Mental Health Education

Conference 2018

Friday,

October 5, 2018

Nessler Center

Texas City, TX

Never Give Up

HOPE

For more information

or to register for our 2018

Mental Health Education Conference,

please visit

https://namigulfcoast.org/

mental-health-education-conference-2018/

Volunteers are the cornerstone of NAMI Gulf Coast. Helping thousands of families affected by mental illness.

“The heart of a volunteer is not measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to

make a difference in the lives of others.”

- De Ann Hollis

For more information on volunteering and other volunteer opportunities, visit namigulfcoast.org/volunteer

or call (281) 585-3100

May 2018 The Official Newsletter of NAMI Gulf Coast

May 2nd: Galveston support group May 10th: Lake Jackson support group May 14th: La Marque support group May 17th: Alvin Individual support Group May 17th: Phone support group August 25th: Summer Luau October 5th: Mental Health Awareness Conference

Inside this issue:

Calendar:

CONTACT US!

281-585-3100

888-554-2264

namigc@namigulfcoast.org

www.namigulfcoast.org

PO Box 4096 Alvin, TX 77512

2206 N Gordon Alvin, TX 77511

The Voice for Mental Illness in Galveston and Brazoria Counties!

Page 2 - Upcoming Events; Monthly Support Groups and Conference Call Page 3 - Otsuka Thank You Page 4 - Volunteer Thank You Pages 5 - Overcoming Stigma and Improvising Mental Health in America Page 6 - Statement from HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Page 7 - Second Chance Thrift Shop Sales

National Mental Health Month raises awareness about mental illness and related issues in the United States. In recent times, attitudes towards mental health issues appear to be changing. Negative attitudes and stigma associated with mental health have reduced and there has been growing acceptance towards mental health issues and support for people with them. Despite this shift in attitude, the idea of a mental health awareness campaign is not a recent one. May has been the designated Mental Health Month since the late 1940’s. During this month, the National Alliance on Mental Illness engages with the community using a selected theme. Last year’s theme was ”I’m in to mental health..” This year, NAMI has decided to take on stigma with the campaign theme #CureStigma. Campaign Manifesto: There’s a virus spreading across America. It harms the 1 in 5 Americans affected by mental health conditions. It shames them into silence. It prevents them from seeking help. And in some cases, it takes lives. What virus are we talking about? It’s stigma. Stigma against people with mental health conditions. But there’s good news. Stigma is 100% curable. Compassion, empathy and understanding are the antidote. Your voice can spread the cure. Join NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Together we can #CureStigma. Why this cause is important: One in 5 Americans is affected by mental health conditions. Stigma is toxic to their mental health because it creates an environment of shame, fear and silence that prevents many people from seeking help and treatment. The perception of mental illness won’t change unless we act to change it. National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2018

National Alliance on Mental Illness

U P C O M I N G

E V E N

T S

Page 2

ALVIN INDIVIDUAL GROUP 3rd Thurs Every Month

Thursday, 5/17/18 4:00 - 5:30PM

Westover Cove

2200 Mustang—Alvin

LAKE JACKSON FAMILY & INDIVIDUAL GROUP

2nd Thurs Every Month

Thursday, 5/10/18 6:00 - 7:30PM

CHI St. Luke’s Health Care

100 Medical Drive—Lake Jackson

LA MARQUE FAMILY & INDIVIDUAL GROUP

2nd Mon Every Month

Monday, 5/14/18 6:00 - 7:30PM

St. Michael's Episcopal Church

1601 Lake Road—La Marque

GALVESTON FAMILY & INDIVIDUAL GROUP

1st Tues Every Month

Tuesday, 5/2/18 6:00 - 7:30PM

Moody Methodist Church

2803 53rd Street—Galveston

Looking for help?

Need Support?

Attend our Family and Individual Support Meetings

Topic: Mental Illness Basics

PHONE SUPPORT GROUP

3rd Thurs Every Month

Thursday, 5/17/18 6:00PM

Dial In Number: (641) 715-3570

Access Code: 453534

Please RSVP at https://namigulfcoast.org/conference-call/

Be sure to follow us on social media. In honor of Mental Health Month, we will be posting a new interesting fact about mental illness every day. Twitter: @NAMIGulfCoast Facebook: @NAMIGulfCoastprofile

National Alliance on Mental Illness Page 3

T H A N K

Y O U

NAMI Gulf Coast would like to extend a huge thank you to Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. Otsuka employees from around the country generously donated 17 large boxes of personal hygiene items to be distributed to families affected by Hurricane Harvey and individuals with mental illness. Otsuka is committed to better health worldwide and in our communities. Otsuka supports nonprofit organizations by providing donations and sponsorships for healthcare-related or community-based programs that address the needs of the underserved and/or minor-ity populations; or educates and/or advocates on behalf of pa-tients and their families. Otsuka is a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy: “Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide.” Otsuka researches, develops, manufactures and markets innovative products, with a focus on pharmaceutical products for the treatment of diseases and products for the maintenance of everyday health. In pharmaceuticals, Otsuka is a leader in the challenging area of mental health. Learn more about Otsuka America Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at

https://www.otsuka-us.com/home

National Alliance on Mental Illness Page 4

T H A N K

Y O U

We would also like to thank our amazing volunteers, who helped with the unloading, separation, and distribution of the donations from Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. Many of the donations from Otsuka have already been distributed to individuals with mental illness and families displaced by Hurricane Harvey.

National Alliance on Mental Illness Page 5

E D U C A T I O N

Although an estimated 44 million adults and 13.7 million children in America have a diagnosable mental disorder each year, but fewer than half seek help. Mental Illness requires greater attention as a major 21st century public health challenge due to being surrounded by stigma and misunderstanding. This May marks the 63rd anniversary of Mental Health Month, a time to spread awareness and break the stigma associated with Mental Illness. Despite the prevalence of mental illness, the stigma is so profound that many consider mental health problems to be the result of personal character flaws rather than real illnesses, like heart disease or diabetes. Addressing mental illness as a serious 21st century public health challenge means: Focusing on specific age, racial/ethnic and gender-related risk factors Improving public education and reducing stigma so that more people are

willing and able to seek help Strengthening the role of primary care doctors in screening for mental illness and referring patients to mental health professionals Creating a comprehensive therapeutic approach that combines culturally competent, psychotherapeutic approaches with medication, if indicated. Providing parity for health insurance coverage for mental illness Understanding the factors that contribute to mental illness is the first step; the second is to shatter the stigma that surrounds seeking help for mental illness, a stigma that is very pervasive in most cultures. The result is low rates of detection and treatment. Only 2 in every 5 people experiencing a mood, anxiety or substance abuse disorder seek assistance in the year of the onset of the illness. A strategy to decrease this stigma is to educate, as another is to increase outreach to affected individuals and their families. Treatment for mental disorders can include a combination of psychotherapy, medications, social support and lifestyle changes. Support from family, friends and the community is vital. Additionally, behavioral interventions, including exercise, improved nutrition, sleep and stress reduction, can contribute to overall health and enable individuals to better manage their emotional problems. Mental Health Month is a time to raise awareness about the public health problem of mental illness. Targeting at-risk populations, decreasing the stigma surrounding mental disorders, integrating mental health into primary care settings and providing comprehensive treatment strategies will promote more effective diagnosis and treatment of these illnesses in the future. Written by: Susan Blumenthal, M.D

National Alliance on Mental Illness

E D U C A T I O N

Page 6

It is not uncommon for parents to wonder whether their child is acting like a normal teenager or behaving differently due to mental illness, drug use or behavioral difficulties. Normal teenagers are often moody due to hormonal and physical changes that happen during puberty. However, when mental illness is involved, it may be difficult to differentiate “normal teenage behavior” from the symptoms of depression, anxiety and other emotional difficulties. It can be difficult to tell the difference between symptoms of mental illness and normal problems that all teenagers experience from time to time. If you begin to worry that your teenager may be suffering in silence or acting in a way that is concerning, but not enough to call the doctor, you may want to talk to other parents or organizations to compare your teen’s behavior to those of his or her peers. Here are some things that you may observe in your teen that will help to decipher the difference between mental illness and normal teenage behavior. Some concerning behaviors • Decrease in enjoyment and time spent with friends and family • Significant decrease in school performance • Strong resistance to attending school or absenteeism • Problems with memory, attention or concentration • Big changes in energy levels, eating or sleeping patterns • Physical symptoms (stomach aches, headaches, backaches) • Feelings of hopelessness, sadness, anxiety, crying often • Frequent aggression, disobedience or lashing out verbally • Excessive neglect of personal appearance or hygiene • Substance abuse • Dangerous or illegal thrill-seeking behavior • Is overly suspicious of others • Sees or hears things that others do not *It’s important to remember that no one sign means that there is a problem. It’s important to examine the: nature, intensity, severity and duration of a problem. The teenage years can be the most difficult for a parent. During this time, there are many changes that make it difficult to know how and when to intervene with your teen. It may even be difficult to identify when there is a problem and when your teen is just being a teen. Listen to your instincts and get involved. Ask questions and take action if you feel that your teen is not doing well. Early intervention is the key to success; prolonging the problem may lead to more difficulties. Written by: Jaimie Byrne

National Alliance on Mental Illness

T H R I F T

S H O P

Page 7

2206 N. Gordon (Bus . 35)

Alvin, Texas 77511 281-585-3100 Store Hours:

Wednesday - Friday 10am - 3pm

Emily’s Psychedelic Blingtastic Creations

*Don’t forget!* Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13th

Second Chance is a great place to find the perfect gift to make Mom smile.

Handbags, dresses, jewelry, and more!

2018 Board of Directors President: Mary Ferree Vice President: Shawn Lewis Treasurer: Dean Price Secretary: Andrea Hazlitt Board members: Eddie Karbowski Reathea Alexander Tricia Garza Regina Lewis Ramona Benton Executive Director: Jan Melis Emeritus: Carolyn Karbowski Staff: Jan Melis Executive Director jmelis@namigulfcoast.org Amber Torres Director of Finance & Development development@namigulfcoast.org Kyle Funderburk Director of Administration admin@namigulfcoast.org Alicia Karbowski 2nd Chance Thrift Shop Manager namigcresale@namigulfcoast.org Crystal Lewis

Education Coordinator supportstaff@namigulfcoast.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness

May 2018

P.O. Box 4096 Alvin, TX 77512 281-585-3100 1-888-554-2264 www.namigulfcoast.org

NON-PROFIT ORG

U S POSTAGE

PAID

Friendswood, TX

Permit #4096

OR CURRENT RESIDENT

It is the mission of NAMI Gulf Coast to provide support, education, and service advocacy for families and individuals affected by mental illness. Eliminating the stigma of mental illness is the primary goal for NAMI Gulf Coast. The hope is that one day mental illness will be treated with the same compassion and understanding as any other illness.