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PA, CUMBERLAND and
PERRY COUNTIES NEWS
P. 1 - Notice of Election and Social P. 2 - Program schedules; Board
Roster; and membership solici-tation
P. 3 - New Law regarding MH system
P. 4 - Tips for Holiday Stress; directions to STAR; Notice of
OCD support meeting P. 5 - Pet Therapy; Tips when Men-
tal Illness seems worse P. 6 - Articles on de-stressing and
finding purpose P.7- MH facts
Dec. 15th– Support Meeting in
Carlisle
Dec. 19th– Support Meeting in
Harrisburg
Jan. 5th– Support Meeting on West
Shore
Jan. 19th– MEMBERSHIP MEETING
with Pot Luck Social and Election
DECEMBER MEETING
NAMI PA of CUMBERLAND and PERRY COUNTIES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016 at S.T.A.R.
253 Penrose Place, Carlisle, Pa. [See page 4 for directions]
7:00 —8:30 Support Meeting
P.O. Box 527 Carlisle, PA 17013
http://www.namipacp.org
Message line number:
240-8715
This year’s Holiday Potluck Social will be a New Year’s Celebration instead of a Christmas Sea-son event. It will be held with a Membership Meeting so that our affiliate Election can take place. This will take some pressure off of attendance at this busy holiday time, and will enable us to celebrate a new Board to start the New Year in 2017.
NOTICE IS HEREBY PROVIDE THAT THERE WILL BE A MEMBERSHIP MEETING ON JANUARY 19, 2017 AT 7:00 PM AT S.T.A.R. AT 253 PENROSE PLACE, CARLISLE, PA 17013 AND THERE WILL BE AN ELECTION AT THAT TIME. THE SLATE TO BE ELECTED IS:
President- Kathy Zwierzyna
Vice President- Thom Fager
Secretary- Maureen Baumgartner
Treasurer- Steve Zwierzyna
Directors-
Delores Stevens
Tonia Milliken
Plan now to attend to support the new Board. Bring some snack or desert and beverage will
be provided. We will have a grand time getting reacquainted and recommitted to the mission
of NAMI. No RSVP is needed. Come even if you do not have a snack or desert. Experience
tells us that there will be plenty.
There will be regular Support Meeting at S.T.A.R. on December 15th.
Duplication and distribution of this Newsletter is made possible by the MH/IDD Board of Cumberland/Perry Counties
Inside this issue: NAMI POTLUCK SOCIAL RESCHEDULED TO JANUARY 19, 2017
TO COINCIDE WITH MEMBERSHIP MEETING WITH ELECTION
NAMI is the largest nationwide, grassroots membership organization devoted to improving the lives of those affected, directly and indirectly, by serious mental illness. NAMI is comprised of family members, friends and consumers.
Volume XIX, Issue 12 December 2016
Calendar:
Contact Us:
2
NAMI Pa. Cumberland/
Perry Counties
P.O. Box 527
Carlisle, PA 17013
http://www.namipacp.org
Message line number:
240-8715
Officers:
Acting President:
Thom Fager
Treasurer: Stephen
Zwierzyna
Secretary: Kathleen
Zwierzyna
Board of Directors:
Laryssa Gaughen
Sarah Roley
Publisher:
NAMI Pa. Cumberland/ Perry
Counties
Editor: Taylor P. Andrews
243-0123 or 243-1645
Dec. 2016 Vol. XIX No. 12
What: Support Group Meeting When: Meets 3rd Thursday of each month Location: STAR (253 Penrose Place Carlisle, PA 17013) Time: 7:00 pm up to 8:30 pm there will occasionally be an edu-
cational program. When there is an education program it shall run from 7:00 PM until 7:50 PM, and the support meeting shall follow at 8:00 until 9:00 PM
Dec. 15, 2016 7:00 up to 8:30 PM—Support Meeting
WEST SHORE SUPPORT GROUP
Meets at 6:30 PM on the 1st Thursday of each month at St. Timothy’s Lutheran
Church, 4200 Carlisle Pike, Camp Hill, PA. There may be an education program 1x
per quarter. Call Hazel at 737-8864 for information.
Jan. 5, 2017
6:30 to 8:00 PM—Support Meeting
support
DAUPHIN COUNTY SUPPORT GROUP [Assoc with NAMI PA Dauphin County]
Meets at 7:00 on the 3rd Monday of each month at the Epiphany Lutheran Church
at 1100 Colonial Rd., Harrisburg, PA. Contact Marge Chapman at 574-0055 for more
information.
Dec. 19, 2016
6:30 to 8:00 PM—Support Meeting
$35.00 For an individual
Membership includes membership in NAMI [national] and NAMI PA, and Subscriptions to The Advocate,
The Alliance, and NAMI PA C/P News.
$35.00 For a Family
Same price as an individual. A family consists of two people living at the same address. A family has one
vote, and will receive one copy of subscriptions.
$3 - $35.00 For “Open Door” membership
Anybody can opt to join as an open door member. Dues are any amount that can be afforded. This
option is available so that membership is not denied due to financial hardship. Open door members are
regular members with all the privileges and powers of membership including all subscriptions.
$50.00 For Professional Membership
A Professional member shows support for the mission and goals of the organization. Upon request, NAMI
PA C/P will provide multiple copies of our newsletter for the waiting room of Professional Members.
Make Payment to: NAMI PA C/P
Send Payment to: NAMI PA C/P , Box 527, Carlisle, Pa 17013
JOIN NOW TO BECOME PART OF THE NAMI FAMILY
Memberships submitted now will extend to the end of 2017
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SURPRISE !!
CONGRESS JUST GAVE OUR NAMI COMMUNITY A CHRISTMAS PRESENT
(Dec. 7, 2016) Long overdue and years in the making, an overwhelming bi-partisan majority of Congress finally passed monumental legisla-tion to overhaul the coun-try’s fractured mental health system. The legislation will address several significant areas of mental health treatment that have long eluded advocates and families struggling with mental illness and substance use disorders, such as increasing the number of psychiatric beds nationwide, elevating the topic of mental health by creating a federal posi-tion of assistant secretary for mental health and substance use disorders — that will require its chief have a clinical back-ground — and requiring private insurers cover mental health care on an equal footing with physical health. The Act will also fundamentally change the foundation for how the federal government prioritizes severe mental illness by:
Reforming SAMHSA: o Creates a new Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders to be presidentially appoint-ed with Senate confirmation, who will oversee SAMHSA and coordinate related programs and research across the federal government, with emphasis on science and evi-dence based programs, and with the aid of a newly estab-lished Chief Medical Officer. o Establishes a new federal policy laboratory for mental health and substance use, to elevate and disseminate poli-cy changes and service models that work based on evi-dence, research, and science.
Funding and Strengthening Evidence Based Treatment Programs for SMI:
o Strengthens and expand critical assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) programs to help break the revolving-door cycle through a grant reauthorization and funding increase for states to implement AOT, and permit states to use grant funding for AOT in civil courts as an alternative to incarceration. o Establishes, hand in hand with AOT, a grant program for assertive community treatment teams to provide critical wrap around services in the community to people with SMI. o Provides states with new innovative opportunities to deliver much-needed care in IMDs to adult Medicaid pa-tients with SMI.
o Strengthens community response systems with a grant program to create databases on psychiatric beds, crisis sta-bilization units, and residential treatment facilities. o Directs CMS to outline for states innovative opportuni-ties to use Medicaid 1115 waivers to provide care for adults with serious mental illness
Decriminalizing mental illness o Allows DOJ funding to be used for civil AOT programs to
provide treatment opportunities before incarceration. o Creates federal mental health courts, and provides ave-nues for better screening and assessment of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system. o Provides law enforcement and the court system with training and programs to divert people with SMI from the criminal justice system.
Mandating data collection on the role of SMI in public is-sues
o Requires federal databases on psychiatric beds, crisis stabilization units, and residential treatment facilities. o Requires government reporting on federal, state, and local costs of imprisonment for individuals with serious mental illness, including the number and types of crimes committed by mentally ill individuals o Requires Attorney General data collection and dissemi-nation regarding the involvement of mental illness in all homicides, as well as deaths or serious bodily injuries in-volving law enforcement officers
Clarifying the HIPAA quagmire and train health care provid-ers so providers and families understand the circumstances under which they can share and provide protected infor-mation about a loved one with SMI.
Establishing a federal adult suicide prevention program. The Treatment Advocacy Center will continue to work with its partners and advocates to ensure that people with serious men-tal illness and their families get the best care and support they need to avoid repeated incarcerations, hospitalizations and putting an end to stigma. John Snook, executive director of the Treatment Advocacy Cen-ter, said, “It has been a long fight, and we are thrilled to see the Senate join their colleagues in the House today to pass reforms and send this bill to President Obama for his signature.”
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USE THESE HOLIDAY STRESS MANAGEMENT TIPS Posted to HealthyPlace on November 24, 2016 by Arley Hoskin, CMPS
The holidays are offi-
cially here and with
them come the need
for holiday stress man-
agement tips (Self-Help
Stress Management).
Here are a few holiday
stress management
tips that I use to main-
tain my blissful life.
Holiday Stress Management Tip #1: Do What You Love
I’ve said this in other posts, but I really can’t stress it enough—
you need to make time for the things you love. You find joy by
doing the things that you love. The holiday season is often full
of obligations and time commitments. If you don’t block off
time for the things that energize you, you will quickly find your-
self depleted.
DIRECTIONS TO S.T.A.R.
From I-81:
Take Hanover St. Exit and turn towards town, [Rt. 34 North]:
At the major intersection at Noble Blvd, turn left on Noble
Blvd.
Proceed straight ahead at the first Stop sign at West St.;
Turn right after the gas station on Penrose Pl.;
The Penrose Plaza is immediately on your left;
STAR is the last store front on the right end of the
Plaza. From Downtown Carlisle:
Take Hanover St. out of town [Rt. 34 South].
At the major intersection at Noble Blvd, turn right on Noble
Blvd.
Proceed straight ahead at the first Stop sign at West St.
Turn right after the gas station on your right;
The Penrose Plaza is immediately on your left;
STAR is the last store front on the right end of the Plaza.
OCD SUPPORT GROUP
ENCOURAGING, INFORMATIVE, MEETINGS FOR PERSONS WITH OCD AND THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS
Third Monday of each month - 6:30 p.m. ‘til 8:00 p.m.
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2000 Chestnut St., Camp Hill, PA 17011
PROFESSIONALLY FACILITATED - FREE OF CHARGE
(this is not a NAMI group)
Holiday Stress Management Tip #2: Give Grace to Those You Love
The second holiday stress management tip I use is to give grace
to the people that I love. The holidays are a stressful time. I have
found that sometimes people don’t realize how much stress
they have on their plate. Harsh words and criticism can often be
a result of this stress. For me, the best way to keep holiday
stress from entering my life is to give grace to those around
me—lots and lots of grace. There is power in grace and for-
giveness.
Holiday Stress Management Tip #3: Be Grateful for All that You Love
My final holiday stress management tip is to be grateful. Grati-
tude in and of itself can reduce stress and increase happiness.
Practicing gratitude can boost your wellbeing. Take time to ex-
press gratitude for all of the things in your life for which you are
thankful. Do this once a day and watch the holiday stress melt
away.
Mental Health Reform
is heading to the President's desk!
What does this mean for people with severe mental ill-
ness and their families? Join Dr. Torrey, John Snook and
the Treatment Advocacy Center [TAC] staff as we dis-
cuss the outlook for 2017.
When: Wednesday, December 14
12:00 - 12:45 p.m. ET
Who: Dr. Fuller E. Torrey, founder of the TAC
John Snook, executive director, TAC
Frankie Berger, director of advocacy, TAC
How: Dial in: 712.432.1212
Access: 523 572 276 #
Registration for this briefing is not required.
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THE POWER OF PET THERAPY By Allison White, ACSW, LCSW, CCDP-D | NOV. 23, 2016
I remember when I was seven, my Great-Uncle Benji said to my parents, “Allison needs a dog.” It was at that time, my life changed. I was a very quiet, re-served kid, but dogs brought me out of my shell. They were with me during good times, painful times and major life events—and loved me no matter how I reacted to these situations. They remained stable forces in my life, even during the darkest turmoil.
Nowadays, I work with clients who live with depression, anxie-ty and addictions, and they don’t always feel like there is hope. It’s hard for them to see light in the midst of their darkness, and peace seems so far away. But when I use my dogs during pet therapy visits, I see how animals brighten up a person’s mood, even if it’s for a short time. That moment allows a small trickle of light into that person’s heart, which may not have been there before.
During one session in particular, a client asked if she could get on the floor because she wanted to talk to my therapy dog about something “very important.” She buried her head into my dog’s fur and talked about the horrible week she had en-dured. Stroking my dog’s fur, my client was overcome with a sense of calm in a way I could not have accomplished by mere-ly talking with her. No judgments, no expectations—just a furry hug.
When we’re facing despair, loneliness, chronic health issues, depression, addictions, or anything beyond our ability to cope, a pet can help ease the pain. He or she can give us a reason to get out of our thoughts to focus on a sense of purpose. The relationship we have with our pets is real and symbiotic—what I give to my pets comes back to me in ways that can’t be meas-ured.
Research shows the benefits of pet therapy (in fact, its first known use dates back to the 9th century!). Boris Levinson was the first clinician to truly introduce the value of animals in a therapeutic environment. In the 1960s, Levinson reported that having his dog present at talk therapy sessions led to increased communication, increased self-esteem and increased willing-ness to disclose difficult experiences. Ever since, people have been turning to pets for comfort and support during periods of emotional turmoil. Hugging and speaking with a pet who won’t judge you for your feelings or thoughts is cathartic and helps people get through rough times. Pets also reduce symptoms of anxiety or depression, giving people a reason to get up in the morning. Other benefits are unconditional love, acceptance, a
“buddy” that encourages physical activity, which leads to healthier lifestyles.
If you’re unable to own a pet, there are many ways to reap the benefits of a pet relationship. Volunteering at a local shelter or helping rescue groups or pet therapy organizations such as Pet Partners (a national organization that promotes positive human-animal interactions) are ways to save pets’ lives, and possibly your own.
Allison is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experi-ence in the mental health field. She has worked at BJC Behavior-al Health for 23 years and has been a clinical supervisor of a continuous treatment team for the past 21 years. Allison has been a volunteer for Support Dog’s Inc. for the past 9 years, has had two certified TOUCH therapy dogs, one of which was also certified in animal-assisted crisis response.
What to Do When Your Mental Illness Seems Worse
It's frustrating when mental illnesses worsen. However, you don't have to give in to worsening mental illness symptoms, and you definitely don't need to give up. The following strate-gies can help you get back on track:
Reach out. Having even one person who can support you can help you through these tough times.
Write down what's happening, and use it as a tool for com-munication.
From your description of what's happening with your men-tal illness symptoms, list what's bothering you the most. It will help you know where to start the healing process.
Make an appointment with your mental health provider. Have someone accompany you to provide insight and write down any instructions you receive.
Create a daily self-care plan. Ensure that you're eating well, resting enough, exercising, and doing something enjoyable every day.
Before bed each night, sketch out a simple plan for your next day. Having a daily routine planned will help provide structure.
Notice what you're doing well instead of being hard on yourself for having a difficult time. Recognize that you're doing what it takes to keep going. That is a definition of a survivor.
When your mental illness seems worse, take action with these suggestions. If you are in crisis, use the National Suicide Preven-tion Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-8255.
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DE-STRESS IN AN INSTANT: ANY TIME, ANY PLACE
De-stressing is tough because stress is brutal. Stress takes a toll on mental and physical health. We can make lifestyle changes to reduce the effects of stress over time, but what about those times when we feel highly stressed (stressed out) in the moment, something immediate that we must face? It is possible to de-stress in an instant, no matter where you are or what you're doing. It takes just one powerful trick. To de-stress in an instant, close your eyes, take a slow, deep breath, and visualize your greater purpose. Visualizing Your Greater Purpose to De-Stress
Psychologist Viktor Frankl studied the importance of meaning and purpose while imprisoned in concentration camps during
WWII. Today, research continues to show that a sense of pur-pose is powerful and has a positive impact on physical and men-tal health, including stress reduction. You can use it to de-stress in an instant, whenever you need it. Take time to reflect on your sense of purpose. Why do you do what you do despite stress? Create a visual image to represent your purpose. Draw on your image to de-stress in an instant. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, recall your image, and remember that you have a greater purpose. Knowing this will reduce your stress instantly any time, any place.
FINDING PURPOSE Written by Tony Schirtzinger, MSSW, CICSW
Self-Therapy For People Who ENJOY Learning About Them-selves We all want the sense that we have fulfilled our purpose in life. Therapy clients in particular, after they have conquered most of their demons, feel a strong desire to find new purpose. With their unhealthy goals now eliminated, they wonder: "How will I spend the rest of my life?" How much purpose do we have? How much do we need? What is a healthy purpose? How do we know if we are fulfilling our purpose? PURPOSES WE ALREADY HAVE These are biologically preordained and achieved in this order:
"Biologically preordained" means you will always strive for these goals - even if you consciously try to ignore them. If you put off working on these tasks in some misguided belief that other things are more important your body will let you know. You will be unhealthy, or lonely, or sad and angry, or you will feel empty.
PURPOSE: TASK:
To stay alive. Be safe and take care of your body.
To belong. Love and be loved.
To feel joy. Get enough of what you want to feel satisfied.
To regenerate. Contribute so the world is better when you leave it.
HOW MUCH PURPOSE? These biological purposes are entirely enough. Every ounce of energy you put into achieving them is rewarded with pleasura-ble sensation. These sensations tell you that you are in sync with your natural role in the universe. It's as if you are saying: "The people I love, especially including myself, matter." If you think you must put off any of these natural purposes to achieve something more important, you are quite wrong. Achieve these purposes first.
HEALTHY PURPOSES Any additional purpose you assign yourself must somehow re-late to those already listed. You can't always improve your phys-ical health, but you can always give and receive more love, get more of the things you want, and contribute more to the well-being of others. So, if you set a goal of becoming rich or powerful or wise or adored you won't be satisfied as you work toward your goal unless you use your achievements to give yourself and those you love more health, more love, greater satisfaction, and a more complete sense of belonging. Compare Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Franklin Roosevelt with Napoleon, Adolph Hitler, and Richard Nixon. Each leader had huge dreams that were only partially fulfilled in their life-time. Those in first group may have died with a sense of
(Continued on page 7)
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achieved purpose. For those in the second group, this was impossible all along.
ARE WE ACHIEVING OUR PURPOSE? We can tell if we are achieving our purpose by noticing how we usually feel when we are relaxed and resting. The degree to which we usually feel good at these times tells us the degree to which we are achieving our pur-pose.
DO WE NEED MORE? Maybe. A lot of the people I know and respect seem to think we do. Maybe they are right. But I think we only need to be true to our biology to know we are fulfilling our purpose. Fulfilling our role as a human being is difficult enough.
THE BIG PICTURE When you were born you were given one huge task: to take good care of yourself. Once you achieve that, your nature will lead you toward love and inclusiveness. What further purpose could there be? What greater purpose is there?
Enjoy Your Changes!
Everything here is designed to help you do just that!
(Continued from page 6)
NAMI PA
CUMBERLAND AND PERRY
COUNTIES
WISHES ALL IN OUR
NAMI FAMILY
A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY
AND
A SAFE, HEALTHY AND
HAPPY
2017
8
Place
Stamp
Here
NAMI PA
CUMBERLAND and PERRY COUNTIES Enclosed is my membership or my tax deductible donation (check or money order)
Payable to NAMI PA C/P - mail to PO Box 527, Carlisle, Pa. 17013
___Individual membership [$35] ___Family membership [$35] ___Open Door [3$] ___Professional membership [$50]
___ New member or ____Renewal
NAME:_____________________________________________________________________________________ Date__________
STREET:__________________________________________________________________email:___________________________
CITY:____________________________________________STATE_____________ZIP_________________
PA, CUMBERLAND and
PERRY COUNTIES NEWS
P.O. Box 527, Carlisle, PA 17013
