You will also find information on some exciting upcoming events:

• March 14 – Power of Peer Support Webcast Townhall Meeting
• March 15 – Deadline for Recovery Mini-Grants
• April 27 – Annual Regional Consumer Conference of the Northwest Community Mental Health Affiliation
• May 11 – Walk A Mile In My Shoes Rally in Lansing

Colleen Jasper writes quarterly for this newsletter. She’s not only the pioneer in the peer movement, but she’s also the Director of the Office of Consumer Relations at the Michigan Department of Community Health in Lansing. Each of her articles impacts our daily lives as consumers and how to move beyond the disabling power of a mental illness. In this issue, she talks about the ups and downs of our mental health-related issues and how we can move beyond recovery and flourish – making the impossible, possible.

There’s also a section on how to exercise while watching TV with different ideas to get you started. We’ve talked about it numerous times, but the Report on Morbidity (Illness) and Mortality (Death) in People with Serious Mental Illness states that people with mental illnesses are dying 25 years earlier than the general population. By reading and taking action steps towards a healthier life (like doing exercises while watching TV), we can help each other beat those odds.

Also in this issue is the topic of medications (safe use, storage, and disposal) and how to meet your recovery goals using Smoking Cessation and MI-PATH groups.

This newsletter is packed full of information and I hope you enjoy reading it! Happy Holidays!

– Mary Beth Evans, Recovery Coordinator

Read about all these happenings and more in the latest issue of our Expect Recovery Newsletter Vol 2, Iss 2, Sept/Oct 2010.

You’ll find information on a June 16, 2010 annual regional consumer conference, Learn & Lead To Succeed; an article with tips to improve your overall wellness by Barbara Lane, RN; information on speaking out to create positive change by Shannon Secord, Certified Peer Support Specialist; and much more!

You’ll find an update about the latest work done on the NLCMH “Blueprint,” which is the roadmap that we will follow to make more improvements to our public mental health system to make it more recovery-oriented. Lots of people have had a hand in this work and we appreciate everyone’s participation! You’ll also find some very useful information on person-centered planning, a great article on trauma by Colleen Jasper of the Michigan Department of Community Health and much more.

Happy reading!

In addition, you can read about Northern Lakes CMH’s new YouTube Channel which features 15 short videos created by people from Northern Michigan with experience with mental health issues in which they share their messages of hope and community acceptance.

There’s also great information about your wellness and how you can improve your own wellness.

If you would like to subscribe to receive the newsletter via e-mail, just enter your email address at the right of this post and hit “send.”

Happy reading!

Here’s the stars in our new YouTube videos:

In this issue, the Recovery Council at NLCMH is noted as having key input and accomplishments on improving the Recovery Movement at NLCMH. Specific accomplishments include but are not limited to developing the official Definition of Recovery and providing key input to develop a policy on “Promoting a Recovery Oriented Service System of Care” (the policy was adopted on April 27, 2009). The policy is also discussed in this issue.

Advocates who spoke at the Walk A Mile In My Shoes Rally are also highlighted in this issue. In case you missed the rally, each person’s testimony sent messages to lawmakers about the importance of funding mental health issues/programs in these times of economic challenges. Kudos to those of you who participated. It’s always an enjoyable day full of learning and meeting other people from around the state.

Almost every day of the week now there’s something happening with the Recovery programs here at NLCMH. This issue of the newsletter has the happenings of the groups throughout NLCMH and will continue to provide updates on new and arising activities. The very first Smoking Cessation group just ended the second week of August after 10 weeks of meetings. Seven people graduated from the program and new groups are being formed in Cadillac and Grayling. Various other groups have also been supporting and strengthening the Recovery movement at NLCMH such as the Recovery Learning Communities, WRAP groups, MI-PATH groups (Michigan’s Personal Action Towards Health), and Pathways to Recovery Groups. Using Music in Your Recovery will be starting next month in all office locations.

Hopefully you enjoy reading this issue and, as always, let us know how we can improve or what you would like to see in future issues. We are always open to suggestions for improvement. Expect Recovery. . . Make It Happen!

Happy reading!

Mary Beth Evans, Recovery Coordinator

Welcome to the first issue of Northern Lakes CMH Recovery Newsletter!

This newsletter will be published quarterly for people interested in Recovery from a mental illness. Each issue will contain tips, inspirational stories, information about different learning opportunities, conferences and classes, personal expressions, and progress reports about improvements to the Northern Lakes CMH system as it transforms to be even more focused on recovery.

We are looking for a name for this newsletter and are looking for your ideas. Leave a comment if you have a catchy name for future issues!

You may subscribe to receive future issues by email by using the form at the right.