1. Sharing
2. Request and Input
3. Volunteer Opportunities
4. Anti-Stigma
5. Leadership

Here is the 2012 Action Group Meeting Schedule.

At each meeting, I see more and more people grow to be better advocates for themselves and others in the groups. One person will mention an idea they have and it turns into a wonderful unknown path to new territory where others have the opportunity to help explore also.

We now have an official start to an Action Group member list which helps keep everyone connected across our six counties. The groups continue to expand and get excited about ideas they have through sharing, giving input and volunteering as mentioned in the charge.

At this month’s meeting, Nicole Ellens (NLCMH Crawford/Roscommon Suicide Prevention Coordinator) attended, to bring information about the suicide prevention coalitions in our six counties and also share some opportunities for community action. Nicole will be sharing more information with us shortly so that we have a contact list of where coalition meetings are held so we can have a representative from our action group meetings attend to bring back volunteer opportunities.

All consumers and staff are welcomed and encouraged to attend these Action Group meetings as they have found to be very beneficial in helping others figure out how they may best get involved. Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Cadillac, Grayling, and Traverse City offices (connected through videoconference). Hope to see you soon!

Over 300 Clubhouses are accredited by ICCD worldwide.

“It is our understanding that we are presently the only Michigan Community Mental Health organization with two accredited programs,” according to Greg Paffhouse, Northern Lakes Chief Executive Officer. Club Cadillac was accredited in 2009.

Traverse House Director Signe Ruddy said, “Achieving ICCD Clubhouse Accreditation was a long process that my colleagues and I have shared in. It comes as result of a huge group effort. This recognition is very important to us because it means that we have clearly demonstrated our commitment to excellence.  The ICCD program model has just been recognized as ‘Best Practice’ by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA).”

Member Susan said, “ICCD Accreditation is a reward for our efforts and establishes basic points and qualifications we need to meet and continue improving toward. We are a successful Club, which is why we take suggestions for our improvement and growth. This accreditation shows this and that we have come a long way.”

The process began when the Clubhouse colleagues completed a three-week training course at Gateway House in Greenville, South Carolina and Genesis Club in Worcester, Massachusetts, both ICCD training Clubhouses, in 2006, 2009, and 2011. Then the entire Clubhouse conducted a self-study review and produced a written report to submit to the ICCD. Last November, John Hayes, of Carriage House in Indiana, and Larry Marshall, of Pioneer Clubhouse in Peabody, Massachusetts, conducted a three-day site visit at Traverse House on behalf of the ICCD. Their written report of their findings was submitted to ICCD.

Member Vicki said, “Every day we were looking in the mail wanting to know the results of our ICCD consultation visit. I happened to be the one who went to pick up the mail on the day our notice arrived. I was almost wrestled down by my colleagues when I arrived back in Club and announced I had the letter. I called out for our Signe, our Director; we were all laughing at once wanting to open the letter. The long process is over. We got it!”

Like all Clubhouse programs, Traverse House focuses on people’s strengths, not their illness. Members and staff work side by side in decision-making and governance of the program. Through the activities of a work-ordered day, individual members achieve or regain the confidence and skills necessary to lead vocationally productive and socially satisfying lives. Work in the Clubhouse, whether it is clerical, reception, meal preparation or reaching out to their fellow members, provides the core healing process.

One of the most important steps members take toward greater independence is transitional employment, where they work in the community at real jobs. Members also receive support in securing safe and affordable housing, advancing their education, and obtaining good health care. Membership is for life, so members have all the time they need to secure their new life in the community.  Every opportunity provided is the result of the efforts of the members and small staff, who work side by side, in a unique partnership.

“Increasing transitional employment was one of the accreditation recommendations and will be a high priority in our continuing quality improvement efforts,” said Ruddy.

Member Gary explained, “Coming to Clubhouse helps members with communication and social skills by participating in the activities that we do. The work ordered day assists members in being motivated when they work in the kitchen preparing and cooking our lunch.  Doing all this helps me and my fellow colleagues. Getting our Club accredited will help us to get extra funds, which will allow us to grow.  We then can offer more opportunities to those persons who might benefit from the Clubhouse program.”

Established in 1994, ICCD is a non-profit and non-governmental organization which helps communities around the world to create solutions for people with mental illness. ICCD oversees the creation and evolution of standards; facilitates and assures the quality of training, consultation, certification, research and advocacy; and provides effective communication and dissemination of research and information.

“We are extremely pleased that Traverse House has been awarded ICCD certification,” said Paffhouse. “This is a milestone achievement for members and staff.”

Becoming accredited helps ensure that our programs and services meet current state-of-the-art international standards and serves as a foundation for continual quality improvement efforts.

The new working definition of recovery from mental and substance use disorders is as follows:

A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.

Through the Recovery Support Strategic Initiative, SAMHSA has also described four major dimensions that support a life in recovery:

1. Health: Overcoming or managing one’s disease(s), as well as living in a physically and emotionally healthy way
2. Home: A stable and safe place to live
3. Purpose: Meaningful daily activities, such as a job, school, volunteering, family caretaking, or creative endeavors, and the independence, income, and resources to participate in society
4. Community: Relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope

This year, there is an earlier annual enrollment period for people with Medicare to review Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plan options and choose the plan that best meets their needs. It started October 15 and runs through  December 7, 2011 this year.

People can use the Plan Finder at www.Medicare.gov by entering their zip code to determine which Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plans are available. Also available online is Medicare’s Formulary Finder, which allows beneficiaries to enter their prescribed medication and zip code for a display of locally offered plans covering their drugs.

Also beginning this year, the Plan Finder will display a gold star designating top rated five-star plans. Users will continue to see warnings for plans that are consistently poor performers.

Jonathan Blum, CMS Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare, said “We encourage all Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in private plans to know their plan’s overall star rating and to consider enrolling in plans with high ratings.” When comparing plans, beneficiaries should review the plan’s quality in addition to costs, coverage, and other benefits.

Listening to Music
“I try to find time in the morning to listen to music. It calms me for the day. It puts a routine in place, and helps me get started. I have no favorite song; it’s just what I’m in the mood for that day.”

Why Should I Feel Sorry for Myself?
“I was in a DBSA meeting and people were talking about how it wasn’t your fault you had this disease; you shouldn’t be guilty, etc. It occurred to me: being bipolar is the best thing that’s happened to me. Sure it’s been extremely difficult at times, but I have an interesting life story and I was forced to really re-examine my life because of it. Now I only do what I love and think is important.”

15 Minutes
“Tell yourself: I can do ANYTHING for 15 minutes. If anxiety hits me at the office and I don’t know how to cope with a mountain of work—just pick one task and do it for 15 minutes. If the house is a wreck, pick one area and clean for 15 minutes. THEN STOP. Step back. Look at what you did. It may not be finished, but you did something! Be proud! You just kicked anxiety’s butt for 15 minutes. Can you do another 15 minutes? Maybe? If not, it’s okay. Be proud that you made progress!”

A Note About FacingUs.org:
When you visit the Facing Us Clubhouse, you’ll notice that several “rooms” require you to log in or create an account. These rooms allow you to develop personal journals, books, and wellness plans that are uniquely yours. Logging in is a way to access your personalized wellness tools—like pulling your file from a filing cabinet.

To use the Wellness Tracker, visit the Facing Us Clubhouse. Joining is easy and free.

DBSA e-Update is a monthly newsletter produced by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance that highlights news articles, upcoming programs, services, and ways you can become involved. Click here to join DBSA’s mailing list.

‘Lives Worth Living’ Premiere!

On October 27, 2011 (check local listing for time) the PBS Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens will premiere Lives Worth Living. This is the first television history of the decades-long struggle for equal rights for people with disabilities. The film traces the development of the disability rights movement from its beginning following World War II through the 1960s and 1970s. The history is explored through interviews with the movement’s pioneers, legislators, and others. See the attached document for more information.

To learn more about the film, and the issues involved, visit the film’s companion website at
www.pbs.org/independentlens/.

While I was waiting to pay I noticed a poster on the wall and it listed the signs and symptoms of depression. I was amazed that I had almost all of the the symptoms listed. I made an appointment for myself as I completed my other business for my son.
I wasn’t educated enough about depression and didn’t remember enough about it from my psychology class. Could you be depressed and not realize it? Here is a link to an online screening http://www.helpyourselfhelpothers.org/, maybe it can help you or a friend or family member. Maybe it is time to talk to your doctor, it doesn’t hurt to check it out. Depression is treatable, be good to yourself, if you need help or think you do, then get it. People are there who care and want to help.

Leslie Sladek

Two days later, on Sept 22, we will be taping an informational show on autism at UpNorth Media with United Way of Northwest Michigan. This show will feature several service providers and people with lived experience and will show in October.

On that same day, Sept 22, we will host a training for providers on Training Ethics, Boundaries & Pain Relief in Health Care in our Cadillac office.

At the end of the week, on Saturday, Sept 24, we are participating with the Crawford Roscommon Suicide Prevention Coalition’s 2nd annual “Alive and Running: 5K for Suicide Prevention“. This is an awareness and fund-raising event for the Crawford Roscommon Suicide Prevention Coalition for both runners and walkers.

On Thursday, Sept 29, we are teaming up with the Cadillac Wexford Public Library (411 South Lake St., Cadillac) to provide a free movie and panel discussion on depression and its impact on families. The library’s movie licensing restrictions do not allow promotion of the name of the movie or the studio outside the library, but we can tell you that this is a major movie recently released on DVD starring Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson. The movie concerns a man living with depression and its impact on his family. He begins communicating using a toy beaver hand puppet. The movie is rated PG-13. There will be some light refreshments at the library beginning at 5:30 PM. The movie will run from 6:00-7:30 and the panel discussion will happen after the movie, from about 7:30-8:00.

Recovery From Mental and Substance Use Disorders: A process of change through which individuals work to improve their own health and well-being, live a self-directed life, and strive to achieve their full potential.

Guiding Principles of Recovery:

• Recovery is person-driven.
• Recovery occurs via many pathways.
• Recovery is holistic.
• Recovery is supported by peers and allies.
• Recovery is supported through relationships and social networks.
• Recovery is culturally based and influenced.
• Recovery is supported by addressing trauma.
• Recovery involves individual, family, and community strengths and responsibility.
• Recovery is based on respect.
• Recovery emerges from hope.

What do you think about the working definition and guiding principles of recovery from mental and substance use disorders?

Commenting is open for 2 weeks, beginning Friday, August 12, and ending at 12 midnight Eastern Time on Friday, August 26.

Read More About the Definition of Recovery and Provide Feedback