleen Patterson (916) 955-1666lauraleenpatterson@hotmail.com

Psychosis Toolkit

Psychosis Toolkit - Available Now! How totransform emerging psychosis

In the course ofour work atNAMI, we seeall too muchheartbreakwhen peoplewith emergingpsychosis don't get the servicesthey need. It doesn't have to be thisway!

Congress now requires states toset aside 10% of their block grantfor the proven array of FirstEpisode Psychosis (FEP)services. But mere allocation offederal dollars won't fulfill the visionin which EVERY young person inneed can get these life changingservices. We must all advocate effectively forhigh quality FEP service delivery. Do you know what a good FEPservice looks like? Teachers/Coaches/Counselors/Mental-health-advocates/Parents/Caregivers -- we must alllearn what a "quality" FEP programlooks like. In South Lake Tahoe itis important to know where toobtain high quality services andsupports. FEP (First Episode Psychosis) isthe wave of the future, changing thecourse of young lives. Psychosis Tip sheets:

1. For youth and youngadults: Early Psychosis:What's Going on and WhatCan You Do?2. For families and otherstakeholders: What is Earlyand First-EpisodePsychosis?3. For school staff andcoaches: Early Intervention:Tips for School Staff andCoaches4. Forfamilies: EncouragingPeople to Seek Help forEarly Psychosis

What NOT to Say to Someone With Depression

Talking about mental health can be a touchy subject, so KelleyBaker gave us some guidelines for how to approach it.

http://www.hopetocope.com/what-not-to-say-to-someone-with-depression/

7 Documentaries about Depression to Check Out

7 Documentaries About Depression To Check Out

These filmmakers shine a cinematic light on depression and lift thecurtain on stigma:

http://www.hopetocope.com/7-documentaries-about-depression-to-check-out

Important Information for Families

Community Mental Health Kiosks:

Marshall Hospital Emergency Dept. Kiosk with Jan Melnicoe of NAMI El Dorado,Angelina Larrigan, HHSA, and Larry Schmidt, Director of Emergency Dept.

***************************************************************************************************** 5 West Slope "Mental Health Resource" Kiosks have been placed at the followinglocations: - Folsom Lake College (El Dorado Center - Student Services - Green Valley Rd. )- El Dorado County Library (Cameron Park - Country Club Dr.) - Marshall Emergency Department (1100 Marshall Way, Placerville)- Georgetown Divide Wellness (2 kiosks) (6065 California 193, Georgetown)- Shingle Springs Tribal Health ( 5168 Honpie, Shingle Springs) These West Slope kiosks were made possible through a grant from the El Dorado Community Foundation and NAMI El Dorado County. Thank you!***************************************************************************************************** 6 South Lake Tahoe "Mental Health Resource" Kiosks at the following locations: - El Dorado County Library (1000 Rufus Allen Road)- Lake Tahoe Community College (next to college bookstore)- Barton Emergency Room (2170 South Ave)- Barton TeleMedicine Psychiatry (2209 South Ave)- Barton Community Health Center (2201 South Ave)- El Dorado County Probation/Sheriff (1360 Johnson Blvd) Volunteers from NAMI El Dorado County and the Barton Foundation work to replenishthese valuable South Lake Tahoe resources regularly. Over 3500 brochures have been provided to the community in South Lake Tahoe sincethe kiosks were established in May, 2016.

Local resources for FirstEpisode Programs include UC Davis Medical CenterEDAPT Clinic inSacramento. Click here EDAPT Clinic for informationon eligibility, referrals, andassessment information. El Dorado County MentalHealth also has a limitedFirst Episode Psychosisprogram funded by a grantand OPEN TO THE PUBLIC(not just Medi-Calindividuals) running on bothslopes.

TAX DEDUCTABLE DONATIONS:

If you are one of the over 500 people whocalled, attended, or participated in a NAMI ElDorado County program this year, you arefamiliar with with how much it helps to know youare not alone. Please consider providing a tax-deductable donation to help us continue thisimportant work in our community.

Your Donations Are Needed and GreatlyAppreciated! Every dollar donated goes directly to oureducation, support, and advocacy efforts. We are 100% voluntary non-profitand are comprised of individuals and familieswith lived experience - working hard every dayto crush stigma and improve services andsupports in El Dorado County. Your donations; volunteer time, items, or moneyare appreciated and used in our community tobenefit and improve the lives of families andindividuals living with mental illness.

Let us know if you would like to make a specialdonation "in memory of" or "in honorof" someone special or "in support of ourvolunteerism in the community".

Please add a note to your check (or emailF2FNAMI@gmail.com after using PayPal) NAMI El Dorado County covers the WesternSlope and South Lake Tahoe - we are oneaffiliate.

Donations by check:Please make checks payable to:

"NAMI El Dorado County", PO Box 393, El Dorado, CA 95623

Donations on-line via PayPal:

Stigma-Free Toolkit - Available Now! Is your non-profit or place of employment"Stigma-Free?"

Attention NON-PROFITS and FOR-PROFIT-BUSINESSES:

Mental health conditions can have a hugeimpact on companies, from decreased

These South Lake Tahoe Mental Health Kiosks were made possible through agrant from the Barton Foundation. Strong collaboration with local providerskeep resources at the finger-tips of our community. Thank you!

Thank you Marsha for your on-going volunteerism indesigning the kiosks, maintaining inventories andreporting utilization. Thank you community providers ofservices/supports for proactive collaboration in makingthese kiosks an on-going success.

***************************************************************************************************** Please share this important opportunity with your networks!

Public Input Sought on Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System(DMC-ODS)Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L7K8762

One in ten Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal suffers from substance use disorder. In thepast, only a small fraction of those who need substance treatment have been able to getit, because of limited funding and restrictions on who and what Medi-Cal would cover. Inaddition, people who have drug and alcohol problems often have other health problems.There is growing recognition that effective drug and alcohol treatment requires morecoordinated and integrated care overall.

In 2015, California became the first state to receive federal permission to improve andexpand reimbursement for substance use treatment and recovery for Medicaid patients.That move opened the door for counties to submit plans to make more and better-

productivity to lowered morale. Companies thatjoin with NAMI in being stigma-free can begin toreverse this.

A Stigmafree Company is one that makesstigmafree culture a priority and shows that itvalues employees' overall health, includingemotional well-being and physical health. Beingstigmafree creates the foundation for a cultureof openness, acceptance, understanding andcompassion.

Take the pledge; sign-up and get the freetoolkit.See more at: http://www.nami.org/stigmafreeco

Membership in NAMI hasbenefits! Don't miss out on the excellentpublications, NAMI AdvocateMagazine (3 times per year) and theVoice newsletter, as well as onlineaccess to informative and thoughtfularticles and blogs. You will alsohave the option to receive advocacy

alerts where you can advocate with your legislaturewith a single click. Memberships can be made or renewed online: www.nami.org (select NAMI El Dorado CountyWestern Slope and South Lake Tahoe when you applyfor membership.)

Or, by mail to NAMI El Dorado County, P.O. Box 393, El Dorado,CA 95623.

Household Membership $60 (new); RegularMembership $40; Open Door Membership $5

NOTE: If you live in bordering Nevada addresses suchas Zephyr Cove or Stateline, NV or any areas outsideof El Dorado County including any other states withloved ones or caregivers and you wish to join thisaffiliate - we welcome you.When joining on-line system you will need to use a pull-down menu to select CA then find "NAMI El DoradoCounty."

Interested in Volunteering? Use your personal passion to give back. We are looking for individuals with an interestand skills in teaching, fundraising,organizational management, grant search andwriting, and support group facilitation.

Giving back and helping others is not only a giftbut an opportunity for personal growth and,let's face it, a chance to feel good. Call Jan on the Western Slope at 530-306-7710

Call Jeanne in South Lake Tahoe at 650-740-5776.

integrated care available to Medi-Cal patients locally through "Drug Medi-Cal pilots." Thepilots in participating counties will run through 2020 and will be evaluated to see whetherand how they work to improve people's access to care and health outcomes. With Medi-Cal now covering a third of the state population, the new treatment programs have anopportunity to reach more people than ever.

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors has given approval for the County todevelop a Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) implementation planand to work with the State and local providers to expand treatment services.Communityinput is important for the County to create a plan that meets the community's needs.Community members can provide input via online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L7K8762 or by email to EDCODS@edcgov.us . Thedeadline to provide input is July 11, 2017.

For questions or more information, please contact Salina Drennan, Supervising HealthEducation Coordinator with the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency,Alcohol and Drug Programs, at (530) 621-6207. Additional information about the DMC-ODS pilot program can be found at: http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/provgovpart/Documents/DMC_ODS_Pilot_FAQ_7.13.16.pdf Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L7K8762

Grievance FormsWe encourage family's and/or our loved ones to file acomplaints / grievances. This is how operations improve!Change is only possible with awareness. Let your voicesbe heard.

Have you done all that you can do to help improve theoperation's of mental health services/supports? Filing asimple complaint/grievance suggesting improvementshelps improve our community's mental health services/supports as a whole!

40% Fewer Re-Admission Rates when access to medical records provided Some research has been published indicating that patients that are given their fullmedical records after release from an in-patient stay have 40% fewer re-admission rates within the first month.

If your in-patient hospital or provider is refusing to provide your medical records then it isappropriate to file a grievance with the State of California and with the provider. Makesure you also contact your insurance provider to let them know this provider/hospital isnot cooperating. You may also request a meeting with the attending psychiatrist and/orpatient right's advocate.

If you have completed the necessary forms requesting medical records and have beenturned down - we encourage you to file a grievance first with the provider...and thenwith the State of California if the provider's grievance process did not address yourcomplaint.

Every hospital or provider has their own complaint/grievance form (they are notstandard across providers or agencies.)

TeleCare's PHF in Placerville has complaint/grievance forms within their in-patienthospital.

PHF Placerville Grievance Form

PHF Placerville - Release of Confidentiality Form

El Dorado County Behavioral Health Grievance Forms are available on their mainwebsite here (and available in the Wellness Centers both on the WS and SLT.)

TeleCare Corporation now has a generic on-line grievance form based on our localadvocacy. The PHF in Placerville has hired a new manager, Jeff Symon:jsymon@telecarecorp.com 530-748-4700. El Dorado County Behavioral Health has a new client-advocate: Danielle: patientrightsadvocate @edcgov.us

What Should I Do If I Have A Complaint About a Hospital (which was not addressedby the provider's grievance process)? File Grievance with California

NAMI El Dorado County Board of Directors MeetingFirst Tuesday every other month 5:30 p.m.: Aug 1; Oct 3; Dec 5, 2017.

County Government Center, Conf. Rm. C. This meeting is open to the public.

In Need of a Crisis Line?If you or your child needs information,resources or someone to talk to duringdifficult times, make a call or send a text to:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:1-800-273-8225NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-NAMI (6264)or email info@nami.org Crisis Text Line: Text NAMI to 741-741

Language Matters: Tips from Dr. Amador Do NOT Say:

My loved one refuses to acknowledge he'smentally illDenies he's mentally illWon't admitDoesn't admit....Refuses to admit...(this is the worstoffender)

This all reflects our loved ones have a choicethat they are ill. We would never say "our lovedones won't admit they are hallucinating." Do Say:

My loved one cannot comprehend he ismentally illIs unaware he is mentally illUnable to see or understand he's ...Has anosognosia for his mental illness(which is an actual symptom in the DSMV)

Local News and Discoveries

Mallory 24-hour Crisis Center in Carson City is open to El Dorado Countyby NAMI El Dorado County Leader in SLT

EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDER's Fact Sheet.Select members from South Lake Tahoe's Community Mental & Behavioral Health Co-operative visit Carson-Tahoe's Mallory 24-hour Crisis Unit. Chief Uhler was also presentbut not in this picture.

A dozen leaders from our Community Mental & Behavioral Health Co-operative fromSouth Lake Tahoe recently met with leadership from Carson-Tahoe Behavioral Health inCarson City. Participants included Barton Foundation, Chief of SLT PD, CIT Leader fromSheriff's Dept, A Balanced Life, Tahoe Youth & Family, Suicide Prevention Network, andNAMI El Dorado County. We toured the facility and discussed best practices andaccess. The 24-hour crisis unit is open to the public regardless of county or state lines -for anyone with a mental health or substance abuse crisis.

The dilemna is that El Dorado County does not have a current contract with Carson-Tahoe Behavioral Health. They do have a contract with West Hills in-patient psychiatrichospital in Reno. Obviously Carson-Tahoe is in closer proximity and has a broader set ofservices. West Hills accepts teens but Carson-Tahoe does not. Carson-Tahoe does have52 beds including a geriatric psychiatric unit. They also have outpatient services whichare useful for post-hospital transition as well as maintaining well-being year-around.

Our Community Mental and Behavioral Health Co-operative is keen to see a contract thatwill serve members of our community insured through Medi-Cal. It should be noted thatthe Carson-Tahoe hospital accepts Medi-Cal but the Behavioral Health unit within thehospital does not. That is the great dilemna but surely solvable through collaboration.The legal teams are involved as this requires an understanding of the differencesbetween a California 5150-hold and a Nevada Legal-2000-hold. It is admirable that WestHills Hospital and El Dorado County worked collaboratively through this issue.

Individuals from South Lake Tahoe in fact have utilized the Mallory Crisis Center whichopened in January. Some too have also utilized the in-patient psychiatric hospital atCarson-Tahoe. We are keen to see a formal contract to allow Medi-Cal as well as anagreed involuntary hold transport process.

Through collaboration anything is possible - we have got to put community health andrapid access first and foremost. Collaboration will enable next step hand-offs and astrengthened working relationship on behalf of those who need help. After-care, post-release, improved hand-offs saves lives.

Tips from Dr. Xavier Amador in his 10thanniversary edition book and his recentrecorded webinar. You can find unlimited access to the recordedwebinar available at NAMI Ask The Doctor: "I am Not Sick. I Don'tNeed Help!" with Dr. Xavier AmadorOnce you register the replay becomesavailable. The sound quality is poor but worthreplaying.

NAMI El Dorado County Signature NAMIprograms:

If you have recently, or in the past, taken one ofour classes, please let others in the communityknow how valuable the experience was. Yourrecommendations help to get the word out. Toooften we hear, "I wish I had known about thisclass years ago!".

NAMI Basics - for caregivers/parents ofchildren with behavioral challenges and/or adiagnosed mental health and/or substance useissue.

NAMI Family-to-Family - forcaregivers/parents of teens and adults of anyage living with mental health and/or substanceuse issues.

is on the coveted list of SAMSHA(Substance Abuse and Mental HealthAdministration) Evidence-based recoverymodels. Visit SAMSHA.gov to learn moreabout SAMSHA. The classes are postedat NAMI.org and in this monthly newsletterwhen they are scheduled.

We are happy to take your name andcontact information if you wish to reservespace.

"I learned more in NAMI Family-to-Family than in the past 20 years working

as a nurse across a variety ofhospitals."

Anonymous graduate of NAMI F2F

"You tossed our family a life-rope andwe held on. Our loved one is now doingwell. This course saved our family and

our marriage." Anonymous graduate F2F

Mental Illness vs Mental Health - the Great Debate about When and Where toInvest Rages On.

By two mothers of adult children living with Serious Mental Illness - by NAMI El Dorado County Members - Yes, children can have mental illness, butas moms, we believe we need greatereducation around evidence-basedtreatments to sort out the confusing issuesin mental health treatments for childrenand youth. It is known that serious mentalillness has both heritable and environmental causes. As we look atprograms attempting to prevent orintervene in the development of seriousmental illness, are we conflating mentalhealth with mental illness? Are funds fromsources intended to help those withserious mental illness being spread toothin by promoting programs that feel good,but don't address the very real extremes offamilies dealing with serious mentalillness? Just because a child is in need of mentalhealth care does not mean he or she hasor will have mental illness. These are two different things. This is the difficulty in funding for children's services. Where, when, and how do we intervene and what will provide the greatest benefit at thelowest cost? Confusing and overlapping programs delivered through a myriad ofproviders, including school districts, CPS, Community Health Clinics, non-profits, FosterCare, and others create a tangled web difficult for most families to navigate. This isespecially true for families experiencing a crisis with a child exhibiting mental healthsymptoms. Families need support, practical information, and education. There are no"perfect families". Assisting and intervening families with babies and very young childrenexperiencing trauma and behavioral problems is laudable, but are we sure the fundsgoing to this should come out of Mental Health Services Act (Prop. 63) funds, rather thanpaid for out of public health and social welfare programs? Let's keep in mind that MHSA$ (which come from the well-known million $ tax in California,) was designed specificallyto help those with SERIOUS mental illness. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of MHSAPrevention and Early Intervention money goes to programs that may or may not have anyscientific or evidence based outcome measures. Do we really believe parenting classes can prevent serious mental illness (egschizophrenia and bipolar disorder)? Perhaps. But there is no solid evidence to thiseffect. Yes, of course trauma and bad parenting can be an environmental trigger. However, we are aware of many families whose children developed serious mentalillness and who did not have a low ACES score or horrific in their parenting skills and stilltheir loved ones went on to develop Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia. Genetics plays apowerful role and most individuals do not exhibit symptoms of mental illness until teens tomid-20's. This means by the time the symptoms start to show we as a community mustbe in a ready and committed to provide high quality rapid services and supports. This iswhat we are advocating and this is why we need MHSA $ routed accordingly.Our loved ones live with paranoid schizophrenia and schizo-affective disorderrespectively. They were not traumatized in their early or teen years. Both had excellenteducation and in fact graduated college. Parenting classes that teach resiliency skillswould have been very nice for us as parents but would absolutely not have altered thecourse of developing mental illness. We have very strong predisposition toschizophrenia and bi-polar and depression in our family trees and while external factorssuch as drug use may have played a role in the onset for some, it was not universal. People are "born with" a certain predisposition or certain "genetic markers." We cannotchange the color of our eyes or the color of our hair. (Okay, I can change the color of myhair! ) But, we cannot change the fact that we may be born with with a predisposition toheart disease, diabetes, or depression among many other human illnesses. There is so much more to research and discover in the field of brain science. We havegot to keep advocating for more brain research and continue to hunt for improvedmedications and ultimately a cure.Modern brain science demonstrates that genetic predisposition is the strongest predictorof mental illness. NAMI was founded to help those with serious mental illness. That said, inthe past several years we have all "broadened" to promote mental health in order to educate themasses on prevention, teach brain health, help people understand that there are things withintheir control that can in fact help prevent the onset or mediate the severity even when one isborn into a family with a genetic predisposition. Those environmental factors are what we hopeto see improvements on through education.Still, it is troubling when we don't look within our community to FIRST AND FOREMOST haveour basic services in order before looking to fund non-evidence-based approaches for youth and

"I wish we knew about this course yearsago...we cannot help but wonder how

much better our loved one would bedoing had we been introduced to NAMI

sooner." Anonymous graduate NAMI F2F

Fun FactOver 350,000 individuals have graduated NAMIFamily-to-Family educational program (this isless than 1/10th of 1% of the the USpopulation.)

Imagine how different the world would be if all ofus were educated in mental health thatemphasizes brain science?

NAMI Family-to-Family is on the covetedSAMHSA list of "evidence-based practices."

Family-to-Family class dates for Western Slopeand South Lake Tahoe

NAMI Educational programs inSouth Lake Tahoe:

NAMI Family-to-Family education in SouthLake Tahoe: 16-Sep-2017 through 21-Oct-2017 from 9:00a.m. - 3:00 p.m.6 consecutive Saturdays accepting sign-ups:Nursing CU's available.Call Jeanne at 650-740-5776 to register

NAMI Peer-to-Peer: starts Spring 2018 inSouth Lake Tahoe: 24-Mar, 31-Mar, 7-Apr, 14-Apr, 21-Apr (5 consecutive Saturdays)Accepting "interested" sign-ups now. Jeanne 650-740-5776 f2fnami@gmail.com

NAMI El Dorado County classes on theWestern Slope:

NAMI Family-to-Family Education SpringClass graduated in June.Call Jan at(530) 677-2676 to leave your nameon the list for our next class. NAMI Basics - This class is for families withchildren/adolescents with behavioral/mentalhealth conditions. This 6 week class has justgraduated. If you are interested call Juline to have yourname put on a wait list for the next class: 530642-5659 juline.aguilar@flc.losrios.edu

All NAMI programs are provided to thecommunity at no cost to the participants and are offered once

parents. For example:

We need to have First Episode Psychosis (FEP) programs that are based on qualitymodel programs, i.e the UC Davis EDAPT program.

We need 24-hour crisis units available without having to drive an hour.We need to know how to access evidence based therapies such as ECT and TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and providers should know the same.We need easy access to long-lasting injectable medication within the jail and through-outthe community.We need a greater number of therapists trained and willing to treat those with seriousmental illness. We need to follow the gold-standard of weekly therapy that preservestheir self-esteem in conjunction with medication and other treatment modalities such asgroup therapy or short-term residential care to learn living skills. Those with the mostchronic forms of serious mental illness may require long-term residential treatment. These facilities need to be located within our county so family support can be providedmore easily while saving our county money.We need an improved process to recommend candidates into the county's AOT (AssistedOutpatient Treatment) Program for those individuals lacking sufficient insight into theirneed for treatment and measures that will drive continuous process improvement of thesame.We need our probation officers and jail employees trained in mental health to recognizesigns of decompensation and skilled in communicating well with those living with seriousmental illness.We need housing options for people living with serious mental illness that they can affordon SSI or SSDI that are also tied into supports and treatments to help maintain theirwellness and keep them out of hospitals and jail. We need housing that heals similar tothe needs of larger county's. Contra Costa county developed this white paper for theirBoard of Supervisor which parallel's our county's housing needs.We need to continue the work our law enforcement agencies are doing in the area ofCrisis Intervention training and fund our Behavioral Health Court to decrease the numberof mentally ill that end up in jail. We need real dual-diagnosis programs and detox centers to address the growing problemof substance abuse among those with mental illness.

We welcome your concerns and insights. Let us know your experiences, positive andnot, and we will provide space to share them. As we say in our NAMI Family to FamilyEducation, "You can't know what you don't know". None of us knew any of this beforethese devastating illnesses struck our loved ones, but remaining in the dark is not anoption. Join us in educating and advocating for our families, loved ones, andcommunities.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR FAMILY HISTORY OF SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS andADDICTION? HAVE YOU DONE YOUR FAMILY TREE?

Think of trauma, the THC in cannabis, and high stress as potential "on-switches" to ourgenetic predisposition. According to Stanford Medicine heritability for depression is probably40% and significantly higher for severe depression (2-3 times higher or 20-30% vs 10%chances of developing depression.) Addiction is estimated to be up to 60%genetic. Of those that are diagnosed withBiPolar or Schizophrenia it is estimated thatthere was a family history of mental healthissues in 75-80% of those living with thosemental health conditions. So understanding our relative's mentalhealth and history of addictive behaviors canhelp us take steps to avoid triggers andbuild resilience. Knowing geneticpredisposition may increase our desire toincrease our psycho-education or promptmore open prevention/resilience dialoguewith our children/teens. These crucial conversations both to gather family history then to share that history with thenext generation may be the ticket to seeking treatment and sooner. So have that oh so crucial conversation with older relatives that can still recall priorgenerations. Perhaps they will respond with "Great-Grandpa Joe had a nervous breakdown and had to takea rest at the hospital for a month." Or you might hear "Oh we don't have any history of mentalhealth issues in "our" family. But Auntie Suzie died by suicide." Or perhaps you will hear "Everysingle member of my Mom's side had alcohol addiction." You may feel you fully understandyour family's history but you would be surprised how much may never have been shared untilyou are suddenly in a crisis situation.Perhaps you will lead the crucial investigative conversation at your next family reunion! Bringyour sense of humor and sincerity to the table. Let's crush stigma and bring these

or twice a year. Please call to put your nameand contact information on our list for futureclasses.

THANK YOU LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ELDORADO COUNTY

Law Enforcement - continues to help ourcommunity Safeguarding Officermental health After MassCasualty Events: Check out this NAMIguide for policechiefs..developed in collaboration with theNewton, CT police chief. click here

NAMI Families and Friends in El DoradoCounty continue to sing high praise for lawenforcement's participation in CIT trainingand the leadership team's focus onensuring officers are trained in Crisis

Intervention Training.

Did you know the volumeof 5150's continue totrend down in this

community? This certainly may beattributed to increased CIT training acrosslaw enforcement.

Thank you to alllaw enforcement inour community - forall you do for NAMIFamilies and thecommunity:

Thank you for theCIT Training last month held in South LakeTahoe, CA.

The Placerville Police Department ison FacebookA warm welcome to the newPlacerville Chief of Police, CaptainJames Ortega.

El Dorado County Sheriff's department

is on Facebook :

South Lake Tahoe police is on Faceboo k CHP - South Lake Tahoe is onFacebook.

Psycho-education is a core to recovery: There has been over 400 check-outs of NAMI ElDorado County's book donations to the ElDorado County library to-date!

conversations forward in El Dorado County and everywhere.

Ask your doctor about Long-lasting Injectables

"Multiple families across our county have shared the verypositive changes in their loved one since switching to along-lasting injectable form of medication. NAMI familiesreporting favorably about the positive change in their lovedone since transitioning to long-lasting injectables such asmost commonly reported Abilify Maintena (aripripazol) andInvega Sustenna (paliperidone). There are others such asRisperdal Consta, Geodon (ziprasidone mesylate). Clozaril (clozapine) has been referred to as the gold standard

for treatment resistant cases. More technical information can be found here.Every body is different so it is important to proactively discuss medication options withyour treatment provider(s) and monitor side effects.

Has your insurance company denied coverage? Ensure you file an appealadvocating for your loved one and include a letter from your provider with the appeal. Contact the drug manufacturer to see if they have a program that will fund the drug onbehalf of your loved one. For example, Otsuka, the maker of Abilify has this program.

NAMI El Dorado County Instructor in SLT

Long-lasting injectable administration are available through

Barton Psychiatry (through a medical technician on-site); El Dorado County Mental Health (monthly); and Safeway Specialty Pharmacy in South Lake Tahoe and on the Western Slope.

We continue to educate families and friends about theavailability and benefits of long-lasting injectables forthose that have this option available. Safeway provides a free case manager service (out oftheir Idaho call center) where they call and remind ourloved ones when their injection is due, schedule theappointment, and help the process run smoothly. Call 1-877 466-8028 and requestspeaking with an injectables case management team member.You can buy the long-lasting injectable through other pharmacies and have itadministered by a professional. This is a great convenience since many family members were having to pick up themedication and bring it to a medical technician outside of the pharmacy setting toreceiving the injection. Now, it's one stop shopping.

Are you Prepared for a Crisis?

NAMI El Dorado County is very grateful for ourtrained officers and deputies who recognize andrespond to the human being behind the braindisorder in a way that lessens the possibility ofviolence and trauma.

What to say when calling 9-1-1 for a Mental Health Emergency

I'm calling about a Mental HealthEmergency and request a CIT Officer.My name is __________________________________________________I'm calling from __________________(your location) because my (familymember/friend) is _____________________________________________.Describe in detail what is going on right now.Advise law enforcement is there is information on file about the person incrisis. (see the Family Information Form link below)Ask if it's possible to arrive without lights or sirens

The 9-1-1 dispatacher will ask the following: (be clear and brief)

Are there any acts or threats of violence?Are there any weapons involved?Where is the person experiencing the emergency located?Has there been a suicide attempt or has the person made threats of suicide?

Additional information to provide:

Story Highlight

Magnetic stimulation of braincells with a treatment calleddTMS reduced depressionsymptoms for four weeks in

patients with bipolar depressionwho were already taking

medication.

Share this quote

Magnetic stimulation of braincells could be useful "add-on"

treatment for bipolar depression Tweet >

Pick up a copy of our recommended readingbooklist and website list at our NAMI FamilySupport Group meeting or simply click here.

Visit El Dorado County library or your localcommunity college library where you will findmany fantastic books featuring mental healthand/or substance abuse topics.

Visit NAMI.org and scroll to the bottom of thepage where you can learn more about specificillnesses. Visit www.bartonhealth.org and visit their on-linehealth-library

PsychU.org virtual forums

Providers and community members arewelcome to participate in virtual webcasts(and replay them whenever convenient.)Simply create a free PsychU.org login toparticipate and view past research andpreviously recorded forums.

Considerations In Managing MDD InPatients With ComorbidCardiovascular DiseaseVirtual Forum | July 14, 2017 9:00a.m

Addressing Substance Use Disorder InThe Continuum Of Care Virtual Forum | July 18, 2017 9:00 a.m.

Pharmacogenomics & PersonalizedMedicine: Where Are We Now &Where Are We Going?

Virtual Forum | August 8, 2017 9:00a.m

HEDIS® Behavioral Health Measures:An Update From NCQA© Virtual Forum | August 15, 2017 9:00a.m.

Mental health diagnosis and mental healthcare provider.Intoxicated or overdosed?Current medicationsGravely disabled and unable to care for themselves.

Always provide a completed AB-1424 (also known as the Historical Information Form). Ifthe deputy or officer that arrives is not aware of how this form is used then ask for a lawenforcement supervisor. The crisis intervention (CIT) team program with the Sheriff's Dept. is active on bothslopes.

Crisis in South Lake Tahoe call (530) 544-2219

Crisis on the Western Slope call (530) 622-3345If your instincts tell you a situation is dangerous, it probably is. Call 911 immediately. Make sure you communicate that "this is a MENTAL HEALTH emergency involving mentalillness and we are seeking involuntary psychiatric hospitalization and not arrest.

Brain Research and Scientific Discoveries

===================================================================

Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) Could Help Treat BipolarDepression

Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS), a non-invasive procedure that usesmagnetic fields to stimulate brain cells, may be useful when added to medication to

treat bipolar depression, according to a February 1 study published in thejournal Neuropsychopharmacology. If these new results are confirmed in further

studies, dTMS could join the limited options available for treating bipolardepression, in which resistance to treatment is two times higher than in major(unipolar) depression. dTMS has already been shown to improve symptoms in

patients with major depression.

The study of dTMS in bipolar depression wasled by Dr. André R. Brunoni, of the

University of São Paulo, Brazil, a 2013NARSAD Young Investigator, and included Z.Jeff Daskalakis, M.D., Ph.D., of the Centre

for Addiction and Mental Health, University ofToronto, a recipient of 2004 and 2006

NARSAD Young Investigator awards and a2008 Independent Investigator award.

The study included 50 patients with bipolardepression who were also currently takingpsychiatric medication for their condition. In

20 sessions held over four weeks, half of thepatients received dTMS, which was deliveredby an electrical coil inside a helmet worn by

In Home Supportive Services

Some of our NAMI families in ElDorado County have reportedfavorably about the quality of theIHSS program. They are paid byIHSS for basic services thathelped their loved one live athome. NAMI families particularlythose that have graduated NAMIFamily-to-Family are proactive in interviewingIHSS caregiver candidates to help their lovedone and work collaboratively on a successfulcaregiving model. Teamwork is dreamwork. Learn more about this program at: IHSS

Disability Benefit Information

Sustainability Outreach Services and OnlyKindness Community Resource Center - ReneEvans - Accredited Disability Representative inPlacerville - (530) 876-6243 or (530) 344-1864 www.edcrc.org

TheSimpleDollar.com is a comprehensiveresource that helps people not only understand,but access social security disability benefits isavailable. In the course of their research:

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/disability-benefits-guide/http://www.thesimpledollar.com/disability-benefits-guide/#social-security-disability-benefit-calculator

Legal Services of Northern California - at nocost (for eligible persons)

is a non-profit law firm that provides free legalassistance to eligible persons. If you needhelp with a health care issue, call (888) 354-4474. If you need help with one of the otherissues listed above, call (530) 823-7560.

Additional information about health care rightsmay be found at HealthHelp.ca.gov.

"Select Key Takeaways" from 28-June-2017 Mental HealthCommission Meeting: By NAMI Leader on the Western Slope:

- The Mental Health Commission currently hastwo vacancies. Application form can be foundhere.

the participants. The other half of the patientsreceived a "sham" treatment; that is, all the

conditions were the same as for the dTMS group, except that the sham patientswore a helmet with a coil that did not generate magnetic fields but produced the

same sounds and scalp sensations as the active coil. Forty-three patientscompleted the study.

After four weeks, patients who received dTMS scored an average of 4.88 pointsbetter on a survey measuring depression symptoms than those who received the

sham treatment. (A three-point difference is considered to be a clinically meaningfuldifference, according to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence). Patients whoreceived dTMS also showed a significant improvement in overall functioning after

four weeks, compared to the sham group. However, the differences between groupsin depression symptoms and functioning had disappeared by eight weeks after the

start of treatment, and there were no significant differences in remission ratesbetween the groups.

Patients who received dTMS reported more scalp pain than those in the shamgroup, but there were no other differences in treatment side effects. None of the

patients developed mania symptoms after the treatment (a condition calledtreatment-emergent mania switch or TEMS), which can occur in dTMS treatment.

The results suggest that dTMS could be an effective and well-tolerated "add-on"therapy for patients with bipolar depression already taking medication, the

researchers conclude, noting that these patients may also benefit from a longerinitial dTMS treatment program or maintenance treatments after the first treatment

program.

The medical device company Brainsway provided financial support and the dTMSdevices for the study.

Brain Activity Patterns Could Help Identify Best Treatment for Patients with MajorDepression: BBRFoundation research

Teens and Young Adults Urged to Wait before you Vape: <- full article here

That's because THC occupies the same receptors on neurons as a natural brainchemical called anandamide. In essence, THC is acting as an impostor of this natural chemical.

The brain's electrical pathways and the insulation process aren't complete until themid-20s for females and late 20's for males. This means teen/young-adult brainsare vulnerable to outside influences. In addition, teen brains are more "plastic."They adapt and learn faster than adult brains - suggesting that teens/young-adults are more vulnerable to developing an addiction.

Learn more at schizophrenia.com and BBRFoundation.org

Study looks at how Legalization of Marijuana affects Teen Usage:BBR Foundation research

Visit BBRFoundation.org and attend their monthly "Meet the Scientists" webinars at nocost <- they fund scientific research to ultimately find a cure for mental illness - improvedtreatment discoveries are lending towards full, happy, productive lives.

Latino Community Members"Stop Stigma with Science" Detener el estigma con la ciencia

-- El Dorado County H&HS providesawesome detailed report to the MHC andpublic. Click here (then click on BehavioralHealth Update.) THIS IS A MUST-READREPORT. -- HHSA Service Integration update: PatriciaCharles-Heathers reports that they areassessing other agency's to understand howindividuals are brought in for services: with thephilosophy of "no wrong door."Integration of her departments continues on-track. The first strategic plan for "HealthyCommunity: El Dorado County" and measureswas presented June 6 to the Board ofSupervisors. NAMI El Dorado County is a keystakeholder/collaborator.

NAMI El Dorado County outreach continues

NAMI El Dorado County continues to providemental health education and awareness atvarious county and school health fairs, back-to-school events/classes, and at clubs and otherorganizations.

If your club, place of worship, or organization isinterested in a 20, 60, or 120 minute mentalhealth awareness overview please contact us.

West Slope: Jan 530-677-2676

South Lake Tahoe: Jeanne 650-740-5776

Spanish South-shore Tahoe Basin: Marisol 1-775-407-0306

20% - de los latinos nacidos en EstadosUnidos han sufrido de un reto de saludmental durante el último año.

Check out these Spanish resources: Lasalud mental en la comunidad latina

See more at https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/Diverse-Communities/Latino-Mental-Health/La-salud-mental-en-la-comunidad-latina

andhttp://www.sanamente.org

NAMI El Dorado County: Spanish Warm-line in SLT: 775-407-0306 ENGLISH: Getting any kind of health treatment is sometimes difficult to manage forfamilies, and the barriers of language, community isolation, stigma, provider availabilityand cultural differences, compounds this difficulty. We believe adjunct treatments to be ofgreat benefit for those who find them reassuring, comforting, and familiar. NAMI standsfirmly on the side of science and evidence based treatments as the desired primarytreatment modality. We do not support "alternative" treatments in lieu of, considering thedamaging effects of continued psychosis or prolonged damaging mental health episodes.We are working hard to provide evidence-based education in our community. You arenot alone.

SPANISH: Es importante señalar que, en el caso del estigma, hay una falta deconocimiento sobre la calidad de la atención de la salud. Creemos que son útiles paraaquellos que los encuentran tranquilizadores, reconfortantes y familiares. NAMI estáfirmemente en el lado de la ciencia y la evidencia basada en tratamientos como lamodalidad de tratamiento primario deseado. No apoyamos tratamientos "alternativos" enlugar de, considerando los efectos perjudiciales de psicosis continuada o episodios desalud mental dañinos extendidos. Estamos trabajando duro para proporcionar educaciónbasada en la evidencia en nuestra comunidad. No estas solo

Local Mental Health Events

The El Dorado Mental Health Commission is part of a system of Boards andCommissions established under the Welfare and Institutions Code. Its purpose is toreview and report tp the Board of Supervisors about the County's Mental Health Plans. Itis comprised of volunteers from the Community with lived or professional experience inmental health. The Mental Health Commission is open to the public. It meets the 4th Wednesday of each month. 3 min is allowed for public comment (and the public is invited to provide perspective whenprompted by the chair after each agenda item.) Let your voice be heard to help improvecounty services/supports.

El Dorado County Mental Health Commission: Next Meeting is 26-July-201 7 at 5:00 p.m. 2 locations - both connected via video-link

Health and Human Services Agency, 3057 Briw Rd., Sierra Room, Placerville, CA South Lake Tahoe at the Wellness Center 1900 Lake Tahoe Blvd

These meetings are open to the public and are an important interface between thecommunity and our county mental health system. Concerns and stories from thecommunity are welcome during public comment time at the start of each meeting.

While your concerns may not be discussed unless it is already an item on theagenda, your input as part of the public is valued and will be addressed at a latermeeting.

Are you interested in becoming a member of the Mental Health Commission? Let your voice be heard in El Dorado County: 1 vacancy in WS and 1 in SLT MHC Agenda and Minutes can be found: here

Select "Key Takeaways" from NAMI EDC leadership perspective an be found here.

NAMI Family Support groups: 3 in El Dorado County. Click here for details.

Shopping?Use AMAZON SMILE and select NAMI ElDorado County

Will you please share this withyour friends and family? YouShop, Amazon gives to NAMIEl Dorado County. 1/2% of allyour purchase amounts willthen go to NAMI El DoradoCounty

http://smile.amazon.com

NAMI El Dorado County is on FACEBOOKShare our Facebook page with all your friends -we invite you to engage with us. Please "like" our page on Facebook - we invite

you to add your comments You can find NAMI California information here: www.namicalifornia.org

www.namieldoradocounty.org

Reflections of Life and Loss (South Lake Tahoe) Second and Fourth Thursdays monthly 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.Barton Hospice encourages people who have experienced the lossof a loved one or have endured a significant, life-altering event toattend. This group helps teach attendees how to cope with certainsituations and encourages emotional connections with others. Support andbereavement groups allow people to release emotions they may otherwise keep tothemselves. It can improve a participant's mood and decrease psychological distress.Location: Barton Hospice2092 Lake Tahoe Blvd, Suite 600South Lake Tahoe, CA530-543-5592

Friends for Survival - on the Western SlopeMarshall Medical CenterFriends For Survival is a national non-profit organization offering help after a suicidedeath: www.FriendsForSurvival.orgMeetings are held monthly. For more information, contact Walt or Leona Narr at 530-647-8864.

Survivors of Suicide (SOS) in South Lake TahoeLoss Support Group Meeting is held the 4th Thursday of every month2092 South Lake Tahoe Blvd.https://www.spnawareness.orgContact Alisa@spnawareness.org or 775-783-1510.

Bipolar Insights (Placerville)Weekly Class * Every Monday at 7 pmGreen Valley Community Church3500 Missouri Flat Road, Room 304 in Placerville, CA 95667$5 per person per class

Special Events * Tuesday'sMarshall Medical Building681 Main Street, 1st Floor Common Room in Placerville, CA 95667Check the website for dates and eventsbipolarinsights.com Bipolar Insights / Mental Health Education Centertrust@bipolarinsights.com bipolarinsights.com (530) 642-0859

Where to Find Help?

Welldorado.org: This is the county's website for health & wellness (calendar,statistics and more.)

Community Health Directory is available in South Lake Tahoe at any Barton providerand at each of the 6 Mental Health Kiosks t hrough-out the community or at NAMISupport Group. Here is the link to the on-line Community Directory.Notice all the support groups and counseling services - there are many health andwellness programs available.

Barton Health has identified the need for additional mental health services and continuesto take action to provide extra support for patients and the South Lake Tahoe community.

Barton provides 3 local psychiatrists:Dr. Zelan, Dr. Protell, and Dr. Rupp plus Telemedicine and Psychologists and alsolicensed Social Workers - each focused on improving mental health. NAMI Families reporting such favorable results!Check out Barton's mental health page which outlines strategic priorities andaccomplishments and more.

Have you been wait-listed to see a Psychiatrist? Make an immediate appointmentwith your Primary Care Physician.

We need to close the gap on long wait-lists. Do not delaytreatment - hunt for an available provider and ask for availablealternatives.

Did you know there are MORE than 2 dozen therapists available inSouth Lake Tahoe? Ask your NAMI leader in South Lake Tahoe ifyou are unable to locate the directory.Please refer to the "Community Resource Guide" for acomprehensive list of providers. These are available at each of theMental Health Kiosks in South Lake Tahoe. Ask your NAMI community leader if you cannot locate the directory.

Good news: New mental health providers have arrived in South Lake Tahoe this past yearbringing a new continuum of care without a wait-list.

Matthew Wong Psychologist| M.A., Psy.D PSY#26365 415-806-0275 South LakeTahoe appointments Mondays and Fridays available for children/teens/adults mildto moderate; broad range of therapies. Psychological testing and intellectualdisability assessments. <- very close to getting Medi-Cal approval (andaccepts a variety of insurances) -- NAMI Families reporting favorably. Dr. Wongworks in collaboration with a team of tele-med psychiatrists.

A Balanced Life added 2 new therapists specializing in co-occurringaddiction/mental-health issues: 530-544-1748

Adults, Teens, ChildrenFree Teen Support Group

Live Violence Free - has free weekly group counseling for victims of sexual abuse/ violence.

Tahoe Youth & Family -has co-occuring addiction/mental-health therapists

LARKR is a brand new on-line application providing 24/7 access totherapists from the comfort of anywhere anytime (they are headquartered inSouth Lake Tahoe, CA) They accept children/parents, teens and adults of allages. They serve mild to moderate as they are not integrated yetwith psychiatrists nor do they have the ability to prescribe medication. Theirnew on-line application went to public beta-release on 20-June-2017.

El Dorado County Mental Health - Wellness Centers (Diamond Springs and South Lake Tahoe)

Adult Outpatient Services Wellness Centers, 768 Pleasant Valley Rd., DiamondSprings and 1360 Johnson Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, continue to provide a safe,understanding, and recovery oriented place, Monday through Friday afternoons 1:00- 4:00 p.m.

NOTE: Wellness Centers are migrating towards a Peer-Led support group model;some are co-lead by licensed therapists and many are lead by Peers.

El Dorado County Behavioral Health Wellness Centers obtained a grant to fund FEP (First Episode Psychosis Program) AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC - not just Medi-Cal insured individuals Individuals with other types of insurance welcome as this program is funded by agrant. Call 530-573-7970 El Dorado County Behavioral Health to learn more.

El Dorado County Behavioral Health - free support groups OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - not just county clientsDrop in hours are from 1:00 to 4:00 Monday through Friday: adults 18+ , for people to socialize and participate in a wide assortment of fun and therapeuticgroups.

Group schedules are available at the Wellness Centers and may include:Dialectal Behavior Therapy, Anger Management, Conversation Skills, HealthyPleasures, Smoking Cessation, Symptoms without Stigma, Mindfulness, CopingSkills, Stress/Anxiety Reduction, Seeking Safety, and others. Some of thesegroups are available on a referral basis only, while other groups, such as Art,Physical Activity, Mindfulness, Coping Strategies, etc. are open to all. Checkcurrent schedule at the Centers.

janicemelnicoe@yahoo.com (530) 306-7710 - Western Slopef2fNAMI@gmail.com (650) 740-5776 - South Lake Tahoe

PO Box 393, El Dorado, CA 95623

www.namieldoradocounty.orgFACEBOOK: NAMI El Dorado County

NAMI.org

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