end the silence : speak up & save lives! · texas legislature online united states congress...

Volume 17, No. 4 NAMI Dallas (214) 341-7133 April 2014

1

If we all took a minute to list the barriers encountered when addressing mental illness not only will we feel some level of disappointment in our health, federal and legal system BUT let’s be honest the list will probably evolve into a book series. Now although there are many mental health injustices that require attention, let’s focus on one of the most disturbing of them all SILENCE. Without a voice how could we go about making a real difference? Communication initiates action. A newly created program by NAMI titled Ending The Silence, is a 50 minute interactive presentation for high school students. This dynamic program engages young adults in understanding the signs and symptoms of mental illness and when and where to get help. Will you take a stand to end the silence and save a life? “As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence.”~ Benjamin Franklin

The April General Meeting will feature information on one of NAMI’s newest program titled “Ending The Silence”. Ending The Silence is a 50 minute interactive presentation for high school students. This dynamic program engages young adults in understanding the signs and symptoms of mental illness and when and where to get help

A grassroots, family and consumer self-help, support, education and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with severe mental illnesses and their families. Such illnesses are now known as serious and persistent neurobiological brain disorders.

Find Help. Find Hope.

----------------------------------------

An Affiliate of the

National Alliance on Mental Illness

NAMI Dallas General Meeting Thursday, April 3, 2014

Support Groups: 6 p.m.-7p.m. | Presentation: 7:30 p.m-8:30 p.m.

Meeting Location: Park Central Baptist Church

7777 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, TX

END THE SILENCE: SPEAK UP & SAVE LIVES!


2

Some helpful websites

NAMI National www.nami.org

NAMI Texas www.namitexas.org

NAMI Dallas www.namidallas.org

PLAN www.plan-northtexas.org

National Mental Health Association www.nmha.org

NARSAD (National Alliance Research on Schizophrenia &

Depression) www.narsad.org

Recovery Inc. www.lowselfhelpsystems.org

Child & Family Guidance Center www.childandfamilies.org

Texas Legislature Online www.capitol.state.tx.us

United States Congress Information

Senate www.senate.gov (202) 224-3121

House www.house.gov (202) 225-1908

Green Oaks Hospital physical address is 7808 Clodus Field

Dallas, TX 75257. It is located in North Dallas and is also the

crisis intervention unit for the NorthSTAR area. The hospital is

near the east end of Merit Drive behind Medical City Dallas

Hospital at Forest Lane and Central. This Psychiatric Crisis

Stabilization Unit can be utilized as a psychiatric emergency

room, just as Parkland Hospital Psychiatric ER is used. It is not

necessary to be a member of NorthSTAR to access the services

available at Green Oaks. They will accept indigent, Medicaid,

NorthSTAR, most insurances, or private pay patients. Services

are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

2013 NAMI Dallas Board of Directors & Members

Current Board Members for 2nd Term: New Board Members for 1st Term:

● Ilana Presley, Secretary ● Mary Berger ● Claudia Smith

● Deborah Goodall, at large ● Kathy Forrester ● Ana Stan

● Teena Adler, at large ● Leonard Keesee ● David Whitley

● Adama Samba

NAMI DALLAS’ MEMBER OF THE MONTH:

NAMI Dallas honors Mary Ann Niles for the month of April! Mary Ann, you’re consistenly providing NAMI Dallas with the much needed support to keep our organization going. Your kind spirit and generousity has not gone unnoticed. We sincerely

appreciate all that you do. Thank You for being on the NAMI Dallas team!

The NAMI Dallas NEWS is published monthly by

NAMI Dallas Inc.,

2812 Swiss Avenue.

Dallas, Texas 75204

Ph. (214) 341-7133

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.namidallas.org

Hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday

The NAMI Dallas Board meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6

p.m. at Green Oaks Hospital.

Visitors are welcome to attend. Office Staff Interim Executive Director & Program Director: Marsha Rodgers Community Outreach & Support Coordinator: Quita Williams Walk Manager John Dornheim Board of Directors President: Sherry Cusumano Vice-President: Herb Cotner Secretary: Ilana Presley Treasurer: Paul Sloane Board Members-At-Large Teena Adler * Mary Berger * Kathy Forrester *Deborah Goodall * Mary Frances Hansen * Leonard Keesee * Adama Samba * Claudia Smith * Ana Stan * David Whitley

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.namidallas.org/


3

TYPE TIME LOCATION FACILITATOR CONTACT

Family Dallas

1st

Thursday 6-7 p.m.

Park Central Baptist Church 7777 LBJ Freeway Dallas, TX 75252

Rita Mike

NAMI Dallas (214) 341-7133

Family Dallas (near Love Field Airport)

2nd

Saturday 10-11:30 a.m.

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store 3052 W. Northwest Highway Dallas, TX 75220

Carmen (214) 520-0650 ext.117 or 214-435-7562

Family Rockwall

2nd

Saturday 1-2:30 p.m.

First United Methodist Church 1200 E. Yellow Jacket Rockwall, TX 75087

Linda NAMI Dallas (214) 341-7133

Family Irving

1st

& 3rd

Monday 6:30 p.m.

Irving Bible Church 2435 Kinwest Pkwy Irving, TX 75063

Buzz

(972) 650-2013

Family Greenville

3rd

Tuesday 7 p.m.

Salem-Kinser UMC 1315 Rees St. Greenville, TX 75401

Nadine (903) 456-8999

Family Terrell

3rd

Thursday 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Lakes Regional Bldg 400 Airport Rd.

Terrell, TX 75160

Emma Glenda

(972) 962-3784 (214) 202-1183

Family Duncanville

3rd

Thursday 7 p.m.

Trinity United Methodist Church 1302 South Clark Rd. Duncanville, TX 75137

Madeline Evelyn

(972) 298-9378 (214) 728-0637

Parents Group (Parents of children & adolescents)

Richardson

3rd

Thursday 7-8:30 p.m.

The Warren Center 320 Custer Road Richardson, TX 75080

Cheryl Nancy

(214) 923-2576 (972) 824-8348

Consumer NAMI Connection Dallas

1st

Thursday 6-7 p.m.

Park Central Baptist Church 7777 LBJ Freeway Dallas, TX 75252

Mike

(903) 967-3763

Consumer NAMI Connection Dallas

3rd

Thursday 6:30 p.m.

NAMI Dallas Office 2812 Swiss Ave. (parking in back) Dallas, TX 75204

Teena Adama Sharniqua

(972) 815-9491

Consumer Schizophrenia Richardson

Every Tuesday 7 p.m.

515 Custer Rd. (First Center) (House across the street from First UMC)

Richardson, TX 75080

Mike (903) 967-3763

Consumer Dual Recovery Dallas

Mon. & Wed. 5-6 p.m.

Quaker Meeting House 5828 Worth St. Dallas, TX 75214

David (214) 824-2435

Consumer Dallas

2nd & 4th Wednesday

7-8 p.m. Iris Place Apartments 13321 Emily Rd. Dallas, TX 75240

Jeanine (214) 575-9492

Consumer Rockwall

2nd

Saturday 1-2:30 p.m.

First United Methodist Church 1200 E. Yellow Jacket Rockwall, TX 75087

Amery William

NAMI Dallas (214) 341-7133

Consumer (Spanish group) Dallas

1st

& 3rd

Monday 1-2:30 p.m.

NAMI Dallas Office 2812 Swiss Ave. (parking in back) Dallas, TX 75204

Juan (214) 642-0890

Consumer Greenville

3rd

Tuesday 7 p.m.

Salem-Kinser UMC 1315 Rees St. Greenville, TX 75401

Nadine (903) 456-8999


4

Letter from our President Hello NAMI members and Friends of NAMI! We are springing very rapidly into the NAMIWalks season!!! Are you ready? Have you gone to the website to register yet? Have you started a team or joined the team of your choice? Did you go to the Kickoff luncheon? If so, wasn’t that fun? The game shows were super and we all enjoyed dancing to the Happy Song! This is definitely going to be the best NAMIWalk event that we’ve ever had with entertainment and a terrific after-party as well. Everyone who is Anyone will be there—so, be there or be square! How about a little friendly competition? I wonder who will have the largest team? I wonder which team will raise the most money? And I can’t help but wonder who will have the best t-shirt? Have you posted your NAMIWalks sponsorship link to your Facebook page so people can donate to you from there? Have you posted information telling about the important role that NAMI has played in your life on your Facebook page or timeline? That’s one of the many ways that you can let people know about NAMI and the NAMIWalk. Before we’re done, we want to make NAMI a household name and these are some ways that you can help make that happen! Our last general membership meeting was awesome, as usual. We learned about some new medications and visited with Dr. Roger Butler after eating some delicious food and have some terrific fellowship and support with like-minded folks. Next month we will be having a presentation on our new program “Ending the Silence.” We believe that this new program will help stomp out stigma in all kinds of settings. It’s a 50 minute presentation that can work very well in school settings, in Sunday School classes, in work settings, and in all kinds of community settings. Come attend a support group, enjoy a tasty meal and learn about this new program that we are offering at NAMI Dallas in our April general meeting. Now for our continuing education about advocacy. Remember, our mission at NAMI is to provide education, support and advocacy for those living with mental illnesses and their caretakers. So what have you learned about your state legislators? Did you call your State Senator and State Representative to introduce yourself and to visit briefly with them or their staff member to let them know that you are concerned about mental illness and the treatment, support and recovery services in our great State? If so, how did they respond? Were they involved in the primary election that was held recently? If so, did they win? Did they lose? Or, will they be involved in a run-off? If they’ll be involved in a run-off race, what do you know about their stance or record on mental health and what do you know about their opponent’s stance and record on mental health? That’s information you will want to uncover before it’s time to cast your vote! Then, of course, in the midterm election in November, you’ll want to inform yourself again about the people running for office and what their stance on mental illness, treatment and recovery is before you go to cast your ballot. Our NAMI Dallas Advocacy Committee has had its first meeting and we’ll be meeting every month now. We’ll be sending out a survey monkey asking you to prioritize a list of concerns and also to allow you to express any concerns you may have that we might not have listed so please take the time to complete the survey when you receive it. We appreciate hearing from you and look forward to seeing you in the very near future. And ss always, thank you for your continued support. Sincerely, Sherry Cusumano, RN, MS, LCDC President of NAMI Dallas Director of Region 2 on the NAMI Texas Board of Directors


5

Food For Thought

Some individuals find it interesting to participate in various personality tests to see just how right they are. How about we indulge ourselves a bit? Look at the list below. Studies say that your choice may reflect your personality traits. Which fruit would you pick if you were offered one of these? * Please note that the information provided are just in fun. In no way does NAMI Dallas endorse these statements

Orange, Apple, Banana, Coconut, Pineapple, Papaya, Mango, Cherry, Black Grapes, Peach, Custard Apple, Pear

Orange: You have enduring patience & willpower. You like to do things slowly; but very thoroughly & are completely undaunted by hard work. You tend to be shy; but are a reliable & trustworthy friend. You have an aesthetic bent of mind. You select your partner with care & thought; you love with all your heart, & are not in for just a fling. You avoid conflict at all costs.

Apple: You are extravagant, impulsive & outspoken, often with a bit of a temper. While you may not be the best organizer, you make a good team leader; & are good at taking things forward. You can take quick action in most situations. You enjoy travel immensely. You ooze with charm when you are with your partner. You have an enthusiasm for life, unmatched by most.

Banana: You are loving, gentle, warm & sympathetic by nature. You often lack in self-confidence & are quite timid by nature. People often take advantage of your sweet temperedness, & sheer vulnerability to a situation. You adore your partner in every which way, both for their mental & physical beauty! Because of the way you are, your relationship is always, very much in harmony!

Coconut: You are a very thoughtful & contemplative person. Though you enjoy socializing, you are particular about the company you keep. You tend to be stubborn but not necessarily foolhardy. Shrewd, quick-witted & alert, you ensure that you are right on top of any given scenario, especially at work. You need a partner with brains, & while passion is important it certainly isn't everything for you.

Pineapple: You are quick to decide & even quicker to act. You are brave in making career changes; if that is what is to your advantage. You have exceptional organizing abilities & are undaunted by the size of the task at hand. You tend to be self-reliant, sincere & honest in your dealings with others. Though you are not given to making friends very quickly, but once you do, it is for life. You rarely, if ever, make romantic overtures. Your partner is often impressed with your sterling qualities but disappointed in your ability to show affection.

Papaya: You are truly fearless & take much that happens in life, in your stride. You give considerable thought to things you do. You have a sense of humor that along with your generous nature keeps you in most people's good books. You are a go-getter in your professional life, & have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. You enjoy meeting new people & seeing new sights. Your sense of humor is what attracts members of the opposite sex to you more than anything else. It is simply charming!

Mango: A mango lover is a personality to be reckoned with; you often have quite fixed ideas, & influencing you is no easy task. You tend to be an extremist with strong likes & dislikes; at times even like to control a situation. You enjoy getting involved in something that presents a mental challenge. Strong as you may be, you are like a kitten when you are with your partner. You accommodate the love of your life, & make up for all the strong will elsewhere!

Cherry: If cherry is your favorite fruit, life isn't always as sweet for you. You often face ups & downs, particularly professionally; & find that you make small sums of money, instead of a lump sum. You have a fertile imagination & are often involved in creative pursuits. You are a very sincere & loyal partner; but find that expressing your feelings is not very easy. Your home is your haven, & you love nothing more than being surrounded by close family & your beloved partner.

Black grapes: You are a polite person in general, but do have quick flare-ups of temper that cool down just as quickly. You enjoy beauty in all forms, including beautiful people. You are very popular because of your warm, gregarious nature. You have a zest for life; you enjoy everything you do, right from the way you dress, to your style & élan in your day-to-day life. Your partner must share your zeal & zing for life… to enjoy all you have to offer!

Peach: Like a peach, you enjoy the juice of life… in all its lush ripeness! You are the friendly sort & outspoken, which adds to your charm. You are quick to forgive & forget; and value your friendships highly. You have an independent & ambitious streak in you, that makes you a real go-getter. You are the ideal lover, fiery & passionate but sincere & faithful in love. You don't however like to display all that passion in public.

Custard apple: You are a modest & conservative person; who can be quite sensitive at times. You tend to be thoughtful & contemplative, & therefore are rarely rash in doing things. You are quite ambitious & are good at anything that requires much detailing or working with numbers. You are quick at finding fault with others. While looking for a partner, you value a person's intellect far above their looks or good old passion. You are quite shy & not very comfortable demonstrating affection.

Pear: If you put your mind to something you can do it successfully, but by & large you tend to be fickle & have trouble completing a task with the enthusiasm you started it with. You need to know the results of your efforts almost immediately. You enjoy mental stimulation & love to get into a good discussion. You tend to be a restless & high-strung person & are easily excitable. While you are quick to strike up a friendship with someone, maintaining it does not seem to be easy for you.


6

The Peer Corner

I’ve always struggled with my mental health. I started having mental health problems as a freshman in high school at the age of 15 years old. I was

bullied relentlessly and was told to kill myself one day and actually attempted suicide at the age of 15 one week before spring break would begin. I

was already set to go on a trip and so I was really glad my attempt failed, so I got to go to the Bahamas, but then the bullying continued after spring

break.

On November 4, 2011, I had a fight with my mom and was getting bullied at school at the time and by my father who called me fat, and was getting

harassed online and I had an emotional breakdown and tried to cut myself with a broken piece of plastic. I tried to stop but kept relapsing each time

my inner pain grew as a result of a traumatic event like bullying and so I became addicted to cutting and it intensified before my junior prom came so

I had to hide my scars from my date and my parents and friends and teachers at school. I almost developed anorexia at the age of 17.

I had reached my lowest point and was having highs and lows. One moment I would be so happy and full of energy and the next moment sad,

depressed, empty, worthless, and tired. I was also hearing voices in my head that were sometimes creative, other times not, other times they told me

to cut myself and that scared me.

Yes I used to suffer from psychosis. I don’t anymore and I hope that the voices don’t come back. I have been going to counseling on my college

campus, talking to friends, involved in a student-run mental health organization on my college campus, and I have seen a psychiatrist twice now and

the first time she saw me she diagnosed me with bipolar disorder type I after asking me a bunch of questions and writing notes down. I will be put

onto a mood stabilizer first to stabilize my mood swings and help my manic episodes and if needed then be put onto an anti-depressant.

I truly believe that if I hadn’t been bullied for 10 years that I would not have tried suicide at 15, not started cutting myself, not have wanted to starve

myself to the point of becoming anorexic, and lastly, not getting diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I know though that I’m not alone in this fight and

that this may be a hard time in my life and yes I will have to live with this for the rest of my life but with medications and psychotherapy and support

and respect and care I will fight bipolar disorder like a girl!! Demi Lovato is my role model and inspiration in life and she has bipolar disorder and her

music helps me through hard times.

I have sadly already faced stigma for having bipolar disorder and it really hurt my feelings. I may have a mental illness, but that doesn’t make me

crazy and stigma prevents me from wanting to help others and myself to get help or get treatment to manage our mental illness or prevents

someone from wanting to get evaluated for one if they think they have one or a friend notices and prevents them from getting necessary treatment.

Mental illness doesn’t discriminate; it affects all ages, races, cultural backgrounds, the world, and not only the person who has a mental illness but

their families and friends or coworkers or significant other/spouse. Mental illness is a very serious matter that does affect college students. I’m Ali

and I am not afraid to tell my story because I hope it will help others like me who may be silently suffering due to fear of being stigmatized like I have

been, fear of their friends or family rejecting them due to their mental illness, fear of society and how they view mental illness. I’m not alone and this

is not the end of my story and I am happy to be alive and attending college to further my education and hopefully with help and support and the

medication this won’t hold me back from achieving my dreams.

Being Diagnosed Bipolar and Going through My First Year of College

By: Ali Lovato


7

Walking With A Purpose

Hi NAMI Walks Walkers and Team Captains,

The NAMI Walk is really picking up steam! There are about 50 Days until the walk and we currently have more teams than last year! One of the goals of the NAMI Walk is to raise awareness about mental illness. Now, we would like you to spread the word about NAMI Walks 2014 to at least 50 people that you know!

50 Contacts In 5 Minutes!

This is designed to help you create a list of people to send your Walk letter/email to. It is said that the

average person has a pool of about 200 people who they would consider inviting to their wedding or who

would likely attend their funeral. These are the people who you should be sending your personal

fundraising letters to and this list is to help you begin to identify the “pool.” If you have more than five

people in certain categories (which you probably will), make sure you send a letter to all of them.

Immediate Family = 5 contacts including: Spouse, Children, Parents, and Siblings

Distant Family = 5 contacts including: Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and In-Laws

Work Acquaintances = 5 contacts: If you have an office announcement board, announce your efforts

there

Neighbors = 5 contacts

Church = 5 contacts

School Friends = 5 contacts: These can be your past/present school friends and/or people you have

met through your children going to school

Social Groups = 5 contacts: Examples of social groups are sports teams, crafter groups, other clubs

such as, VFW, Lions, Rotary, etc.

Businesses = 5 contacts: This is for businesses where you are a customer, including local restaurants,

gas stations, retail stores. Don’t forget service providers such as doctors, dentists, pharmacists, vets,

hairdresser, mechanics, attorneys and cleaners.

Painful Purchases = 5 contacts: These are for infrequent, large purchases. Sometimes they are

planned (new pool, new car, new house, furniture) while others have bad timing (broken furnace, new

tires, tax preparation, new appliances, etc.) Planned or not, they make you an instant high-paying

customer and a good candidate to ask the business for a donation.

Don’t Forget… You should also send a letter to everyone on your holiday card list, and people who may

owe you a favor.

Good Luck with your contacts!

Karla and Chris Wintle (Mother & Son)


8

2014 NAMIWalks Dallas Team Captain Kick Off Luncheon

First, the NAMI Dallas team would like to thank each and every one of you who took the time out of your busy

schedules to attend the Team Captain Kick Off Luncheon. WE- HAD- A- BLAST! We can only hope that this is an

indication that our 2014 Walk will be even better. A very big thanks to Communities Foundations of Texas, our

generous sponsors, dedicated team captains and luncheon/walk committee members. For those of who were unable

to make it, we’re sorry you missed it. Would you settle for a brief recap? P.S. There’s still time to start a team!


9

A Few Announcements

If you would like more information on how to become involved in our Ending The Silence Program, please

contact our Ending The Silence coordinator at [email protected]

Be on the lookout for our next complimentary film screening! This information can be found on our website at www.namidallas.org. Event information will also be sent through our email marketing campaign so don’t look us over. Upcoming screening: “Call Me Crazy”

Do you have experience working with or leading a team of people? Do you know of anyone who would like to sponsor a worthy cause? If so, why not consider joining our annual Dallas NAMI Walks? We understand that awareness walks are important and we want to ensure that mental illness is getting the attention it deserves. Let’s help reduce the stigma and make a difference in the City of Dallas. To learn more contact John Dornheim at [email protected] or leave a message at (214) 341-7133 ext.: 204.

Like NAMI Dallas on our official Facebook page, Follow us on Twitter, Connect with us on Google+ or LinkedIn. It’s simple: Go to our website, www.namidallas.org and click on a social media icon above in the top right corner and it will direct you to the social media page of your choice.

Have a short article, special message to someone or story you would like to share with your fellow members? Email or mail it to NAMI Dallas and we’ll put it in the newsletter! We welcome any appropriate topic. Some suggestions include health and wellness, recovery, legislation, community activities, news, stories of clean humor, etc.






10

http://www.facebook.com/NAMIDallasTX

end the silence : speak up & save lives! · texas legislature online united states congress...

Documents