Hello Friends As you will see in the following article, Mayer Chavez is basically being forced to make a contraversial proposal based on one of the failures of our mental health system. Thee is a terrible double standard when it comes to mental illness. While people are being told to get help at the first sign of mental distress, we are forced, in most cases, to wait for treatment untill there is a crises situation. Usually requiring the prospective patient to be a threat to either themselves or others is just not an acceptable standard for receiving treatment. The simple truth of the matter is that there is no difference in the number of offences committed by the mentally ill in treatment than there is with that of the general population. OUr mental health system's treatment criteria right now is the equilivent of telling a cancer patient to come back for a check up when their tumor gets a little bigger. I just makes no sense to postpone treatment untill a crises level has been reached or untill a serious consequence has allready occured. Mayor proposes forcing mental illness sufferers into treatment Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez announces his proposal at a news conference. Behind him is police Chief Ray Schultz. Last Update: 12/29/2005 8:39:27 AM By: Todd Dukart Admitting it might not be possible, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez announced Wednesday that he’d like the city’s police department to force those suffering from mental illnesses into treatment. Chavez said he was forced to propose a bill to do so after the state refused to enact a statewide law. “What Kendra’s Law does is allow the government to force individuals with a history of violence associated with mental illness to be treated,” he said. The law is named after a New York woman who was pushed in front of a subway by a man suffering from schizophrenia in 1999. New Mexico is one of only eight states that doesn’t have one. “20 percent of the homicides in the city of Albuquerque this year were associated with mental illness,” Chavez said. Among those at the news conference were the parents of David Fisher, who was shot and killed, allegedly by John Hyde, who has been described as suffering from un-medicated schizophrenia. “Something has to be done if we have people who are a danger to themselves and the community,” Fisher’s father said. Chavez said he’d fight for the law in court if necessary. He said, “The ACLU historically does not like these types of laws because we are saying against your will we will force you into treatment.” He plans to introduce the measure at the next city council meeting, which is scheduled for Jan. 9. Mental Health And Political Forums http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=10129 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=9637 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=8212 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=7420 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=8259 Lifetime web building and hosting for under $40. One time payment http://www.superpayline.com/p002859 The most advanced VOIP system there is anywhere. https://wv0079721.betteruniverse.com/members/index.php?action=buy_miphone Better Universe. The People Helping People Company http://wv0079721.betteruniverse.com May a smile follow you to sleep each night, and be there waiting when you awaken. SIncerly, Bill Vanderbilt / Fanbelt

Hello Friends The message of hope has allways been my main focus here in my forums. Without hope one doesn't find much incentive to find new ways of dealing with the struggles of daily life. ASome of the things that result from this lack of hope are feelings of emptiness, sadness, isolation from friends and loved ones and all of these thigs combined tend to lead one into even darker periods that often end up requiring a more intense form of recovery than might have othwerwise been nessessary. I have quite a lot of person experience with the drop in centers such as discussed in the followingarticle. If you have feelings of sadness and isolation or just feel like you might need someone to talk to, I would highly recommend that you try to find a drop in center. I love my time spent at them. enlarge ANNETTE LEIN staff photographerLisa Dallas is among the Self-Help Drop-in Center's volunteers who dine with staff before the center opens. Day in Photos Audio clips The following audio clips are from people who either work, volunteer at or visit the Mental Health Association’s Self-help Drop-in Center at 539 South Ave., Rochester. Drop-in support Self-Help Drop-In Center, a free program of the Mental Health Association, 539 South Ave. at Hamilton Street (a stop on the No. 5 RTS bus line), is open 6 to 9:30 p.m. daily. Help is also available by phone (585) 454-3530. The Living Room peer counseling, a free program of Spiritus Christi Mental Health Center, 121 N. Fitzhugh St. (near multiple bus lines), began March 1. Open 1:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, (585) 325-1180, ext. 114. Advertisement By the numbers Nationally: One in four Americans met the criteria for having a mental illness, according to the largest and most detailed survey of the nation's mental health, published in June. The government-sponsored study interviewed more than 9,000 Americans face to face. Of those with mental illness, one-quarter had a disorder that significantly disrupted their ability to function day to day. Locally: Nobody measures the incidence of mental illness in Monroe County, but officials do track how many people get publicly funded mental health care: 34,195 individuals in 2004, according to Coordinated Care Services Inc. That's 5 percent of the county's 735,177 residents, but doesn't include people who don't seek care or those who seek privately funded care. Related news from the Web Latest headlines by topic: • Smoking • Nicotine • Medicine • Health • Medication Powered by Topix.net Center replaces stigma with hope Chris Swingle Staff writer (December 29, 2005) — Bill Austin led a normal life until he reached his mid-30s, when he settled into a funk that wouldn't quit. He felt like he was having a bad day — every day. He lost interest in joining friends for dinner or a movie. "Eventually, I stopped picking up the phone," says Austin, who at the time attributed his feelings to getting older. When friends and relatives questioned his behavior, he was insulted. He lost friends. He lost his job. He became estranged from his family for three long, dark years. "It got so bad I went into an emergency room," Austin says. "I didn't know which way was up." A diagnosis of depression in 1998 launched his journey back to better mental health. Austin is on a team of people who have each struggled to achieve mental wellness and are now the staff and volunteers at an unusual program for mentally ill people. The Mental Health Association's Self-Help Drop-In Center, a South Avenue storefront in Rochester, offers free assistance in sorting through problems — typically emotional distress or a problem in a relationship. Open every night What's unique is that it's open every night, a troubling time when people's depression, psychosis or other mental struggles tend to worsen and when most places to go for help are closed. Anyone is welcome, since the center isn't affiliated with any health system and doesn't require referrals. "They accept you at face value," says Jill Robinson, 37, of Rochester, who has bipolar disorder. She sought help at the center in 1997, was trained as a volunteer a year later and currently helps out about three nights a week. There, she says, "A person feels wanted, respected, dignified and cared for." Folks who drop in — called guests — can settle into comfortable chairs or at tables in the open room and talk, play cards or just relax with other people who aren't thrown off by mental health struggles. They also can ask to meet with two trained volunteers in one of the private rooms for confidential counseling. Robinson sought that assistance in 2002 after the death of her father led to her psychiatric hospitalization. Volunteers helped her to come up with a plan to turn to friends and professionals when she was struggling. She hasn't been hospitalized for mental health issues since and considers the center her rudder, keeping her on a calm course. That's the center's goal: avoiding higher-than-necessary levels of mental health care such as emergency room visits, says Tom Christensen, director of the drop-in center. Monroe County funds the center ($213,000 this year), using state Office of Mental Health money, in the hope that it prevents costlier care. The center also fits in with a trend to focus on the patient, not just the illness, says Kathleen Plum, director of the county's Office of Mental Health. The efforts address getting well and achieving practical goals — such as getting a driver's license or finding a safer place to live. A place for connection The center is not like a hospital or a doctor's office. Mostly it looks and sounds like average folks hanging out and enjoying each other's company. One evening earlier this year, soft pop music laced with static played on a stereo as about 15 people, including a half-dozen staffers and volunteers, mingled in the living room-like main room and adjacent kitchen. Some read and discussed the newspaper. Some talked sports. In the hour before the center opens each night, the staff and volunteers gather for dinner. A supervisor leads a mood check-in, where each person says how he or she is doing so they can support each other and be ready to help the guests. On this night, volunteer Graham Lynch tells the group he's been looking into local programs to help him quit smoking. Five months later, he can happily report he's off cigarettes and weaned from nicotine replacement products. He says he tries to keep setbacks in perspective. Lynch had felt that he had failed by ending up in the hospital. A doctor countered that it's OK to need professional help at times: "You drive, don't you? Does your driver's license equip you to fix your car?" Lynch, 40, says his schizoaffective disorder — a mood and thought disorder — began in 1989, about the time he graduated magna cum laude from the State University College at Brockport with a double major in math and English. Now, despite his memory problems, he recently received a bachelor's degree in computer science. The center tries to meet people at the stage they're at in trying to improve their lives. Longtime drop-in guest Cassandra Torres of Rochester has paranoid schizophrenia and depression, and has struggled with alcohol, imprisonment, housing problems, relationship problems and more. The 44-year-old also has made progress. She told volunteers she walked out of an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in which one man threatened to hurt another, saying she doesn't want to be around violence. Austin, who first visited the center as an intern, then became a volunteer before being hired as a staffer, says the challenge of helping people with mood or thought disorders is to see beyond their symptoms. Mental illness tends to be a chronic condition, like diabetes. "It's not like a broken leg that you can put a cast on it and fix it," he says. "It's an ongoing thing, but we're in it together." Services, challenges The center opened about 10 years ago, born out of focus groups with consumers at the Mental Health Association. A year ago, the center expanded from four to seven nights a week and added a "warm line" that people can call for support, so named because it's a step down from a 24-hour crisis hotline such as Life Line. The warm line, (585) 454-3530, is open the same hours as the drop-in center, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. daily. Dr. Lisa Slimmer, a psychiatrist at Unity Health System who has recommended the center to some patients, says it offers a needed service. "The time they're open sounds perfect." The center charges no fees, but does request some information — basics like name, address, phone number, medical conditions and medications — that is kept in confidential files. First-time guests also are asked to meet with a pair of volunteers to identify their main challenge and to come up with an action plan. Progress is monitored on follow-up visits. Anyone who comes to the center is allowed in, but if they're intoxicated they are encouraged to return when sober. The documentation, required so the center gets funded, indicates that 263 people had contact with the center 4,225 times in 2004, including phone calls, drop-in visits and staff advocacy on their behalf. In the first 10 months of this year — the first year the center has been open every night — the center has had 5,844 contacts with 320 clients. Christensen, the center's director, says what's challenging about the work isn't the clients but rather shortcomings of the treatment system, such as when a person needs drug treatment but no openings exist at community programs. The center relies on volunteers. People who progress from guest to volunteer have achieved a level of stability in life and can offer hope to others. "It's an opportunity to take something that's viewed as a negative and turn it into something positive," says Austin. "This was the first place I could talk openly about my mental illness," says Austin, now 40 and working on a human service degree at Monroe Community College. "You know everybody here is a peer." Likewise, Marta Scorcia's positive response to challenges — having HIV and depression, being an addict in recovery and having served time in prison — and her ability to speak Spanish were seen as pluses when she was hired to supervise center volunteers. Being Puerto Rican, she also can counter cultural taboos against mental illness and treatment. "We have a hard time going to a therapist," she says of Latinos. The other supervisor is hearing-impaired and knows American Sign Language, making the center more accessible. Navigating hills and valleys Shortly after 6 p.m., guests walk in to the smell of popcorn. Sometimes there's the homey scent of brownies baking in the oven. Any dinner leftovers are offered to people who are hungry. Many people at the center recognize each other because they're regulars or they cross paths at other mental health programs, including social clubs such as Operation Friendship and New Directions and treatment programs. Some guests live in the neighborhood. Others may accept free bus tokens to get home safely. A shield against loneliness One reason people drop in is to not be alone. Sam Ferguson, 60, of Rochester says mental illness, including the schizoaffective bipolar disorder that has sent him to hospital psychiatric units multiple times, is "the loneliest illness in the world." He equates his challenge to the Greek myth of Sisyphus, who was condemned to ceaselessly roll a rock to the top of a mountain, only to have it roll back down. Likewise, says Ferguson, he goes to mental health treatment programs, tries to do well, "and then the stone rolls down again." He likes that the center allows him to just be, not requiring him to do activities such as swimming or art. Snippets of conversation in the center reveal some of the other struggles in people's lives. Volunteer Gary DeBruyn of Greece greets a visitor who tells him, "I don't have any friends." "You'll have lots of friends if you come here," says DeBruyn. Later, DeBruyn approaches Christine Baker of Webster, asking, "How's life?" "Medium rare," says Baker, who's 49. She briefly explains that the 23-year-old son of someone she knows drowned while white-water rafting. "That's bad," says DeBruyn. Baker had previously discussed the sad news with others at the center. "I was really upset and needed to talk to someone, so I came here," she says. "I found out my feelings were pretty normal." Sometimes, she says, it gets hard to tell whether you're just having normal feelings or whether they're skewed by mental illness. Sometimes, she feels suicidal. A poem, written when she was depressed, says, "Life is full of hills and valleys. When you climb a hill, there's another valley behind it." She says this is both a challenge and a hopeful sign. "A normal person would have hills and valleys, too. Our valleys might fall deeper than theirs. But there's another hill to climb up." CSWINGLE@DemocratandChronicle.com Mental Health And Political Forums http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=10129 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=9637 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=8212 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=7420 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=8259 Lifetime web building and hosting for under $40. One time payment http://www.superpayline.com/p002859 The most advanced VOIP system there is anywhere. https://wv0079721.betteruniverse.com/members/index.php?action=buy_miphone Better Universe. The People Helping People Company http://wv0079721.betteruniverse.com May a smile follow you to sleep each night, and be there waiting when you awaken. SIncerly, Bill Vanderbilt / Fanbelt

Another excellent post, Bill and one I can relate to in more ways than one. I was especially drawn to the story about the 30-year old, because my brother who is approximately the same age has been having similar problems. Unfortunately, he won't seek help and wants to get over it by himself. This is a big mistake in my own humble opinion. People NEED other people, especially qualified people who can give them a helping hand. I, personally, was experiencing some psychological problems during the past 3 months, directly related to my illness and a bad relapse I had. I was given new meds that had some bad side effects for me and that made me reach rock bottom. I stopped the meds and visited my psychiatrist who adjusted my medication for depression and I'm starting to feel a lot better now. I feel that medication is not the answer to everything, however, it does help in times of crisis. My psychiatrist and I discussed the possibility of having one-to-one sessions and in view of my mobility problems he even offered to make house calls. I will be considering that solution after the holidays. It's a rather expensive solution since my insurance doesn't cover housecalls by psychiatrists but I feel it may be worth the investment. We are moving on to a New Year - gee, 2006! I never thought I would make it this far, but since I'm still here, I want to do the best I can for myself so that I can hod on to the hope of a future. I wish you and everyone in this forum a very happy New Year, full of health, prosperity and most of all - HOPE! Amalia

Hello Amalia It is so nice hearing from you. I have been thinking about you a lot lately. I am sorry to hear that things were going badly for you but am very happy to hear that things are getting better. I want you to know that I am still in awe and so inspired by you that words can't describe my feelings. I have received many comments about your message of hope and I am confident that your words of hope and faith have helped many people see their lives in a new light. I thought about introducing you to all of my friends here at Adland in my introdutions thread but I thought you probably had enough to do without all of the extra messages to respond to. Sometimes I get over 300 Adland messages in a day and it does take a lot of time to sort through them and answer the ones that I need to. Amalia, thank you for stopping by and wishing us a Happy New Year. I hpe that this new year brings you all of the joy and happiness that this world has to offer and remember, you will always have a friend here at Adland. Anytime you want to talk, I will listen. Take care my Friend and God Bless Sincerly, Bill Vanderbilt

Greetings All It is with great pleasure that i bring you this message of hope for our returning war veterans. Due to the fact that newer types of medical treatments are available now that weren't in past wars, more of our soldiers are living through traumatic injuries. The downside of course is that these soldiers have suffered unbelievable injuries that have left them in physical states of being that sometimes make them wish that they had not survived their injuries. On the bright side, the VA is finally recognizing the fact that for these soldiers, mental health treatment is every bit as important and the physical. The following article is about new programs being developed to better treat our soldiers. Mental disorders affect third of Iraq vets UPI - Friday, January 27, 2006 Date: Friday, January 27, 2006 9:26:15 PM EST By OLGA PIERCE, UPI Health Business Correspondent WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- About 40,000 soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have been found to show symptoms of mental health disorders, a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) representative said Friday. In fact, a mental condition known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) --first recognized during the Vietnam era -- is being diagnosed frequently among troops returning from the Middle East, and the VA has had to adjust its treatments and infrastructure to accommodate this, as well as the changing face of the American soldier. Although the fraction of soldiers diagnosed, about one-third, is higher than in the past, the VA has "no real way to know - in a true epidemiological sense - whether the rate is higher than past conflicts," Antoinette Zeiss of the VA office of mental health services, said at the National Press Club. The higher fraction could, in part, be due to increased screening, she said. As troops return home, they face the challenge of restarting their lives. Though most of the approximately 400,000 servicemen and women never seek help from the VA, those who do often must cope with the lingering effects of debilitating mental and physical injuries that differ from those in previous wars. Fortunately, new approaches to treatment are available as well. PTSD is the most common mental health problem among the troops returning home. The ailment, which results from exposure involving direct or indirect threat of serious injury or death, results in recurrent thoughts of trauma, reduced involvement in work or outside interests, hyper alertness, anxiety and irritability. Nearly 19,000 veterans of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq were treated for post-traumatic stress between 2002 and 2005 in the administration's network of 160 specialized programs. The VA says it plans for 2006 a $29 million expansion of its post-traumatic stress services for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, 14,000 of the veterans diagnosed with PTSD were also treated for drug dependencies -- although the mix of drugs differs somewhat from the Vietnam era -- and 11,000 were treated for depression. Although all three of these most common problems were present in past wars, the administration has had to adapt its treatments to changing circumstances, Zeiss said. The veterans of these most recent wars are older, because the military has relied more heavily of National Guard and National Reserve units. About half of the troops are between 20 and 29, and another half are older than 30. Thirteen percent of the veterans receiving treatment are women, higher than in any past conflict. The role of women in the military has also changed. "We need to think not only about women veterans, which have always been a part of the VA," Zeiss said, "but also women warriors." The VA now operates seven outpatient women's stress disorder treatment teams to meet the special needs of female veterans. Treating veterans is also more complicated because of the more varied cultural and religious traditions of troops, Zeiss, who has spent many years treating veterans for mental problems, said. "It's important to remember how multi-cultural the United States - and its troops - are," Zeiss said. "The VA is trying to think in a cross-cultural way." Another more-frequent phenomenon is known as poly-trauma, when returning soldiers have both severe physical and mental wounds. Many soldiers with severe injuries, who would have died in past conflicts, are now surviving and require specialized care, Zeiss said. The VA has plans to expand the number of poly-trauma centers it operates from four to 21 to accommodate this increased need. For all veterans who suffer from mental disorders, methods of treatment are changing. The past practice of isolating them in hospitals has been replaced by an approach that stresses integrating patients into the community, and the support it can provide, as soon as possible. And recent studies have confirmed that new medications, such as SSRI drugs developed to treat depression, can be effective in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, an option not available in the past. A 2004 study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, of nearly 6,000 Marines returning from Iraq and Afghanistan found that between 15 and 17 percent of Iraq conflict veterans and about 11 percent of veterans who served in Afghanistan suffered symptoms of mental disorders when they returned home. However, less than half of those affected sought care, in part because they feared they would be looked down on by their fellow soldiers and superior officers. The VA is reaching out to veterans to overcome attitudes and get them the help they need, Zeiss said. -- Copyright 2006 by United Press International. All rights reserved. Mental Health And Political Forums http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=10129 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=9637 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=8212 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=7420 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=8259 Lifetime web building and hosting for under $40. One time payment http://www.superpayline.com/p002859 The most advanced VOIP system there is anywhere. https://wv0079721.betteruniverse.com/members/index.php?action=buy_miphone Better Universe. The People Helping People Company http://wv0079721.betteruniverse.com May a smile follow you to sleep each night, and be there waiting when you awaken. SIncerly, Bill Vanderbilt / Fanbelt