Monthly Archives: August 2013

Broadcasters Launch Campaign to Educate Public on Mental Health

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OK2Talk

“Say anything. It’s time we talked about mental health. Share what’s on your mind.”

Sen. Gordon H. Smith, president and CEO, National Association of Broadcasters, kicks off the launch event

A new survey from the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) reveals that two-thirds of young adults have a personal experience with mental health problems. Although the overwhelming majority of parents and young adults are supportive of discussing mental illness openly, more than one fourth of young adults and one in six parents admit they avoid talking about it.

To encourage these critical conservations and let people know that help is available and effective, NAB unveiled a new public service announcement campaign featuring teens and young adults opening up about their experiences with mental illness. The “OK2Talk” campaign includes TV and radio ads in English and Spanish, and uses social media to invite teens and young adults to create the conservation about mental health. With this unrivaled reach into homes across America, broadcasters have a powerful platform to encourage young people to start talking about mental health and to get the help they need.

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a blend of two therapies: cognitive therapy (CT) and behavioral therapy. CT was developed by psychotherapist Aaron Beck, M.D. in the 1960’s. CT focuses on a person’s thoughts and beliefs, and how they influence a person’s mood and actions, and aims to change a person’s thinking to be more adaptive and healthy. Behavioral therapy focused on a person’s actions and aims to change unhealthy behavior patterns.

CBT helps a person focus on his or her current problems and how to solve them. Both patient and therapist need to be actively involved in this process. The therapist helps the patient learn how to identify distorted or unhelpful thinking patterns recognize and change inaccurate beliefs, related to others in more positive ways, and change behaviors accordingly.

CBT can be applied and adapted to many conditions, including depression, bipolar disorder, Anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. For instance, people with bipolar disorder usually need to take medication, such as a mood stabilizer. But CBT is often used as an added treatment. The medication can help stabilize a person’s mood so that he or she is receptive to psychotherapy and can get the most out of it. CBT can help a person cope with bipolar symptoms and learn to recognize when a mood shift is about to occur. CBT also helps a person with bipolar disorder stick with a treatment plan to reduce the chances of relapse (e.g., when symptoms return).

With schizophrenia, the disorder generally requires medication first. But research has shown that CBT, as an add-on to medication, can help a patient cope with schizophrenia, helping patients learn more adaptive and realistic interpretations of events. Patients are also taught various coping techniques for dealing with “voices” or other hallucinations. They learn how to identify what triggers episodes of the illness, which can prevent or reduce the chances of relapse. CBT for schizophrenia also stresses skill-oriented therapies. Patients learn skills to cope with life’s challenges. The therapist teaches social, daily functioning, and problem-solving skills. This can help patients with schizophrenia minimize the types of stress that can lead to outbursts and hospitalizations.

CBT for schizoaffective treatment shares elements of each of the foregoing. Over the past two decades, CBT for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder has received considerable attention in the United Kingdom and elsewhere abroad. While this treatment continues to develop in the United States, the results from studies in the United Kingdom and other countries have encouraged therapists in the U.S. to incorporate this treatment into their own practices. In this treatment, often referred to as cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis (CBT-P).

For more information, see the National Institute for Mental Health Site and NAMI.

From: National Institute of Mental Health and NAMI National.

2013 Annual Conference Report

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From legislators to filmmakers, legal experts to psychiatrists, to consumers and family members, the nearly 500 attendees at this year’s NAMI California conference came away inspired and re-charged. The conference was opened by California Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, a long-time advocate for mental health. He was presented with NAMI California’s Legislator of the Year award.

Stephanie Welch and Ann Collentine

Other speakers included:

Dr. William Beardslee
Dr. Daniel Amen
Carol Kivler
Chief Kenton Rainey
Ann Collentine
Stephanie Welch
Keris Jän Myrick

Workshops covered significant, diverse topics including consumer empowerment, MHSA PEI projects, suicide prevention, reducing disparities in the strategic plan, NAMI’s policy agenda, community policing, mental health courts, and preventive interventions.

Chief Kenton W. Rainey, S.F.B.A.R.T. and NAMI CA board member.

NAMI California also presented a showing of the film, Of Two Minds.

Conference Workshops at Your Fingertips. PowerPoint presentations from workshops at the 2013 NAMI CA Conference are online for viewing and downloading at NAMI California. Click here to view them.

Miss the Conference? Or want to Experience it Again? CDs, DVDs, and MP3 files from the conference are now available. They’re long-term resources for you, your loved ones, your affiliates, and for your service agencies. Click here to view and order.

PLAN AHEAD

Next Year’s NAMI California Annual Conference will be:

  • August 1
  • August 2

In Newport Beach at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa.

CDC Finds Up to 20% of U.S. Children Have Mental Health Disorders

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As many as one in five individuals in the U.S. under the age of 18 experience a mental health disorder each year, and that rate is climbing, according to a CDC report. The CDC report, which is the first comprehensive examination of the mental health of children, found that such illnesses cost about $247 billion annually in decreased productivity, juvenile justice, special education and treatment.

The CDC cites a pair of studies that found mental health disorders among adolescents are on the rise. For instance, one recent study found that hospital stays among children for mood disorders increased from 10 to 17 admissions per 100,000 individuals between 1997 and 2010. Another recent study found admissions from mental-health-substance-use disorders among children increased by 24% from 2007 to 2010.

The report also found that suicide among children was more prevalent in boys than in girls. According to the CDC, 35.5% of children who commit suicide were diagnosed with a mental health disorder when they died, while more than one in four children who died by suicide were being treated for a mental disorder at the time of their death, and 21% had made a previous suicide attempt (Washington Post, 5/19/13). Suicide was the second-leading cause of death among U.S. Children ages 12 to 17 in 2010 (Science Now, Los Angeles Times, 5/17/13).

The problem seems exacerbated by the fact that just 21% of children with mental disorders receive treatment because of a shortage of pediatric sub-specialists and psychiatrists. According to the Washington Post, the shortage has been caused by more children’s mental health providers retiring from the workforce and fewer medical students taking their place.

Short Hospitalizations Found to Be Risk Factor for Readmission of Schizophrenia Patients

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From Psychiatric News Alert. Short hospital stays for patients with schizophrenia are associated with risk of early readmission, possibly because the person is insufficiently stabilized, according to a report in Psychiatric Services in Advance. Researchers at the University of South Florida and other institutions used Medicaid and service-use data to identify adults with schizophrenia discharged from hospitals and crisis units who were taking anti-psychotics. Data were extracted on demographic characteristics, service use before admission, psychopharmacologic treatment after discharge, and readmission to acute behavioral health care.

Study subjects had 6,633 inpatient episodes. Readmission occurred for 84 percent of the episodes, 23 percent of them within 30 days after initial discharge. Variables associated with an increased readmission risk in the first 30 days were shorter hospital stay, shorter time on medication before discharge, greater prehospitalization use of acute care, serious general medical comorbidity, and prior substance abuse treatment.

“This finding suggests that some patients may have been discharged before they were sufficiently stabilized,” the researchers said. “Patients with shorter stays and those not sufficiently stabilized on their medication should receive more vigorous discharge planning and follow-up care to ensure smoother transition to treatment in the community.”

De Familia a Familia Septiembre 30 al Diciembre 9

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CURSO GRATIS!!

Family PortraitFecha:   Septiembre 30, 2013 LUNES, al Diciembre 9, 2013 al Hora: 6:30p a  9pm

Este es un programa para la familia que le ayudará a romper con la desesperación y el aislamiento, a través de comprender y recibir apoyo para personas que tienen un miembro de familia que sufre de:

  • Depresión Severa
  • Trastorno Bipolar (También conocido como Depresión Mániaca)
  • Esquizofrenia
  • Trastorno Esquizo-Afectivo
  • Ansiedad y Pánico
  • Trastorno Obsesivo y Compulsivo
  • Diagnóstico Doble (Abuso de sustancias y enfermedad mental)

Esta serie de 12 clases, la cual se lleva a cabo una vez por semana, está diseñada para ayudar a los miembros de familia a educar, comprender y apoyar a nuestros seres queridos, mientras logran mantener un ambiente de salud personal y de bienestar en el hogar.

El programa de educación de Familia a Familia es gratis! Pero es necesario registrarse lo antes posible.  Favor de comunicarse con Modesta Pulido a los teléfonos: (310) 245-9820 o Ricardo Pulido: (310) 567-0748

Portrait of Females of FamilyDe Familia-a-Familia es un programa que ayuda a transformar a la familia desde la desesperación y el aislamiento (ofreciendo esperanza y apoyo) hasta llegar a superar las enfermedades del cerebro. Gracias, Ricardo Pulido/NAMI/LACCC (310) 567-0748   rick@namilaccc.org

Annual Picnic August 18 at Wilderness Park

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NAMI South Bay’s Annual Picnic will be held Sunday, August 18, 2013, at Wilderness Park in Redondo Beach, from Noon to 3:00 p.m. Bring the entire family and a dish to share. Hamburgers and Hot Dogs will be provided. This is a wonderful way to spend the afternoon with NAMI South Bay friends in a beautiful setting.

Members Please Note: The regular Caring and Sharing Support and Monthly Speaker meeting on the third Monday of the month will not be held this month–we have the Annual Picnic instead. Also, the NAMI California Conference is August 16 and 17. (Next regular monthly meeting will be Monday, September 16.)

pond

Wilderness Park is at 1102 Camino Real, Redondo Beach, CA.  Since 1977, this thriving green expanse has been the beautiful and educational backyard of many Redondo Beach residents. Located near Alta Vista Elementary, this 11-acre park surrounded by the suburbs hosts day or overnight camping, student fieldtrips, campfires and scenic midday strolls. Parking is free.

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