Seven Counties Services

We've Moved

2010-12-10T11:12:00.000-08:00

The Seven Counties Services Blog has found a new home on the Seven Counties Services webpage. We're now hosting the blog ourselves.

Please visit us and sign up for our RSS feed at http://www.sevencounties.org/.

Needed: A New Stigma Battle Plan

2010-10-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

Who knew? Seems people in general don't buy the "disease like any other disease" argument used prominently by health care providers and advocates to reduce the stigma of mental illness. That's the conclusion of study results released by Indiana University and Columbia University in mid-September and published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The researcher found that "prejudice and discrimination in the U.S. aren't moving...In fact, in some cases, it may be increasing..."

Stigma is a big problem. It produces discrimination. It negatively impacts quality of life. And most of all, it perpetuates the devaluation of persons afflicted by the illnesses and the services they need. This, in turn, pushes mental health services further to the edge of the plate of public support and funding.

The study suggests that stigma reduction efforts would do better to focus on the person rather than the disease - emphasizing the abilities and competencies of people with mental illness. The authors also suggest that the hymns need to move well beyond the choir.

If you think about it, isn't that the model of cancer fighting advocates? They focus on the victory, the recovery, the triumph - not on the disease.

These findings give us all a challenge - to re-think our thoughts, re-think our expressions and re-focus our attention where they always should have been - on the people, not the disease.

Shades of the Cleaver Family

2010-09-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

TV family shows of the 50s, 60s and even the 70s regularly featured scenes around the family dinner table. Remarkably, the entire family was normally present! Try finding that on a family TV show today. OK, maybe the Thanksgiving or Christmas episodes, at best. It's a struggle for families to come together on a regular basis for a shared meal. But it's a struggle that well worth winning.

A study performed by Columbia University revealed that children who eat dinner with their families each night at least 3 times a week are less likely to use drugs, smoke or drink.

What a great prevention measure - dinner with the family!

Monday, September 27th is Family Day - a day to bring your family together for dinner. It's a great day to start a very worthwhile and healthy family tradition.

New National Drug Use Stats Don't Look Healthy

2010-09-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

From today's press release by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:

The use of illicit drugs among Americans increased between 2008 and 2009 according to a national survey conducted by SAMHSA. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows that the overall rate of current illicit drug use in the United States rose from 8.0 percent of the population age 12 and older in 2008 to 8.7 percent in 2009. This rise in overall drug use was driven in large part by increases in marijuana use.

The annual NSDUH survey, released by SAMHSA at the kickoff of the 21st annual Natio n al Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, also shows that the nonmedical use of prescription drugs rose from 2.5 percent of the population in 2008 to 2.8 percent in 2009. Additionally, the estimated number of past-month Ecstasy users rose from 555,000 in 2008 to 760,000 in 2009, and the number of methamphetamine users rose from 314,000 to 502,000 during that period.
"These results are a wake up call to the Nation," said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. "Our strategies of the past appear to have stalled out with 'Generation Next.' Parents and caregivers, teachers, coaches, faith and community leaders, must find credible new ways to communicate with our youth about the dangers of substance abuse."

"Today's findings are disappointing, but not surprising, because eroding attitudes and perceptions of harm about drug use over the past 2 years have served as warning signs for exactly what we see today," said Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske. "

Blah Blah Health Care Reform Blah Blah

2010-08-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

By Dean L. Johnson, Vice President

Community Relations

Seems to me there's plenty of nonsense reporting and self-interested revelations surrounding the health insurance reform act passed earlier this year. If the mass media is your only source of information about what the act does and how it might affect you, your family, your business or your employer, then you've been shortchanged. 2 column articles and 30 second sound bites can't do it justice. Mostly, they do an injustice. Your most likely to find out somebody's beef with the bill. You're leastly likely to find out how it will affect you.

There is another way. An industry selling manuals, articles and slideshows centered on "what's in the bill" instantly materialized and continues to grow. I've had no less than four documents explaining the reform package in my briefcase at any one time for the past two months. I've read health insurance reform papers on planes, on trains, on buses and in automobiles.Most of them are large. Many of them are barely comprehensible. Nearly all are focused on how the bill affects a particular segment of the health care industry.

There's not a lot out there that delivers comprehensive, easy to understand and unbiased information to Joe and Jane Public, who need to understand what this bill does for and to them.

Fortunately, in Kentucky, we have a resource that fits the need. It's a ten page, easy-to-follow piece created by a coalition of organizations called Kentucky Voices for Health. It's simply titled: "The New Health Reform Law: What it Means to Kentuckians." Want to know if you'll be eligible for a subsidy to pay your insurance? It's in there. Wondering if your employer will have to provide you with insurance coverage? It's in there. Looking for small business assistance? It's in there. Worried about how the law affects Medicare recipients? The answers are in there.

Want to know how you can get one? It's in here: http://www.kyvoicesforhealth.com/.

Happy Birthday, Seven Counties!

2010-08-16T08:04:00.000-07:00

Seven Counties Services celebrated its 32nd birthday on August 1…but celebrate may be the wrong word. In fact, I didn’t hear any of my colleagues mention it, even once! In years past, Seven Counties’ birthday was a big deal to many of us…it meant another year of growth, another year in the business and health communities, another year of providing community residents with high quality behavioral health, developmental and intellectual, and substance abuse services.

There’s nothing different about this year; Seven Counties is still providing services – now to more than 32,000 people every year. The organization is solid financially, has good name-recognition in the community and a national reputation for excellence, innovation and quality. It’s a great place to work, and staff (according to a recently completed independently-conducted staff survey) feel personally satisfied about the work they do in helping Seven Counties achieve its mission.

Our President/Chief Executive Office Dr. Howard Bracco was recently named the recipient of the Center for Non-Profit Excellence’s Lifetime Achievement Award, marking his 32 years of serving this community through his leadership of Seven Counties. Last year, our Vice President of Finance and Administration, Vicki Knable, was named the Business First Non-Profit CFO of the Year. Seven Counties routinely tops the Business First’s list of top non-profit organizations in the region. A number of our programs have won recognitions recently for quality and excellence. While Seven Counties will certainly continue to seek excellence in all areas of operations and staffing, I’d say we’ve done pretty well thus far.

So, with all these successes, why didn’t we celebrate our birthday this year? Perhaps, like a lot of people, it gets to the point where the actual number doesn’t seem important – it’s the quality that matters. Perhaps staff no longer feel we must prove ourselves within the community. Again, we don’t want to rest on our laurels – far from it; we want to keep pushing the envelope to identify better ways of helping people achieve recovery, but perhaps we don’t feel that we have quite as much to prove, considering our great track record for…uhmm… 32 years.

So, just in case you missed it (and I believe nearly everyone did), Happy Birthday, Seven Counties.

A Vacation Full of Brain Food

2010-08-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

By Dean Johnson, VP Community Relations

I took a vacation last week - sort of. Technically, it was five days of vacation. In reality, it was five days of very hard labor.

I spent a week in Vermont on a "Volunteer Vacation" helping to build the Cross-Vermont Trail, a four-season, multi-use trail that will eventually run from one side of the state to the other.

Trail building in southeast Vermont involves three basic activities - digging ditches, moving boulders and crushing granite. Since I was working with an organization dedicated to low-impact trail building techniques, that meant doing all three with hand tools - shovels, rock bars (picture a six foot crowbar on steroids), picks and sledge hammers. No machines - just human bodies at work.

I got more exercise in the course of two hours than I normally get in two days - and I exercise regularly. By the end of the week, I was about as "bone weary" as I can ever remember being.

But I was also happy. I felt very accomplished. I felt satisfied. And I felt like I had done something worthwhile for a bunch of folks I'll never meet. My mind and mood seemed to be at their zenith, while my body was in the depths of despair.

Maybe I did more than I should have, but all that exercise had a positive effect on my brain. Not a big surprise. Years ago, Duke University researchers discovered that exercise has antidepressant properties. Others revealed the benefit of exercise to brain functioning and its ability to ward off dimentia. Theories on the science behind these effects vary, but the conclusion is undeniable.

Exercise is brain food. In Vermont, it's nearly as good as the seafood.

Six - An Unlucky Number for KY

2010-07-23T06:18:00.000-07:00

Maybe it’s only a coincidence, but yesterday I ran across two seemingly unrelated items that grouped Kentucky as one of six states with a certain distinction – and, now don’t be surprised - neither are positive recognitions.

First, my inbox contained an e-mail forwarded from a colleague that, among of things, recounted the results of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) project called Grading of the States. Each year, NAMI looks at states’ efforts in promoting and supporting effective programs and treatments for individuals with mental illnesses. I imagine few were surprised to find that, in 2009, Kentucky received the same mark it has received nearly every year the grades have been awarded - we were one of six states to receive an “F.”

Next, I was catching up on my periodical reading on the bus ride home and discovered, thanks to a LEO investigative reporter, that our commonwealth ranks sixth (from the bottom, not the top) in the percentage of women serving in the state legislature. We share a dismal rate of female representation in our General Assembly with Pennsylvania (surprise), Alabama, South Carolina, Oklahoma and “thank God for” Mississippi.

Think there’s a connection? I can tell you that research overwhelmingly supports the contention that women are the primary health care decision makers in every family. Whether it’s a concern over an earache or a suspicion of addiction, it’s the women who speak up and take action. Interestingly, it’s also women who are the first to read their children’s school report cards.

Would more women in the legislature (there are 21 females and 117 males in the KY General Assembly) make a difference? Would an “F” still be acceptable, as it has been for many years?

I wonder.

Dean L. Johnson, VP, Community Relations

The Unspoken Truth

2010-07-21T04:44:00.000-07:00

By Dean L. Johnson, V.P. Community Relations

Healing travels many roads and by way of many modes. Art and performance are two of the more powerful vehicles that drive recovery for those who have survived the pain and trauma of personal violence, abuse, incest.

This past weekend, Seven Counties was honored to be the presenting sponsor of an exhibition of art and performance that was both powerful and groundbreaking. More than 300 individuals in our community experienced (and created) visual arts, performance arts, films, music, lectures and discussions all centered on one goal - to end personal violence against persons everywhere. Granted, it's a lofty goal - but oh what a start 18 contributing artists, nine dancers, poets, musicians and others made.

In the words of the world's best known anthropologist, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. "

Due to the success of Unspoken Truth (the title refers to the silence within families that is too often the response to violence and abuse), the visual arts will remain at the Huff Gallery at the Spalding University Library in downtown Louisville until August 10th. Take a few moments in one of your days and experience what one attendee described as "the most powerful hour of my life."

You can find more information at http://unspokentruthexhibit.wordpress.com/

Tax Reform is Desperately Needed in Kentucky !

2010-06-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

The Commonwealth of Kentucky approved its budget for FY ’11, and it leaves a lot to be desired. I’m not criticizing the legislators, since they have only so much to work with. Let’s face it. There just aren’t sufficient dollars to pay for everything the state needs. Now is the time for state tax reform to increase revenues; currently, the tax burden falls on the middle class and working poor. Folks who earn between $15,000 and $47,000 pay nearly 11% in state and local taxes – while the wealthiest citizens pay only 6.1% of their income in state and local taxes!

Desperately needing some of that additional funding are community mental health centers in Kentucky, which are struggling to meet the demand for services.

Did you know that Kentucky was ranked 42nd in the country in funding mental health services in 2006? In its report, Grading the States 2006, the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) ranked Kentucky 42nd in per capita spending on mental health ($51.27), with total mental health spending at $210,000,000. By comparison, Indiana’s ranking in 2006 was 28th in per capita spending on mental health ($72.37); its total mental health spending was $448,000,000.

In NAMI’s 2009 Grading the States Report, it’s noted that little progress has been made in Kentucky. It reports, “The community mental health centers haven’t received a cost-of-living increase in their state contracts in 12 years.”

Without greater funding, more stress is put on other areas. Without outpatient treatment, folks end up in hospitals, where costs are greater. Seven Counties’ costs per day, including outpatient and medication services, are about $204 a day; the average cost for one day of treatment in a psychiatric hospital is $700 per day.

Without outpatient treatment, jails fill up with individuals whose major crime is that they have a mental illness. Between July 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010, Seven Counties – using a $183,000 grant – saved Metro Corrections $1,726,289 (figuring the cost of one day in jail is $68.00) by keeping individuals out of jail. Think how many people could be diverted from jail if more funding were available!

Until the state makes a committed investment to bolster its community mental health centers, everyone will be paying a higher price in emergency, inpatient and corrections services. Contact your state legislators and let them know that tax reform is needed now – not only for mental health but for all the other areas where Kentucky is coming up short.

Let's Talk About It! by Dean Johnson, Vice President - Community Relations

2010-06-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

Mental health can be a tough subject to talk about. Admittedly, it’s not usually in the top ten on the water cooler or cocktail party conversation menus. But it needs to be. Mental illness issues affect us all in some way, shape or form. National statistics say that about one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. Look around you – right now. See three other people? Get the picture?

Human experience tells us that when we don’t talk about something, we generally get it all wrong.

Misconceptions about mental illnesses are abundant. No, they are not character flaws. No, you can’t just make yourself feel better. Contrary to popular opinion, it’s not “just a mood thing.” And all the will power in the world isn’t going to make you better without professional help to go with it.

Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. They do to the mind what diabetes, heart disease and cancers can do to the body.

Remember a few years back when Tom Cruise said on national television that Brooke Shields – who had just gone public about her battle with post partum depression – should just take some vitamins and “get over it”? He claimed there was no such thing as depression. He was wrong.

Fortunately, Brooke sought treatment (and she did, actually, “get over it”, but not by her own will alone).

Not talking about something has another negative consequence – stigma. Research shows that the stigma associated with mental illnesses is the number one reason people don’t seek treatment. People are afraid – of judgment, of misunderstanding, of loss of friendships and loss of love. Just imagine the health of our country today if the same stigma and reluctance to seek treatment was associated with cancer or heart disease? What a tragedy we’ve created – because we do not talk about it.

Glenn Close, who has a sister with bi-polar disorder, has become an active stigma fighter lately. The actress says, “There is nothing to hide…We are all connected, and none of us should ever feel marginalized, stigmatized and alone.”

Mental illness is just an illness, although a serious one. It can be treated with therapy and, when needed, medication. So, let’s talk about it. Let’s be open about it. Let’s make it not just OK, but the expectation – that people with mental illnesses will be treated and they will recover.

Guest Blog by Dean Johnson, Vice President - Community Relations, Seven Counties Services

2010-06-07T06:41:00.000-07:00

“Oh Behave!” - Certainly one of Austin Power’s more famous lines. In case you don’t know Austin, he’s the swinging English bachelor created by comedian Mike Myers. If you’ve seen any of the movies, you can probably hear his inflection and picture his facial expression just at the thought of the words. You also know that “Oh Behave!” was his admonition to others to control their flirtations.

I recently participated in a round table discussion with other behavioral healthcare professionals, advocates, parents and consumers from our community. One of the parents, who has been active in advocacy for many years, asked a question that left most in the room looking to one another for the definitive answer: “What exactly is behavioral healthcare and why do we call it that?” She’d heard the term and references to it throughout the years, but even someone so deeply involved in the field wasn’t sure she knew exactly what to think of when she heard those words. She wasn’t – and isn’t – alone.

There seemed to be a general agreement that behavioral healthcare has two components: treatment of mental illnesses and treatment of addictions. Individually, the two components enjoy a fairly widespread, if superficial, understanding by John and Joan Q. Public. But the term coined to identify the two together - behavioral healthcare -is not widely understood. Ask 10 people on the street what it means and I’d bet you an instant lottery ticket that the majority wouldn’t even come close.

One of the consumers in attendance said she didn’t like the term. An individual active and successful in recovery, she said she thought the term conveys the idea that people can control these illnesses through their own determination: they just have to “behave.”

The word “behave” has its origin in 15th Century Middle English (probably one of Austin’s distant relatives). Merriam-Webster says its primary meanings are “to manage actions of oneself in a particular way” or “to conduct oneself in a proper manner.” The first definition might find a home in the recovery models of both the mental health and addictions fields. The second definition is a bit more open to interpretation.

The common understanding does imply a level of management and control that exceeds the comfort of many. So what do we mean? More importantly, what are we conveying to the public when we use the term “behavioral healthcare”? We know what Austin would say. What do you say?

TV Show Highlights that Treatment Works

2010-06-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

Did you see the TV show America’s Got Talent on Tuesday night? If you didn’t, you missed, as host Nick Cannon said, the most emotional moment in the program’s history.

A dozen or so adults took the stage to perform. The choir, calling itself New Direction, was entirely comprised of veterans – sailors, marines, soldiers. All of them had been homeless at some point after their discharge. One man told the audience that he had been homeless for 25 years, but, one day, he loaded up his shopping cart and walked several miles to a treatment facility. It was, he said, the beginning of his life.

Let me paraphrase what the spokesman of the group said: “In the past, you might not have wanted to see us, but our being here shows that people can change.”

People can change – with the right kind of help. Too many vets are afraid to ask for help – they were in the military, for heaven’s sake, you think, and nothing should scare them! – but they’re afraid to ask for help. More and more vets are returning from horrific conditions in the Middle East, and many of them, for one reason or another, will end up on the streets.

If you know a vet, let him or her know that you’re there for them. If they appear to be struggling, encourage them to seek help and let them know that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. If you see a homeless individual on the street, you can be relatively certain that he or she has a mental illness (in the case of veterans, possibly post traumatic stress) and is likely abusing alcohol or drugs. Many homeless individuals were in the military; they helped protect our country. They were there when we needed them. They deserve better than this.

There needs to be more money available for treatment. But more than that, there’s a bias against the homeless. You see someone who is tattered, talking to himself, weaving along the sidewalk or asleep on a park bench, and you think “homeless bum”. You don’t think about what brought him to this point, to this place. You don’t wonder if he’s a veteran of this country. You just think about him being a bum.

And the group New Direction? How’d they do last night in their audition? They got a standing ovation from the audience. They deserved it. They were good.

People can change. Treatment works.

Mental Illness Impacts Entire Families

2010-06-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

My father-in-law had a bipolar disorder, which, I’m sorry to say, he seemed to enjoy. His disorder manifested itself into grandiosity – he was important, he knew important people, he knew best, he was always right. I remember a sister-in-law telling me that, one night at the dinner table when she was small, her mother told him that one of the children desperately needed to go to the dentist. My father-in-law didn’t even hesitate. “No,” he said, “I need new shoes. Her teeth will have to wait.”

My father-in-law wasn’t unfeeling or uncaring, but his illness got in the way. In fact, when he was finally diagnosed (years after his children were grown) and began taking Lithium, his entire demeanor changed. He was more thoughtful, more affectionate and empathetic, much less likely to dominate conversations and actions, and more understanding.

It was his children who paid. Being raised by a loving mother and a dictatorial father who was prone – during their childhood – to periods of anger or depression or hyperactivity was very confusing to them, and profoundly affected them into their adult years. Well into middle age, one son reacted angrily to just about everything. The other son employed adult temper tantrums (which his father had so successfully used his entire life) to get his way. One daughter will, to this day, leave the room if anyone raises a voice. Another daughter has bipolar disorder too, and she has decided that she doesn’t need medication, continuing the sad cycle through another generation. All four married very young just to get out of the house and away from their dad.

If you have an untreated mental illness, it is impacting your interactions with the people you love, and you’re impacting them in ways you can’t foresee. Particularly, I think, in the case of children, you’re altering their personalities and views of themselves just as readily as though you were deliberately cruel or abusive.

If you have been diagnosed with any mental illness, please seek treatment from a qualified mental health professional. The road to recovery may not be easy; it’s full of potholes and temptations to just say, “Forget it.” But it’s not just your health and well being that could be at stake; there are others who love you who will be forever impacted by your negative symptoms. By taking the steps to recovery, you’re helping those you love move forward, too.

For more information about services for behavioral health issues, go to sevencounties.com.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is Preventable

2010-05-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

I’m sure you’ve heard of the woman in Tennessee who adopted a child from Russia, then recently sent him back, saying that the Russian adoption agency failed to tell her he had fetal alcohol syndrome. Her argument was that he was too difficult to manage and posed a threat to other members of her family.

I don’t want to speculate on this particular case, but it does raise a good opportunity to provide information on fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS is a condition that results from a woman drinking alcohol during her pregnancy. Any woman who drinks during pregnancy places her baby at risk of fetal alcohol syndrome.

When you drink alcohol, it enters your bloodstream and reaches your developing fetus. Because a fetus metabolizes alcohol slower than an adult, your baby's blood alcohol concentrations are higher than those in your body. Alcohol also interferes with the delivery of oxygen and optimal nutrition to your baby's developing tissues, organs and brain.

FAS isn't a single birth defect. It's a cluster of problems: facial impairment; developmental disabilities or delayed development; heart defects; deformities of joints, limbs and fingers; slow physical growth; vision and hearing problems; learning disorders; hyperactivity; poor impulse control; extreme nervousness and anxiety.

As many as 40,000 babies are born with some type of alcohol-related damage each year in the United States.

There is no cure or specific treatment for fetal alcohol syndrome. The physical defects and mental deficiencies last a lifetime. Heart abnormalities may require surgery. Learning problems may be helped by special services in school. Parents often benefit from counseling to help the family with a child's behavior problems.

The more you drink when you’re pregnant, the greater the risk to your unborn baby. The risk is present throughout pregnancy, but impairment of facial features, the heart and other organs, bones, and the central nervous system may occur as a result of drinking alcohol during the first trimester. Alcohol may affect the brain of the fetus at any time during pregnancy.

The most important thing to remember is this: if you are trying to get pregnant or are already pregnant and you can’t/won’t stop drinking, you need help. You are putting your child’s health and future happiness at severe risk.

Guest Blog by Joel Bowman, MSW, CSW

2010-05-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

Our youngest daughter recently turned 18 months. On May 4th, Katie was particularly defiant. So, my wife, Nannette, put her in time-out. She complied for a few seconds, but got up before instructed. Finally, Nannette placed Katie in her bed, and closed the door.

We then heard a loud knocking noise . . . BAM! BAM! BAM! Perhaps, it was the UPS man, knocking at the front door. But we were not expecting any packages. I thought, that sound is coming from the girls’ bedroom. We hurried to the bedroom, opened the door to discover . . . Katie knocking at the door, trying to get out of the bedroom. Talk about "a strong-willed child."

But wait, how did she . . . huh?! I thought to myself, her state-of-the-art baby bed has been specifically designed by some of the world's greatest engineers, so as to keep her contained in "the time-out position." Nannette had the ingenious idea, let's put her back into the bed, so we can see how she got from the bed to the door. Within 60 seconds, Katie hoisted one of her exceedingly short legs all the way over the railing. Then, the second leg . . . while at the same time holding on with both hands, as she backed her way down to the floor. It was as though she were Lebron James returning to earth from a tomahawk dunk. The amazement with which we gazed upon this scary scene was as though we were going down the hill of the world's tallest roller coaster. We then began a laugh so robust, we almost burst into tears of hilarity.

Lessons Learned:

1. Be careful where you put your child for a time-out.

2. Toddlers have a determination that is unequaled, and they're not afraid to take risks, no matter who's watching.

3. The mind of a toddler is replete with creativity. They think outside the bed . . . I mean, box.

4. If the aforementioned determination and creativity can be properly channeled and developed, our children will grow into adults who will change this world, for the better.

Remember, the same is true of the youth we serve here at Seven Counties. We simply need to have ears to listen for the BAM! BAM! BAM! of their hearts.

Check out Seven Counties' web page at sevencounties.org, and learn more about services for children!

Salute to People Who Have Made a Difference

2010-05-10T06:12:00.000-07:00

Quick! What do you think of when you think of Abraham Lincoln? Sixteenth President of the United States? The man who stopped slavery? His humble beginnings? The Gettysburg Address?

You probably don’t think of this: He suffered from depression – depression so severe and incapacitating that he occasionally thought of suicide.

What do you think of when you think of Winston Churchill? That he was one of Britain’s greatest prime ministers? That his stirring leadership and inspiring speeches helped Britain through the terror and fear of WWII?

Did you know he had bi-polar disorder (manic depression) – what he called his ‘black dog’? "Had he been a stable and equable man, he could never have inspired the nation. In 1940, when all the odds were against Britain, a leader of sober judgment might well have concluded that we were finished," wrote author Anthony Storr.

May is National Mental Health Month and a great time to recognize all the talented, creative people who have overcome their illnesses to become our leaders, our entertainers, our inspiration.

George Fredrick Handel, Gustav Mahler, Robert Schumann and Ludwig van Beethoven – all superbly talented musicians and composers – had bi-polar disorders, but their masterpieces will never die.

Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, Eugene O’Neill, Leo Tolstoy, and Tennessee Williams were brilliant authors who have given us images and characters that will remain classics for eternity - and all had clinical depression.

Comedians Drew Carey and Roseanne Barr (they have had depression) and Tracy Ullman (bipolar disorder) manage their illnesses – and very successful careers. And they make us laugh.

Former news icons Mike Wallace (depression) and Jane Pauley (depression and bipolar disorder) didn’t let their illnesses get in the way of the news.

Vivian Leigh of Gone with the Wind fame…bipolar disorder. Linda Hamilton of the Terminator movies…bipolar disorder. Ron Steiger, star of In the Heat of the Night…depression. They’ve brought to life movie characters we’ll never forget.

Ted Turner, businessman and entrepreneur….bipolar disorder.

Teddy Roosevelt, President of the United States…bipolar disorder.

Vincent van Gogh, artist…bipolar disorder.

So let’s give thanks that, despite what you may think, mental illness does not deprive a person of intelligence, creativity, determination or ambition. Our world would be a grayer place without the insight and talent of people with mental illness.

And if you know someone struggling with a mental illness, you can help them realize their potential. Begin by encouraging them to seek treatment. It’s a well-established fact: treatment works.

Debilitating Forces in Families

2010-04-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

For Tina and Susan life as a child was everything but normal. Their mother suffered from Schizophrenia, resulting in violent behavior towards her children. Susan eventually moved out to escape her mother’s abusive ways. Tina attempted suicide.

Gene’s mother tried to take her life 10 times. Her struggle with her illness led to her inability to properly raise Gene. When Gene was 14, he was sent to live with his brother and sister-in law.

For such parents, daily tasks are hard to remember, can be emotionally taxing and are thus neglected. The debilitating forces of mental illness can cause children to take on abnormal levels of responsibility in caring for themselves and in managing the household. This, in turn, makes it tough on the children to have a healthy and stable childhood and produces higher probability of the children developing a mental illness.

The stigma associated with mental illness keeps parents from seeking the help they need. When these parents do seek help, as in Gene’s story, their children are removed from the home. Seventy percent of parents who seek treatment have lost custody of their children and find themselves in an unending cycle of loss.

Addressing the needs of these families requires not only personal treatment for the effected parent, but family care as well. One in four American families is affected by mental illness and as a result is more likely to be broken by divorce. Changes are needed to lower the rates of divorce and child mental illness. This is why communities should strive to improve care for these vulnerable families by creating programs that help cope with mental illness within the family, while keeping the family unit intact.

Kotulski, Tina. "Book Review." SavingMillie. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2010."Living in Chaos: Survival: Family history... The legacy of mental illness...." Schizophrenia.com, Indepth Schizophrenia Information and Support. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2010."Mental Health America: When a Parent Has a Mental Illness: Issues and Challenges." Mental Health America: Welcome to Mental Health America. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2010.

Homeless and Mental Illness

2010-02-24T10:58:00.000-08:00

I bet you don’t know this. Mental illness, drug abuse, homelessness and not enough being done to address any of them are four things that are prominent in today’s world. When this situation arises in our own area we are faced with a problem that hits closer to home.

People who are homeless in the community are in need of our help. Prior to the 1960’s people with mental illness were involuntarily admitted to state psychiatric hospitals. Eventually unnecessary hospitalization ceased with the development of medication to control symptoms. Today’s standard is no involuntary admission unless the individual posed a threat to themselves or others. Gradually people were being discharged from the hospitals but were not provided with the follow-up community-based programs they needed. These people ended up living on the streets.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 20-25% of the homeless population in the United States suffers from some form of mental illness. In 2008, mental illness was the third largest cause of homelessness in adults. Research has shown that homeless individuals with a mental illness suffer mostly from severe chronic depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, and severe personality disorders.

Forty percent of the homeless population is families with children; most of these are run by a single woman. Research has shown that 84% of these mothers have been severely assaulted at some point in their lives resulting in a higher probability their children will have mental health problems. These mental illnesses disrupt peoples’ ability to carry out essential daily tasks such as personal hygiene, household management, and creating and maintaining stable interpersonal relationships.

In addition to having a mental illness, some of these people have substance abuse problems. They self medicate with street drugs which can lead to disease from intravenous injections. This combination of mental illness, poor physical health, and substance abuse makes it very hard for people to obtain employment and a stable residence.

Studies show that continual treatment and services improve the probability that homeless persons will maintain stable housing. Supported housing programs were created to provide the care needed. Services include mental health treatment, physical health care, education and employment opportunities, peer support, daily living and money management skills trainings.

In order to reduce the numbers of homeless people with mental illnesses we need to have more continual treatment available. Seven Counties Services, Inc has a homeless outreach team that does just that. The Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery also offers a Supported Housing Program for residents that are ready to learn how to live in the community.

"Library Index." Library Index. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2010. http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/2321/Health-Homeless-MENTAL-HEALTH-HOMELESS.

"National Coalition for the Homeless." National Coalition for the Homeless. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2010. .

Thoughts on Hope from Dr. Bracco

2010-02-01T10:19:00.000-08:00

Too often nowadays when I watch newscasts I am overwhelmed by the negativity, cynicism, mean-spiritedness and pessimism reflected in the content. As I flip from channel to channel I am amazed that the same stories are being broadcast almost at the same exact moments. The stories would have you believe that the glass is not even half empty, it is virtually drained. I find myself caught in a vise of negative emotions feeling anxious and full of despair. I wonder how these myopic presentations affect others.

How often are we bombarded with warning signs that tell us the world is a dangerous place? Frequently, even the weather report is made to sound ominous and foreboding. We are in a constant state of storm warnings that have turned the cleansing rain of a thunderstorm into a deluge of fear.

What are the cumulative effects of the onslaught of continuous stress on us as people? I can only imagine the constant flow of adrenaline we are exposed to which leads us to states of hypersensitivity or numbness. Karen Horney, a contemporary of Freud, defined anxiety as a "feeling of being lost and alone in a potentially hostile environment." We must be experiencing states of super anxiety since we are exposed to messages that tell us we are in a constantly hostile environment. I can feel the rush of adrenaline and the pressure building within me and then I force myself to pull back from the brink recognizing that what I am reacting to is the myopic characterizations that are being placed before me.

I become mindful once again of the words of FDR "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." and mindful of the wisdom of Howard Zinn, a social activist and historian who recently passed away on January 27th 2010. In his book "A Power Governments Cannot Suppress" Zinn wrote:

"If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places-and there are so many-where people have behaved magnificently, it energizes us to act, and raises at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."

I open my eyes more fully and I can see the resilience of the people of Haiti following the devastation caused by an earthquake. I can see the coming together of others with their outpouring of help. I can see courage, strength, generosity, hope. While the world may have its dangers I recognize that we as human beings have the competence to cope with them and the ability to fashion the world as we would like it. So in spite of the economy, weather, violence, political corruption, and the empty glass there is hope.

Adolescence: The Forgotten Age

2010-01-25T09:42:00.000-08:00

"Are you lying to me?" "Don't EVER let me catch you doing that again." "And don't ask me WHY, the answer is NO." These are a few of the things that adolescents hear from their parents on a regular basis. Teens are often perceived as troubled kids or trouble makers and their problems are largely ignored.

Research shows that even good students from wealthy backgrounds go off track when they reach junior high. "They desperately want the approval of their friends, to be perceived as 'cool,' and they will do dangerous and just plain dumb things to gain that status" says Phyllis Ellickson, a senior RAND analyst. In high school, dangerous temptations arise from peers to use drugs, alcohol, and to engage in unsafe sex practices. These behaviors contribute to violence and emotional problems. Children between 12 and 18 are extremely vulnerable and have not developed the skills to cope with temptations that arise by this age.

Some of these temptations result in serious consequences, including death. Seventy-five percent of adolescent deaths are primarily caused by three things: automobile accidents, homicide and suicide. These are directly linked with risky behaviors, such as drug use (alcohol and other drugs). Twenty percent of high school seniors smoke and about 30% are binge drinkers. Such things often go together: drug usage increases the risk of unsafe behavior; teens with mental health problems often use drugs.

The problem is compounded by the limited ability to get help. About one-third of poor and near-poor teens have no medical coverage, and a surprisingly large portion of middle-income teens also lack coverage.

So, how do we prevent adolescents from potentially life threatening behaviors? Studys by Ellickson and others discovered that school-based prevention programs can curb drug use. These programs work best at delaying or reducing cigarette and marijuana use. These programs are most effective when continued throughout high school.

We can do better. Treatment plans need to be developed for adolescence that involve families, schools, and health professionals. "We need to promote community-based or school-linked systems of care that recognize the interrelatedness of many adolescent problems" says Ellickson. Better training in adolescent medicine would go a long way to helping health professionals identify with mental disorders and drug abuse in teens.

"Adolescence: Forgotten Age, Forgotten Problems." RAND Corporation Provides Objective Research Services and Public Policy Analysis. RAND, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2010. . www.dicts.info/img/ud/alcohol.jpg

Kentuckians and Increased Health Access

2010-01-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

Thirty-eight percent of adults from 18-65 went without health insurance at some time during this past year, said a study done by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. This year the foundation joined with the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati to conduct an extensive Kentucky Health Issues Poll.

There were over 1600 interviewed and the study had a margin of error less than 2.5 percent, according to Eric Rademacher of the Institute for Policy Research. Despite the economy, 81% of Kentuckians still favor “providing access to affordable, quality healthcare for all Americans,” noted Foundation Executive Director Susan Zepeda. This percentage is down 10 percentage points from the prior year. Of those favoring, 64% supported increased access “even if it means raising taxes.”

The support for access to healthcare may be a reflection of another finding from their study. Thirty-seven percent of white and 55% of African American Kentuckians 18-65 reported going without coverage now or some time in the past year. And, 47% of younger adults (18-29) and 49% of those with family incomes below the federal poverty level are currently uninsured. This contributed to the support of affordable quality healthcare for all Americans.

There were some insured Kentuckians who reported going without needed healthcare in 2009 “because of the cost.” For more information go to www.health-ky.org

Foundation for a Health Kentucky. Despite Economy, Kentuckians Still Favor Increased health Access. Jan 13, 2010.

Vision

2010-01-04T10:52:00.000-08:00

I believe that there is one characteristic that differentiates homo sapiens from all other life species and that attribute is the capacity for vision. All other living creature's behaviors are dominated by their conditioning, their history, their past. Human beings have the additional option of visualizing a future that is yet to be and they can utilize it to determine how they will act.

A rat consistently reinforced for turning left at a choice point in a maze becomes conditioned to always turn left at that choice. A human being confronted with the same choice point can chose to turn right regardless of prior conditioning. We have the choice of repeating the past or innovating change in ourselves based upon where we wish to go rather than where we have been.

Vision provides us with direction. It allows us to gauge our progress and examine the effectiveness of our behaviors. If you know where you want to go you can begin to develop strategies to get there. When I counsel others invariably my first question is "What is your vision of how you would like your life to be?" Beginning with the end in mind allows us to evaluate the effectiveness of our choices in getting us there.

Conditioned behavior takes place at a level that generally is outside of our consciousness. I often recall the story of a friend of mine who found himself driving into his office parking lot to discover that his child was in the back seat because he was to have dropped him off at day care.
He mindlessly drove his usual route since he was conditioned by many repetitions to drive to work each morning. On this day he had a new destination but he did not keep his end in mind and so he repeated his old behaviors. Being mindful is the key.

How often have you experienced people coming from virtually identical backgrounds behaving in very different ways from one another. Consider a family of origin in which there is alcoholism and abuse. Too often such dysfunction appears to perpetuate itself but there are certainly instances of offspring who have created lives of sober living and family nurturance.

Breaking the tyranny of our past involves three components : 1) Developing a vision, 2) Evaluating the effectiveness of our behaviors in terms of moving us closer or further away from that vision and 3) Mindfulness of both our vision and behaviors.
It is these elements that make recovery, achievement and the shaping of our future, possible.

Howard F. Bracco, Ph.D.

Suicide Behavior in America

2009-12-10T13:23:00.000-08:00

A National study was done on suicidal thoughts and behaviors in the United States of America. It found that 8.3 million adults(1) had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year. Of 8.3 million only 2.3 million of these adults had made a suicide plan and only 1.1 million of these adults actually attempted suicide.

This study also found this risk of thoughts and attempts is significantly different among age groups. Young adults(2) were far more likely to have considered suicide in the past year than those ages 26-49. These young adults were nearly three times more likely than those people 50 or older.

Another factor comes into play when considering risk of suicide and adults is substance disorders. People experiencing substance disorders were more than three times(3) more likely to have seriously considered suicide than those non-users. These people were also a shocking 7 times more likely to have attempted suicide.

1. Adults are 18 and older and residents of the United States. 8.3 million or 3.7 percent.
2. Young adults- 18-26. This age comparison is a ratio of 6.7% to 3.9%. 50 or older: 2.3%
3. Three times: 11% to 3%. Seven times: 2% to .3%.

"National Study Reveals Statistics on Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors SAMHSA NEWS." Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Website. Version 17. SAMHSA , 1 Nov. 2009. Web. 10 Dec. 2009.

Bridgehaven

2009-12-01T13:24:00.000-08:00

From 1955-56 The Louisville Section of the National Council of Jewish Women studied mental health needs in Kentucky. They identified a need for programs to assist people in the transition from hospital back to community. Bridgehaven was founded in 1958 as a direct result of this study, and was the first community program in Jefferson County. It started with three clients and now has over 500 members annually.

Their mission: “Bridgehaven provides the highest quality community-based psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery services for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. We enhance the lives of Bridgehaven members by encouraging them to achieve the skills to live, learn, work and socialize in their chosen environment. Through individual, person-centered rehab planning, we assist members in setting and achieving recovery and community integration goals.”

Some of the group therapies that are offered to the members of Bridgehaven are:
o Independent Living Skills
o Communication Skills
o Self-determination
o Recovery Awareness
o Stress Management
o Relationship Skills
o Health and Fitness
o Pet Therapy

The two programs providing activities designed to improve the ability to interact and function in the community are Bridge To Recovery and Opportunity House. They believe recovery is “a process in which individuals with severe mental illness are encouraged to take control of their lives, set goals, take advantage of opportunities and return to living, learning, working and socializing activities of their choosing.”

Along with these available programs they have Adult Day Training. This program is designed to combine person centered interventions for adults with an intellectual disability with a high quality community based psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery program. The goal is not only to allow these people to socialize in their environment, but to thrive as well.

Bridgehaven has achieved their goal of reducing the amount of hospitalizations. They have found of 137 members, 53 were hospitalized during the prior year. But, during treatment at Bridgehaven only 2 members were hospitalized during their first 6 months to a year. This is a 96% reduction in hospitalizations. This reduction represents a cost savings of at least $1.4 million.

"Bridgehaven - Home." Bridgehaven - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2009. .

Words from Dr. Bracco

2009-11-30T13:48:00.000-08:00

Collaboration and Common Sense

Virtually all of us in the course of our lives evolve or develop a world view. Our world view may be seen as a set of core beliefs that create a framework for us to understand the environment we find ourselves in. Our world view is shaped by our families, teachers and experiences. While individualism and competition appear to be prevailing values in American society I have learned to view my world from another vantage point.

One of the individuals that shaped my thinking was Alfred Adler, a contemporary of Sigmund Freud. Adler’s basic tenet was that humans experience a deep sense of inferiority given that they are exposed to a world filled with natural and man-made forces that are overwhelming. Consider what we must experience at the moment of birth. If we are to thrive we must overcome the challenges in this world that threaten our survival. Adler believed that the solution lay in “common sense.”

Common sense in Adler’s view consists of people coming together to share their talents and ideas in search of answers. Collaboration is common sense and common sense is collaboration.
A social model that supports Adler’s view involves having individuals solve a problem by themselves such as, ranking a list of items that they may need for survival on a deserted island, then they are to come up with the list as a group. Invariably the group solution proves to be synergistic, that is, it proves to be better than any one of the individual solutions. As the saying goes “The whole proves to be greater than the sum of its parts.”

In seeking to fulfill Seven Counties’ mission of building healthy communities; common sense, and consequently collaboration are necessities. While there are many ways to organize the community in which we live I use a model in which our community is composed of twelve systems ; 1) Health, 2) Social Welfare, 3) Government, 4) Criminal Justice, 5) Business & Industry, 6) Faith, 7) Education, 8) Housing, 9) Transportation, 10) Media, 11) Recreation and 12) General Public. Each of these systems affects the health of a community. To achieve its mission Seven Counties must work collaboratively with and across all of these systems.

In order to build a healthy community Seven Counties must create linkages with each of these systems. If we stand alone we will realize our inferiority and we will fail. We can only achieve our mission by collaborating and using our common sense.

Are Suicide Rates Higher at Christmas?

2009-11-20T11:13:00.000-08:00

Contrary to popular belief, suicide rates decline during the holiday season. A study was done on 188,000 recorded suicides in the U.S. and they found on average there were 102 fewer suicides during the holiday season. There was a noted dip in suicide rates leading up to, and following the Christmas holiday. One group of researchers found on average there were about 34 suicides per million people. They also found Holiday rates were lower with Christmas and New Year’s Eve at 30/million, and Thanksgiving at a surprisingly low 26/million. The New Years day rate was very high at 41/million people. This group of researchers believes the large number is due to the end of a holiday season when people get depressed at the thought of returning to work and everyday life.

The researchers have some reasons why suicide rates decline during the holidays.

~ Gathering of friends and relatives gives off a secure vibe and creates a comfortable atmosphere.

~Christmas celebrations evoke positive memories.

~There is an increase in awareness of resources available during this period.

Many assumptions are made about suicide and the holidays, but the holidays have a more relevant connection with depression. Loneliness, depression, feelings of loss, financial burdens, family conflicts, and alcohol abuse has shown to increase during the holidays. Some of these stresses can be dealt with before they hit with several simple steps. Planning ahead by identifying your feelings about Christmas is a good place to start. Second of all, being realistic about what can be afforded to give is a good guideline to your shopping adventures. Lastly, choosing to celebrate with the people who make you feel positive and hopeful as well as letting go of expectations about the holidays and just having fun. These are wonderful ways of dealing with the stresses of the holiday season.

"Are Suicide Rates Higher at Christmas?." Centre for Suicide Prevention. Centre for Suicide Prevention, 16 Dec. 1995. Web. 20 Nov. 2009. . Ballas, Chris. "Depression - Suicide Rates and the Holidays." Healthcentral.com - Trusted, Reliable and Up To Date Health Information. My Depression Connection, 7 Jan. 2009. Web. 20 Nov. 2009. http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/54818/suicide-holidays.
Snopes. "snopes.com: Christmas Suicides." snopes.com: Urban Legends Reference Pages. Snopes.com, 30 July 2007. Web. 20 Nov. 2009. .

People with Schizophrenia and Smoking

2009-11-17T14:13:00.001-08:00

People with Schizophrenia have a three to four times higher rate of smoking than the general population. In a British study on 100 people with Schizophrenia, they found 92% of the men and 82% of the women were smokers, and they commonly smoke high-tar, unfiltered cigarettes. This type of cigarette is used by only 1% of the total smoking population. “People with mental illnesses have 30% more heart disease and 30% more respiratory disorders” says Ann Crocker about her research. Not only do an estimated 80% of the people with this disorder smoke, but those that are depressed and with anxiety disorders also smoke in great numbers. This can be compared to the 25% of the total adult population.

So, why do these people smoke more than the average adult? Initially people with this disorder smoke for the same reasons other people smoke; social pressure, peer influence, it’s “cool.” These reasons do come into play with smoking and Schizophrenia, but there may be a more compelling reason behind their smoking addiction. Nicotine causes an increase in synaptic dopamine so they may smoke to make up for the lack of dopamine production. This dopamine production causes stimulation to different areas of the brain responsible for mood, cognition, and appetite. By smoking they are improving the production of dopamine therefore improving their mood, sharpening cognition, and decreasing appetite.

“There is substantial evidence that nicotine could be used by patients as a self-medication to improve deficits in attention, cognition, and information processing, and to reduce side effects of antipsychotic drugs,” the German researchers concluded. In addition to these things “sensory gating” is also impacted by smoking. Receptors for nicotine are involved in sensory gating, and several studies have shown sensory gating is markedly improved after smoking, therefore lowering auditory hallucinations common in schizophrenia.

Norman L Keltner, & Joan S Grant. (2006). Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 42(4), 256-61. Retrieved November 17, 2009, from Health Module. (Document ID: 1182665371).
"Why Do Schizophrenics Smoke Cigarettes? Brain Blogger." Brain Blogger Topics from Multidimensional Biopsychosocial Perspectives. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2009.

"The world becomes our safety net."

2009-11-12T13:16:00.000-08:00

ann-e
(click ann-e for a video)

"ann-e," the new application for the Apple iPhone, was created to connect people in recovery with a support network of peers in the 12-step community. "If it encourages one addict to come out of isolation into recovery, then the application has been a success" states ann-e. This anonymous network of people in recovery was developed to give addicts a network of people with similar problems and with people that are willing to help no matter the time. They developed this application with the simple concept- "Together we can do what we could never do alone." With this network of people it won't be long before the "world becomes our safety net."

This application is a peer-to-peer networking application that allows members of any 12 step program to ask each other for help and support. There are three main ways of communicating with this application:

Anonymous peer-to-peer instant messaging between those seeking and offering help.
Conference bridges where members are able to have a voice call anonymously.
Facilitates face-to-face meetings between trusted peers by disclosing proximity and location.

ann-e allows users to register their affiliated 12-step program and their anonymous name for identification in the application. Also, it allows those offering help to log in and help members seeking help by chatting or setting themselves as "on call" during a set period. This application is also a safe way to exchange contact information of members that have met face-to-face. If you are a member seeking help it shows the location of your "helper" therefore it is easier to know if it is possible to set up a face-to-face meeting.

The top ten 12-step programs on the application are:

Alcoholics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
Al-Anon
Overeaters Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous
Cocaine Anonymous
Sex Addicts Anonymous
Recovering Food Addicts
Food Addicts Anonymous
Alateen

This is only a short list of the programs that are offered, there are these and so many more available for users. The main use/purpose of the ann-e application is as a tool for prevention to stay in contact with other recovering addicts to help find direction. A sign on in the morning is a good way to check in with other users and to make sure the day's path is heading toward recovery.

Step Twelve: "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs."

"Technical Attributes of iPhone App ann-e." Welcome to ann-e iPhone Application. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2009. .

"Of Mice and Mania"

2009-11-10T12:42:00.000-08:00

There is a study being done to find the relationship of dopamine production to people with bipolar disorder in a manic episode. It is being conducted by manipulating a gene called the Clock gene in mice which is located in their brain and is associated with dopamine production. The purpose for altering this gene in mice is to find out which genes affect the neurochemical processes in humans related to dopamine.

Mice with the altered Clock gene seemed to respond more to the electric impulses sent to the pleasure pathways of their brain than the unaltered mice. These genetically altered mice kept coming back to the stimulus frequently, and the unaltered mice were not going back as often. When the Clock mice were given a dose of cocaine they were going back to the stimulus like the unaltered mice were, so their usage of the stimulus was reduced by the dose they were given.

Also, when mice were given a choice between water or sugar solution, this is something that mice find rewarding, the genetically altered mice chose the sugar solution more often than the normal unaltered mice. Genetically altered mice mimic symptoms of people in a manic bipolar state; hypersensitivity to rewards and euphoria, hyperactivity and nervous behavior, reduced anxiety and risk taking, mood stabilizing drug addiction.

Eitghty to ninety percent of people with bipolar disorder have a relative with a mood disorder. Clinicians have noted both depression and manic episodes increase substance abuse. This means these people tend to abuse stimulant drugs during manic phase and alcohol during depressive period. The lifetime rate of substance abuse for people with bipolar disorder is 38% where the rate is 10% for people without psychiatric illness. When bipolar patients abuse stimulating drugs their risks for hospitalization and suicide increase.

The genetically altered mice have different neurobiology than normal mice. Neurons in the starting point for brain dopamine pathways, including the reward circuit, fire more frequently and strongly resulting in greater dopamine release. Extra dopamine in the reward pathway is a critical factor in addiction and may influence vulnerability to both drug abuse and manic symptoms. This research is being done to find if the release of extra dopamine is also true in people with bipolar disorder in a manic episode. The findings may also provide clues to new treatments for people with bipolar disorder and drug abuse.

Whitten, Lori. "Manic Mice Show Heightened Sensitivity to Rewards." NIDA Notes Nov. 2009: 9-10. Print.

Visitor Count

2009-11-04T12:53:00.000-08:00

http://www.easycounter.com/">HTML Counter

Domestic Violence

2009-11-03T14:09:00.000-08:00

Domestic violence is defined as using force or threats to hurt and control family members. This violence can come in various forms and can harm children, partners, even the elderly:

Physical-shoving, shaking, kicking, punching, using a weapon

Emotional-threats, insults, demands, criticism, harassment.

Sexual-assault, rape, or attempted rape.

Neglect-failing to provide proper food, schooling, and medical care.

There is a circle progression of domestic violence; it starts out with tension building in the home. Secondly the abuser attacks when they are set off by something/someone. The next progression is that there is a period of remorse by the abuser where they buy gifts and do things to “fix” the damage they have done. And lastly they repeat once something/someone sets them off again.

Surprisingly in over half of all cases of domestic violence alcohol and drug usage has been used as an excuse. Alcohol and drugs ALWAYS increase the risk of domestic violence. People are more likely to act violently if they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

So, why do people stay in abusive relationships we wonder?Fear of revenge by abuser.
-A sense of duty to keep the family together no matter what.
-A fear of losing children due to dangerous circumstances or surroundings.
-Children often don’t report abuse because they don’t want to “tell” on their parents OR they feel like they will get in trouble if they say anything.

This type of violence has several serious affects on the family involved in these individuals. Domestic violence results in the following:

-Emotional pain-family members may feel ashamed and guilty, worthless, depressed, and maybe even anxious.
-Physical injuries-bruises, head injuries, broken bones, and cuts or burns.
-Death-as violence continues it usually gets worse sometimes resulting in death from attacker.
-Other problems-job loss, school problems, unpaid bills, legal problems.

Domestic violence affects millions of families each year, these families are of all ethnicities, income level, and religion. Domestic Violence is a very serious crime and shouldn’t be taken lightly. This violence is never the fault of the victim, always is 100% the abusers fault.

Thoughts From Dr. Bracco

2009-11-03T13:10:00.000-08:00

Not-for-profits As Investments

Too often, not-for-profit organizations are viewed as bottomless pits of expenses. They have us reaching in our pockets in order to do good or out of guilt. We do not seem to appreciate them as having a positive economic impact on our community. From an economic perspective we seem to place greater value on the for-profit sector. But, did you know that in our seven county region there are 5,201 not-for-profits who cumulatively have an income exceeding 10 Billion Dollars and assets of over 11 Billion Dollars? These organizations, aside from their humanitarian missions, have a significant impact on their local economies. They provide tens of thousands of jobs that contribute to both taxes and consumerism that spurs growth in our local communities.

Seven Counties Services has multiple major footprints in our community. We are the largest non-hospital not-for-profit and the 26th largest employer in our region. The programs that we provide have assisted many in our community, who would otherwise be disenfranchised, to engage in productive activities that add further value to their lives. Our First Steps Program saves $7 in special education expenses for every $1 that is expended. Where else can you get a 700% return on your investment? Jail diversion services enable us to redirect $1 million dollars a year to other purposes. Project Link allowed the redirection of $23.1 million dollars by insuring that 77 babies were born drug free to mothers who had been addicted to cocaine or alcohol. Family Preservation services kept 451 children at home with their families rather than requiring foster care that would have cost $3.7 million. In virtually every program operated by Seven Counties such results are actualized.

Given the economic challenges we face in our Commonwealth, perhaps an altered perception of not-for-profits is in order. Stimulus dollars have been targeted to “shovel ready” projects which conjure up images of bricks and mortar. We tend to invest in buildings rather than in people. When these buildings are institutions such as jails, psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, we have taken a short term investment and turned them into a long term expenses. Serving people in these environments rather than through community based services and support for families is not sustainable, nor does it promote recovery and the opportunity for us to realize our potential.

Create the Future

2009-10-26T12:47:00.000-07:00

Recovery from alcohol or other drug addictions can be hard but it can be done!! There are two main components of a good recovery:

Abstaining: This means no use of alcohol or drugs (excluding prescription medication).
New Approach to Life: This is creating new ways of thinking and acting as well as being willing to accept help.

Honor the past. Live in the present. Create the future.

Recovery happens in three stages; although there are set stages they are all formed differently by the individual in recovery. These stages are as follows:

Early Recovery: Consists of (1) building new habits through support from peers and specialists. (2) Finding a confidant that can be trusted with secrets and is sensitive you feelings. (3) Making informed decisions through further education. (4) Improving health by stopping use and through proper nutrition, exercise, and rest.

Middle Recovery: Consists of (1) changing values to more positive values. (2) Getting a job, improving quality of life by addressing problems from the past. (3) Forming new friends through things like volunteer work.

Late Recovery: Consists of (1) recognizing the change in self and accepting the new person. (2) Continual care of body, mind, and spirit. (3) Becoming aware of triggers such as old friends and hang outs.

Recovery can lead to a joyful and happy lifestyle!! Become more informed!

Scriptographic Products. About Recovery from alcohol or other drug addiction. South Deerfield, MA: Channing L. Bete Co., 2007. Print.

New Idea!!

2009-10-19T13:21:00.000-07:00

If you were in recovery and were asked to create a picture of how it feels to be living a "secret life," aka the life inside your head or life as a person with a mental illness. What would it look like? What kinds of things would be in that picture? I have been an avid reader myself of PostSecret for several years now; PostSecret is a website that hosts a plethora of postcards that contain the deepest secrets of readers. As I was browsing this Sundays postcards I stumbled upon this card:

It says "Today I discovered that happiness is not something that we find, it's something that we create. This is my first step toward recovery." This made me think about our clients in recovery and I was wondering how they would feel if they had a chance to do something similar to this but through Seven Counties. I could create a blog with just their scanned postcards that answer the questions I have previously mentioned. I would love questions/comments/thoughts either on here or through email on this idea.

2009-10-15T13:17:00.001-07:00

Courier Journal: Reject stereotypes about mental illness

2009-10-13T11:13:00.000-07:00

Many individuals with mental illness have great difficulty being accepted by the larger community because they are being stereotyped, put down and stigmatized for having a mental health condition. The stigma sets in when society develops misconceptions based on misinformation of those with mental illness. Misinformation stems from three areas: the media, informal communication and society seeing those with mental illness.

The media play a big role in misguiding society about mental illness. They portray individuals with mental illness in characteristically inaccurate and unfavorable ways. Those with mental illness are depicted as being active, confused, aggressive, dangerous and unpredictable.
Informal communication hurts those with mental illness because people feel free to use words such as “loony,” “nuts,” “crazy,” “batty,” “wacko,” “psycho” and “mental case” in normal conversation.
Finally, stigma is formed by those in society who witness or interact with those who have a mental illness. Most mental illnesses are not visible to the public, but the mental illnesses that are visible are seen in individuals who are experiencing psychosis or mania. This is how society gets images of those with mental illness.

Those with mental illness have difficulty with employment, housing and receiving a sufficient amount of income to meet daily needs. This leads to loss of social opportunities and a poor quality of life. During this Mental Illness Awareness Week, may we be mindful of our bias and stereotypes and not contribute to the stigma associated with mental illness.

by: DENNIS CORNELL, Licensed Clinical, Social Worker/Psychotherapist, Louisville

Cornell, Dennis. "Reject stereotypes about mental illness." courier-journal.com. 13 Oct. 2009 .

Expect Recovery

2009-10-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

Recovery refers to the process in which people are able to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities. In other words recovery is a process of regaining one's life to a usable form; reclaiming one's personal power from one's illness.

For some individuals, recovery is the ability to live a fulfilling and productive life despite a disability. For others, recovery implies the reduction or complete remission of symptoms.

Both Consumers and Providers need to "Expect Recovery!" Meaning that both Providers and Consumers know that the Consumer can and has a right to walk out the door with a better quality of life, they have a right to recovery! To do this the Providers need to work with consumers as partners as they move through "The Stages of Recovery." The Five Stages in the Recovery Process are as follows:

Impact of Illness: "The shattering of one's world, hopes, and dreams." In this stage the Provider is to decrease the emotional distress by reducing the symptoms and communicating that there is life after diagnosis.
Life is Limited: "We both gave up. Giving up was a solution." In this stage the Provider is to instill hope, a sense of possibility, and to rebuild a positive self-image.
Change is Possible: "The fragile flame of hope and courage." In this stage the Provider is to help the Consumer to see that they are not so limited by the illness and in order to move on they will need to take some risks.
Commitment to Change: "I began in little ways with small triumphs and simple acts of courage." In this stage the Provider is to help the person take the initial steps by helping them identify their strengths and needs in terms of skills, resources and supports.
Actions for Change: "We rebuilt our lives on three corner stones of recovery- hope, willingness and responsible action." In this stage the Provider is to equip the Consumer with the necessary skills, resources and supports so that they can trust in their own decision-making ability and take more responsibility for their life.

Peer Support is one of the tools consumers use to "regain their lives to a usable form" (to recover), it is support that is provided by consumers to consumers in order to bring about a desired social or personal change. Peers help because they often have similar experiences; through these they can empathize well, make informed decisions, serve as role models, aid in problem solving, and help others navigate the "system." Recovery can grow in Kentucky! Your help is needed for recovery to thrive!

The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Illness "Achieving the Promise:Transforming Mental Health Care in America" July 2003. Adapted from Webster's II by: Molly Clouse June 2002. Taken from the work of Molly Clouse, Recovery Consultant for Seven Counties, Inc. Appalachian Consulting Group & Empowerment Partners, LLC- 2005.

Clients' Perceptions of a Counseling Relationship

2009-10-05T13:34:00.000-07:00

In attempting to describe this relationship, researchers have focused on various qualities of caring, such as warmth, support, attention, understanding, and acceptance. Another important element of the client-counselor relationship is the way that significance is communicated through interpersonal exchange.

The term "mattering" was used by Rosenberg and McCullough (1981) to describe the feeling that people have when they sense that others are interested in them and value their contribution. When people believe that they matter, they feel that they belong and that others appreciate them. Rosenberg and McCullough's research indicated that adolescents who felt that they mattered were less likely to commit delinquent acts.

This research defined a series of dimensions associated with mattering. These four dimensions are summarized as folloes:

1. Attention: The feeling that someone notices or is interested in you. For example, when you enter a room, people acknowledge your presence and make you feel welcome.

2. Importance: The sense that people are interested in what you are thinking, feeling, and doing. This aspect is communicated when people inquire about your well-being and take the time to listen carefully to what you have to say.

3. Dependence: The feeling that your contribution is valued and needed. You may be a member of a team and feel that everyone is counting on your participation for the development of ideas.

4.Ego-Extension: The feeling, whether right or wrong, that others are interested in how you are doing (accomplishments as well as disappointments), even when there is no longer a professional relationship.

In any counseling situation, there is a parallel relationship as clients look to counselors for a sense of mattering and counselors look to their colleagues and supervisors for similar recognition.

Perceptions of the Ways of Mattering by People With Mental Illness Marc Corbière, Norman E Amundson. The Career Development Quarterly. Alexandria:Dec 2007. Vol. 56, Iss. 2, p. 141-149 (9 pp.)

Video

2009-10-02T13:05:00.001-07:00

TalentFest 2008 is a test video that I have created using animoto.com. This is a very efficient web site to use when trying to create a short video. Click here to watch it!

Faculty Perceptions of University Students with Psychiatric Disabilities

2009-10-01T13:03:00.001-07:00

I have been doing some research on stigmas for the video project that I am curently working on and have found some interesting information, this particular study caught my eye because I am a student at a university and thought it relevant information to possibly use down the road.

"The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between information sources and university faculty members' perceptions of working with university students who have PDs."
Faculty were asked a)What are your levels of comfort and feelings of confidence in working with university students who have PDs? and b)What is the relationship between your source of information about PD and their perceptions about working with students with PD's?
Conclusion: "This study indicated that three experiential information sources were strong positive predictors of faculty perceptions of working with students with PDs: having a friend with a PD, knowing a student with a PD, and currently being treated oneself fora PD. Faculty viewed university students with PDs in a positive light and were comfortable having them on campus. Many faculty felt they did not have adequate knowledge or training to work with these students and would like to have more resources available."

Faculty Perceptions of University Students with Psychiatric Disabilities Karin F Brockelman, Janis G Chadsey, Jane W Loeb. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. Boston:Summer 2006. Vol. 30, Iss. 1, p. 23-30 (8 pp.)

Mental Health Facts

2009-09-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

Here are some important facts about mental illness and recovery:

Mental illnesses are serious medical illnesses. They cannot be overcome through "will power" and are not related to a person's "character" or intelligence. Mental illness falls along a continuum of severity. Even though mental illness is widespread in the population, the main burden of illness is concentrated in a much smaller proportion-about 6 percent, or 1 in 17 Americans-who live with a serious mental illness. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that One in four adults-approximately 57.7 million Americans-experience a mental health disorder in a given year
The U.S. Surgeon General reports that 10 percent of children and adolescents in the United States suffer from serious emotional and mental disorders that cause significant functional impairment in their day-to-day lives at home, in school and with peers.
The World Health Organization has reported that four of the 10 leading causes of disability in the US and other developed countries are mental disorders. By 2020, Major Depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and children.

-NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness/ About Mental Illness http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/About_Mental_Illness/About_Mental_Illness.htm

WHAS11

2009-09-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday 9/22 a story broadcast on WHAS11 about a woman who has allegedly robbed several pharmacies for perscrition medication. Diane Hague comments on this addiction.
http://www.whas11.com/news/local/stories/whas11-crime-090922-pharmacy-robber.1a6ddba06.html

Blog

2009-09-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

I will be updating this blog as often as possible and I will be emailing you once a week at least with the updates and any interesting information that I have found while researching. If you have any ideas, questions, comments feel free to either email me back or just post a comment on the blog site itself. http://www.blogbasics.com/blog-tutorial-1-1.php If you have any questions about a blog and what it does/what it's good for this is a very simple and very good summary of what it is.

Twitter

2009-09-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

In my search to outreach through social media I have begun to test several means of communication. The first one being twitter, I have created a twitter for myself as a sort of experiment for SCS. I have been posting information on how to contact SCS itself and information on events that are upcoming for example the TalentFest 2009. I just got this twitter page about a week ago and already have 4 followers. To visit my twitter page go to this link and check it out!! http://twitter.com/7_Co_Services . Post any comments on here as I will be checking this daily!!

(This is a Picture that I took from the Seven Counties Services website itself.)